Who'll Be Missing a Chair?

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Oct 19, 2004 11:51PM

The Bulls are playing roster musical chairs during pre-season and it's only a matter of time before the music stops momentarily. Who'll be left without a chair on the bench for the regular season?

With the roster currently at 19 players, the Bulls need to get down to 12 players plus a couple they can park on injured reserve. So 4 or 5 will have to go before the season starts.

The Bulls have played 3 pre-season games and second-round draft pick Chris Duhon seems to be throwing a wrench into the plans by playing himself onto the team.

Financially, the best thing to do would be to cut the players with non-guaranteed contracts. Duhon's one of those guys. But he's played too well thus far. Coach Scott Skiles said after yesterday's practice, "He does a good job running our team. The moment you run him through a play, he knows it, understands it. He's been aggressive, and he looks like he has good command of himself and the team when he's on the court. He's played great defense."

In exhibition games against top point guards Gary Payton and Baron Davis, Duhon has held his own.

To make room for Duhon on the roster, the Bulls may have to eat some guaranteed contracts. The team has been negotiating a buyout with Eddie Robinson, who has never lived up to expectations. Owed $14 million over the next two seasons, he played only 24 minutes in the final 22 games last season and has been told to expect to spend the season on the IR should he not accept a buyout. That sore toe may become a verrrrry slow healing "sore toe."

Cezary Trybanski is all but certain to be cut, and both Mike Wilks and Frank Williams have not played up to expectations. Expect that at least one will go before the season starts.