Kush77
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In the discussion about Bulls management and how the Jerrys operate I brought up the Horace Grant situation.
When I was going through those old articles I came across this one.
Kukoc Gets Top Money - Bulls Give Croatian 6-Year, $26 Million Deal
Chicago Sun-Times - Saturday, August 6, 1994
Author: Lacy J. Banks
The exodus of the Bulls' best players paused when they dubbed Toni Kukoc their new "franchise" star by signing him to an unprecedented six-year, $26 million contract.
Kukoc, despite starting only eight games and averaging 10.9 points last season, became the Bulls' highest-paid player with a pact averaging a club-record $4.33 million a year.
Kukoc will earn more than $3 million next year, one source said. B.J. Armstrong will rank second, earning $2.8 million in the first year of his five-year, $13 million extension. All-Star Scottie Pippen, the team's best player, will earn $2.1 million.
"I'm very happy with the new contract," Kukoc told Croatian reporters in Toronto, where he is playing with the Croatian National Team in the World Championship.
"There were some other teams interested in Toni," said Herb Rudoy, Kukoc's agent. "He had a very substantial offer from a Greek professional team. But his intentions all along were to stay with the Bulls. He wasn't going anywhere."
"I love Chicago and my family is happy there, too," Kukoc said. "I hope to play for Chicago for many, many years."
The question is how Pippen will react to the news. Pippen had said earlier that he did not think it would be fair for Kukoc to receive a more lucrative contract than his, especially because he once was told the team would never pay him more than Jordan because Jordan was a better player.
Pippen said he could accept Horace Grant getting a better contract because Grant had played seven years with the Bulls and helped the team win three consecutive NBA championships. Now it is apparent that Kukoc was ticketed to get a bigger contract than Grant before he decided to sign with the Orlando Magic .
During a news conference last week, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said he offered Grant a five-year, $20 million deal.
"I'm not worried about (Pippen)" Kukoc told one writer. "We'll be fine . . . I think we can play together. I hope Scottie is still ( with the team next season)."
Pippen might feel otherwise.
So the Bulls wouldn't pony up the money, or match Orlando's offer, for an all-star PF who helped you win 3 championships. But that very offseason you make Toni Kukoc the highest paid player in franchise history (at the time) based on 1 season where he hit some game-winners and made the all-rookie 2nd team.
And some people wonder why the relationship between some players and management was so bad. You don't reward the guys who help win titles. But you give a huge deal to Krause's pet.
Not bashing Toni, I liked him a lot. But that's just one of several example on how Bulls management (the Jerrys) managed to alienate guys like Grant, Pippen, Jordan, Phil Jackson.
When I was going through those old articles I came across this one.
Kukoc Gets Top Money - Bulls Give Croatian 6-Year, $26 Million Deal
Chicago Sun-Times - Saturday, August 6, 1994
Author: Lacy J. Banks
The exodus of the Bulls' best players paused when they dubbed Toni Kukoc their new "franchise" star by signing him to an unprecedented six-year, $26 million contract.
Kukoc, despite starting only eight games and averaging 10.9 points last season, became the Bulls' highest-paid player with a pact averaging a club-record $4.33 million a year.
Kukoc will earn more than $3 million next year, one source said. B.J. Armstrong will rank second, earning $2.8 million in the first year of his five-year, $13 million extension. All-Star Scottie Pippen, the team's best player, will earn $2.1 million.
"I'm very happy with the new contract," Kukoc told Croatian reporters in Toronto, where he is playing with the Croatian National Team in the World Championship.
"There were some other teams interested in Toni," said Herb Rudoy, Kukoc's agent. "He had a very substantial offer from a Greek professional team. But his intentions all along were to stay with the Bulls. He wasn't going anywhere."
"I love Chicago and my family is happy there, too," Kukoc said. "I hope to play for Chicago for many, many years."
The question is how Pippen will react to the news. Pippen had said earlier that he did not think it would be fair for Kukoc to receive a more lucrative contract than his, especially because he once was told the team would never pay him more than Jordan because Jordan was a better player.
Pippen said he could accept Horace Grant getting a better contract because Grant had played seven years with the Bulls and helped the team win three consecutive NBA championships. Now it is apparent that Kukoc was ticketed to get a bigger contract than Grant before he decided to sign with the Orlando Magic .
During a news conference last week, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said he offered Grant a five-year, $20 million deal.
"I'm not worried about (Pippen)" Kukoc told one writer. "We'll be fine . . . I think we can play together. I hope Scottie is still ( with the team next season)."
Pippen might feel otherwise.
So the Bulls wouldn't pony up the money, or match Orlando's offer, for an all-star PF who helped you win 3 championships. But that very offseason you make Toni Kukoc the highest paid player in franchise history (at the time) based on 1 season where he hit some game-winners and made the all-rookie 2nd team.
And some people wonder why the relationship between some players and management was so bad. You don't reward the guys who help win titles. But you give a huge deal to Krause's pet.
Not bashing Toni, I liked him a lot. But that's just one of several example on how Bulls management (the Jerrys) managed to alienate guys like Grant, Pippen, Jordan, Phil Jackson.