Somewhere, Michael was watching. He was kicked back, playing draftnik, checking out Jerry Krause, wondering if the guy’s as good as Jerry Reinsdorf keeps indicating.
You can bet your bronzed Air Jordans that Michael Jordan, a dedicated college basketball fan, was studying Wednesday night’s NBA draft, critiquing the moves of Bulls General Manager Krause, who has officially won the power struggle with now ex-coach Phil Jackson.
You can bet your 1998-99 season tickets that Jordan crinkled his nose at Krause’s first pick–a destitute man’s Jordan, slam-dunk artist Corey Benjamin of Oregon State. Krause opted for the 6-foot-6-inch Benjamin over the one asset the Bulls haven’t had–a shotblocker, 6-10 Kenwood High product Nazr Mohammed of Kentucky.
Mohammed, a terrific last-pick-in-the-first-round for Utah, would have been a better one for Krause (Utah was able to trade Mohammed to Philadelphia for a future and higher first-round pick). For Krause, you figure, Mohammed’s flaw was that he’s a local kid. Krause wouldn’t think of making any move that would endear him to local fans.
Yet five picks later, Krause appeared to send Jordan a little please-come-back bouquet–shooter Shammond Williams from Jordan’s beloved North Carolina. Perhaps Jordan turned off the TNT telecast with this vision dancing in his head: passing out of a double team to fellow Tar Heel Williams for an open three-pointer.
Only after the draft did Krause announce that he had traded Williams. Only later did PR nightmare Krause pop Jordan’s Carolina-blue balloon. Only then did it come clear that an ecstatic Krause sounded as if he had drafted his future Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Remember, nothing would please Krause more than to show the world he could rebuild a champion without Jordan and Pippen.
Give Krause this much: He traded Williams for another Cory named Carr, who could turn out to be better than Corey Benjamin. While the 20-year-old Benjamin will become Krause’s latest pet project, Carr will prove to be the tougher, stronger NBA-ready scorer and defender. Benjamin was an unpolished reach at 28; Carr was a steal at 49. Carr will be able to give Jordan a little quality rest next season.
If, of course, there is a next season for Jordan in Chicago.
Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf recently made it clear to Jordan’s favorite coach, Jackson, that he considers Krause more valuable. So now the 13-year-old question could grow with the departure of any or most of 11 free agents, including perhaps Pippen and/or Jordan: Through his 13 Bulls seasons, has Krause been a better general manager or tail-kisser?
Has he been more valuable to Reinsdorf as an evaluator of talent–or as a yes-man confidant who almost welcomed criticism that Reinsdorf often deserved?
Starting Wednesday night, Krause no longer had to seek or reject Jackson’s opinions on potential draft picks or trades. No more clashing or feuding. Krause ruled.
Jordan watched.
The first Michael Will Retire rumor of the summer circulated Wednesday–the first of dozens, no doubt. It was just a rumor, as far as anyone at the Berto Center knew. Jordan has made it quite clear that he wants to take the summer to let his head clear, to see how his body and spirit feel–and to see what Krause and Reinsdorf have up their sleeves.
Jordan’s evaluation began with the draft. At 35, Jordan probably did more with less overall help last season than at any point in his career. So after Jackson’s “Last Dance,” it was time for Krause to jitterbug.
Krause did make something of a name for himself by landing Pippen and Horace Grant in the 1987 draft. Stacey King and B.J. Armstrong weren’t bad picks in 1989, and Toni Kukoc was a second-round score in ’90. Other than that, Krause’s performance has been debatable at best. His indelible asterisk remains: Didn’t Draft Jordan. Michael became a Bull two years before Krause became GM.
By comparison, Utah has built one of the NBA’s deepest teams with three second-rounders (Shandon Anderson, Bryon Russell, Howard Eisley) and a bottom-of-the-barrel first-rounder (Greg Ostertag). If Krause has gem-finding genius, it’s about time to flash it.
Michael is waiting.
This year’s draft was loaded with potential diamonds in a U.S. Open-thick rough. As one GM said, “There’s so much debate that you’ll probably have just as much luck scoring at the bottom of the first round.”
Jason Williams (seventh to Sacramento), Bryce Drew (16th to Houston) and Felipe Lopez (24th to San Antonio) went much higher than expected, pushing several players down toward the Bulls. Yet Krause also picked a guard, Benjamin, higher than some teams expected.
So will Benjamin turn out to be a positive or negative surprise? Krause sounded pleasantly shocked that Benjamin “fell” to him. Yet the TNT commentators–Hubie Brown, John Thompson and Rick Majerus–
sounded as unimpressed by Benjamin as any first-round pick. If Benjamin hopes to become even a middle-class version of Jordan, he’ll have to teach himself to shoot jump shots the way Jordan did.
Yes, as Krause said, Benjamin is a “fine athlete.” For now, that’s about all. Carr is a fine athlete and all-around basketball player.
Somewhere, Michael is watching and wondering.
