The Bulls may have finally solved their biggest weakness Monday when they acquired New York Knicks center Bill Cartwright in exchange for power forward Charles Oakley.
In addition, the Bulls and Knicks traded first- and third-round draft picks. That gives the Bulls the No. 11 pick in the first round of Tuesday`s National Basketball Association college draft. The Knicks will now select 19th.
The Bulls have gone without a force in the middle since the 1981-82 season, when Artis Gilmore was in his prime. Cartwright, who will turn 31 on July 30, gives the Bulls a 7-foot-1-inch, 245-pound proven inside scorer.
But there is a catch. Cartwright just completed his first full season since 1983-84. He has fractured a bone in his right foot three times and has undergone surgery twice.
”We tested the right foot and it is stronger than it has ever been,”
Bulls operations chief Jerry Krause said. ”We gave him a thorough physical, took X-rays and he is completely healthy.”
Cartwright has not experienced any problems since a bone graft Feb. 6, 1986. Last season, he averaged 11.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.4 minutes, sharing the center spot with Patrick Ewing. Oakley was second in the NBA in rebounding average at 13 a game along with 12.4 points. Cartwright shot 54.4 percent from the floor to Oakley`s 48.3.
Cartwright suffered a stress fracture in October, 1984, and refractured it that Nov. 9. He underwent surgery Dec. 19 and sat out the rest of the season. He fractured the fifth metatarsal bone on Oct. 4, 1985, and the surgery the following February was supposed to have finally corrected his problems.
”You hate to give up the top rebounder in the league,” Bulls coach Doug Collins said of Oakley, whose total of 1,066 rebounds was unsurpassed last season. ”He gives you a dimension you need with his rebounding and his physical toughness.
”But in order for us to keep up with teams like Detroit, Cleveland and Atlanta in the Central Division, we needed a postup center. We feel Horace Grant is ready to step in and take over at power forward.”
By upgrading themselves to No. 11 in the first round, the Bulls could fill another need. If they want an insurance policy for Cartwright, Vanderbilt`s 7-foot center Will Perdue could be available. If they opt for a scoring forward, Oklahoma`s 6-8 Harvey Grant-Horace`s twin brother-and Missouri`s 6-7 Derrick Chievous will be there.
If they`re still uncertain about Sam Vincent at point guard, Michigan`s Gary Grant could be chosen. If they want a backup power forward, they could select Seton Hall`s 6-9 Mark Bryant.
There`s more. The Milwaukee Bucks are offering the Bulls their first-round pick, the 13th overall, for Brad Sellers. According to one Bucks`
coach, ”There`s an offer on the table, but we don`t have a deal yet.”
Should the Bulls make that deal, they would have a choice of two of the above-mentioned players. No deal had been made by the 11 p.m. trading deadline, but a move could be worked out once Tuesday`s draft is underway.
”I am ecstatic,” Knicks coach Rick Pitino said of obtaining Oakley.
”He gives us the strength and the youth to go along with the Knicks`
nucleus.”
Former Bull Sidney Green was equally happy to be reunited with his friend. Green and Oakley attended the Mike Tyson-Michael Spinks fight together Monday night. Oakley was in New York Monday morning to take a physical exam for the Knicks.
”How could the Bulls give up the best rebounder in the league?” Green said. ”I`ll tell you what this means. Now, the Knicks` season next year is going to end the same time the Lakers` season ended this year.”
There were a number of flareups between Oakley and Collins over the last two years. Oakley complained that he wasn`t fully appreciated and that Collins never ran enough plays for him.
”There was no discord between Charles and I,” Collins said. ”That had nothing to do with it. In order to get a quality center, you have to give up a quality player. We could not ask Dave Corzine to play 35 minutes a game for us again next year.
”We`re going to miss Charles. He did everything I ever asked. I wish him nothing but the best in New York, and I hope he has a terrific career there.” Oakley had been at the center of trade talks. Seattle was prepared to give its first-round pick Tuesday (15th overall) and a No. 1 next year for Oakley. Washington had discussed trading forward John Williams and its 12th pick Tuesday for Oakley and No. 19.
The salary cap didn`t present any problems in this deal. Cartwright has three years remaining on a contract that pays him $1.2 million a year. Oakley signed a six-year deal in April for $1 million a year.
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