RANDY BROWN 1
How acquired: Free-agent signee on Oct. 5, 1995.
Key regular-season stats: 72 games, 14.7 minutes, 81 steals (fourth on team).
1996 playoff stats: Played in 16 of 18 games. Averaged 7 minutes and 2.8 points. Scored playoff-high 9 points in Game 4 of NBA Finals.
Best move of season: Monstrous left-handed dunk over Elden Campbell and Jerome Kersey to help spark come-from-behind overtime victory over Lakers on Dec. 17.
Worst move of season: Two-week stint (Feb. 12-24) on injured list.
Playoff outlook: Quickest man-to-man defender. Could see solid minutes versus Washington’s Rod Strickland and if matchup versus Miami’s Tim Hardaway materializes.
JUD BUECHLER 30
How acquired: Free-agent signee on Sept. 29, 1994.
Key regular-season stats: 76 games, 9.3 minutes, .367 field-goal percentage.
1996 playoff stats: Played in 17 of 18 games. Averaged 7.5 minutes and 2.7 points.
Best move of season: Betting Michael Jordan when Arizona beat North Carolina, their respective alma maters, in NCAA semifinal.
Worst move of season: Close call between naming his daughter Riley “Not after Pat. Absolutely not. Not even close.”) or 0-for-3 clankfest versus Golden State on Jan. 31.
Playoff outlook: Adds versatility off the bench. Buechler shot poorly this season, but Phil Jackson loves his ability to rebound and run the offense. Minutes have consistently hit double figures since mid-March.
JASON CAFFEY 35
How acquired: First-round pick (20th overall) in 1995 NBA draft.
Key regular-season stats: Started 19 of 75 games, .532 shooting percentage, 7.3 points.
1996 playoff stats: Did not make roster.
Best move of season: Picking Michael Jordan’s name in Christmas grab bag. “I wanted a Range Rover from him,” Caffey said. He got a portable CD player.
Worst move of season: Starting season on injured list and missing six games.
Playoff outlook: Will have to adjust to bench role with Dennis Rodman set to return from injury. Untested in playoffs, will be counted on for points and rebounds off bench.
RON HARPER 9
How acquired: Free-agent signee on Sept. 19, 1994
Key regular-season stats: 22.9 minutes, .362 three-point percentage, 86 steals.
1996 playoff stats: Started 16 of 18 games. Scored in double figures eight times.
Best move of season: Making like the 25-year-old Ron Harper and burning Philadelphia for 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on April 7.
Worst move of season: Falling down after being faked out by 76ers rookie Allen Iverson’s crossover dribble on March 12.
Playoff outlook: Consumate pro will be expected, once again, to play solid defense and hit back-breaking three-pointers.
MICHAEL JORDAN 23
How acquired: First-round pick (third overall) in 1984 NBA draft.
Key regular-season stats: 29.6 points (won ninth scoring title), 37.9 minutes, .833 free-throw percentage.
1996 playoff stats: Averaged 30.7 points, 4 rebounds and 40.7 minutes. Led team in scoring in 17 of 18 games. Named NBA Finals MVP.
Best move of season: Making Jeff Van Gundy’s pale demeanor turn crimson with NBA-season best, 51-point performance after the Knicks’ coach demeaned Jordan.
Worst move of season: Not applicable.
Playoff outlook: Duh.
STEVE KERR 25
How acquired: Free-agent signee on Sept. 29, 1993
Key regular-season stats: .464 three-point percentage, 22.7 minutes, 8.1 points.
1996 playoff stats: Played in all 18 games. Scored career playoff-high 14 points in Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals.
Best move of season: Winning three-point shootout on Feb. 8 at NBA All-Star Weekend.
Worst move of season: Midseason haircut that made him look like Wally Cleaver.
Playoff outlook: Steadying force in Bulls’ motion offense. Always a dangerous three-point threat. Will play as many minutes as starter Ron Harper.
TONI KUKOC 7
How acquired: Second-round pick (29th overall) in 1990 NBA draft.
Key regular-season stats: 57 games, 13.2 points, 4.5 assists.
1996 playoff stats: Scored in double figures in 10 of 15 games. Missed three games versus New York with sprained arch. Averaged 10.8 points and 29.3 minutes.
Best move of season: Turning fourth quarter of Dec. 17 game versus Lakers into shooting practice, scoring 18 of his 31 points, including four three-pointers.
Worst move of season: Turning into Bill Walton with recurring foot injury.
Playoff outlook: Strength of foot, bothered all season by tendinitis and sprained arch, is a question mark. If he’s healthy, will be used for offensive boost off bench and to turn matchups to Bulls’ favor.
LUC LONGLEY 13
How acquired: From Minnesota for Stacey King on Feb. 23, 1994.
Key regular-season stats: 59 games, .792 free-throw percentage, 9.1 points.
1996 playoff stats: Started all 18 games. Career playoff-high 19 points in Game 3 of NBA Finals. Averaged 11.7 points in NBA Finals.
Best move of season: Late-season switch to Michael Jordan’s latest line of Air Jordans.
Worst move of season: Turning a sandbar into a seven-week layoff after injuring his shoulder body-surfing.
Playoff outlook: Bang with the big bodies (Gheorghe Muresan, Alonzo Mourning), stay out of foul trouble and score occasionally.
ROBERT PARISH 00
How acquired: Free-agent signee on Sept. 25, 1996
Key regular-season stats: .490 field-goal percentage, 9.4 minutes, 3.7 points.
1996 playoff stats: Charlotte failed to qualify.
Best move of season: Making like Grant Hill during a Feb. 24 win over Portland with a steal, fullcourt sprint and dunk.
Worst move of season: Admitting he attended the same high school as Terry Bradshaw.
Playoff outlook: The plan was to play Parish sparingly in the regular season, then use his savvy and experience in the playoffs. Well, he’s rested, that’s for sure.
SCOTTIE PIPPEN 33
How acquired: 1987 draft-day trade with Seattle.
Key regular-season stats: 20.2 points, 5.7 assists, 37.7 minutes, 154 steals.
1996 playoff stats: Averaged 16.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 41.3 minutes. Posted fourth career playoff triple double versus Miami.
Best move of season: Lighting up Larry Johnson for 33 points on April 10 after the Knicks’ forward had called Pippen “a bum.”
Worst move of season:
Playoff outlook: See Jordan.
DENNIS RODMAN 91
How acquired: From San Antonio for Will Perdue on Oct. 2, 1995.
Key regular-season stats: 16.1 rebounds (won sixth straight rebounding title), 55 games, 35.4 minutes.
1996 playoff stats: Led team in rebounding in 15 of 18 games. Tied NBA Finals record with 11 offensive rebounds in Game 2.
Best move of season: Making local cable channel install delay after it aired expletive-filled postgame tirade of Rodman’s live.
Worst move of season: Turning courtside cameraman Eugene Amos’, uh, midsection into an 11-game suspension and roughly $1,000,000 fine.
Playoff outlook: Avoid injuries. Avoid referees. Avoid courtside cameramen. Avoid technical fouls. Avoid ejections. Avoid suspensions.
BRIAN WILLIAMS 18
How acquired: Free-agent signee on April 2, 1997.
Key regular-season stats: 9 games, 15.3 minutes, 7.0 points.
1996 playoff stats: L.A. Clippers failed to qualify.
Best move of season: Attending Dennis Rodman’s New Year’s Eve party at Navy Pier while still a Clippers’ holdout.
Worst move of season: See above.
Playoff outlook: Inconsistent play has marked his short tenure with team, but proven scorer ranked eighth in NBA last year in field-goal percentage.
