Krause coy on Bulls ' draft strategy
Chicago Sun-Times - Sunday, June 21, 1987
Author: Mark Vancil
The Bulls might hold the key in tomorrow's draft, but somebody else will have to open the door.
The Bulls appear to favor Central Arkansas guard/forward Scott Pippen, but it might not matter. Sacramento (No. 6) and Cleveland (No. 7) like him as well, and Pippen could be long gone by the Bulls ' No. 8 pick.
"We've tried to protect ourself," said Bulls vice president of operations Jerry Krause, who interviewed dozens of players. "It's always a matter of what teams ahead of you do. This is no different than any other draft."
If Pippen is gone, the Bulls will have to make an interesting decision, particularly if North Carolina guard Kenny Smith slides down. Still, the most logical choice would become 6-10, 220-pound center/forward Horace Grant of Clemson.
Grant became the first player in ACC history to lead the league in field goal percentage (.656), scoring (21.0) and rebounding (9.60 in the same season. A rugged competi
tor, Grant never missed a game at Clemson and is considered an above-average defender and passer.
But Krause has kept a tight lid on all words and actions and has refused to give clues. When the situation fits, he's even more coy with competitors.
"Even without the eighth and 10th pick, Jerry is Jerry," Seattle president Bob Whitsitt said of Krause. "I think he prides himself on confusing everybody anyway."
Mission accomplished.
The SuperSonics pick fifth and ninth, the latter directly tied to whatever the Bulls do at No. 8. Seattle will take Georgetown's Reggie Williams if he's available with its first pick and California's Kevin Johnson with the second. They'll probably get both.
"Bob Whitsitt is a bright young executive and he's done a great job with Seattle," said Krause. "He's done a pretty good at (creating smokescreens) himself. I don't try to trick and I don't lie. I feel our business is our business but there's gamesmanship involved. It's part of the game. It's the nature of the beast. If people are confused I can't do anything about that."
Barring a trade or last-minute change of heart, the Bulls appear to be leaning toward North Carolina forward/center Joe Wolf with the 10th pick. Wolf worked out at the team's Deerfield practice site most of Saturday and is considered versatile enough to play all three frontcourt positions.
"The decisions haven't been made yet on who and what," said Krause. "I made my mind up early on (Charles) Oakley but last year it came down to the last minute."
