Past + Present = Future

As all long time Chicago Bulls fans know, there have been only 2 things to keep us sane over these past 6 seasons of rebuilding.

1. Remembering how great we were in the past.
2. Thinking of how great we could be again.

Now John Paxson has the chance to combine these. Last year Pax brought Scottie Pippin back to the United Center, but he was injured and the Bulls just weren’t ready for the “next step”. Now Paxson can bring back another name from the past, Toni Kukoc, and although Pippin has been a great of court leader, Kukoc can lead on the court as well.

Toni Kukoc played for the Bulls during their second three championships between 96 and 98, and was one of the greatest sixth men the game has ever known. The Croatian Sensation as he was often called could play all 5 positions on the court, and was voted the sixth man of the year in the 95-96 season. At 35 Kukoc may not have the speed to play the point, or the durability to play in the middle, but he still has a lot to offer the Bulls. On the Bucks last year Toni was an important part of the team, and in the playoffs the Pistons had no answer for the 6’11 small forward.

Toni Kukoc is the last viable link to the greatness that was the Bulls. Guys like Scott Williams and Corrie Blount remain in the league, however none of them have the ability to impact a game the way Kukoc can. As the Bulls bring in another talented but young rookie crop, they need a guy like Toni who can teach them to win on the court, and be a good example off the court as well. This could be the year the Chicago Bulls take the next step, Curry and Hinrich seem a step away from greatness, Deng and Gordan may be able to fill holes the Bulls have had for a long time, and if Chandler can keep healthy he should be a force, the likes of which the Bulls have never seen. All they need is a guy who can help them pull it all together, and add the link to the past greatness of the Bulls.

Paxson has a lot of tough questions to answer this summer: should he trade Crawford, what will he do with some of these huge contracts, should he give Curry and Chandler extensions this year or next, and if he keeps Crawford what will he do with so many point guards. But there is one thing Paxson could do that would be a no-brainer, and that would be to put Toni Kukoc back in the red and black of the Chicago Bulls.