Former Bulls Chandler, Curry on verge of stardom

	Tyson Chandler (left) and Eddy Curry have come a long way since their early-career pairing as the would-be saviors of the Bulls. Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images

Also in this column:
• Checking on midseason predictions
• Notes on one-time NBA All-Stars
• Cliff Robinson's brush with greatness

Jerry Krause was right.

Krause saw something special in two gifted high school big men leading up to the 2001 NBA Draft. Krause, then the Chicago Bulls' general manager, was convinced that what he saw was so special, it led him to trade Elton Brand, a young, proven big man who had merely averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds over his first two NBA seasons.

With the post-Jordan Bulls having won just 45 games combined in three seasons from 1999 through 2001, Krause was taking a big chance in trading Chicago's only proven star.

But when he traded Brand to the Los Angeles Clippers for the draft rights to 2001 second overall pick Tyson Chandler and Brian Skinner on June 27, 2001, Krause's plan was to build the Bulls around the complementary talents of Chandler and Eddy Curry, whom he selected with the fourth pick in the same draft. In Krause's mind, Chandler could develop into a top-notch rebounder and defender, while Curry could emerge as one of the best low-post scorers in the NBA.

When Chandler and Curry didn't develop into stars in their first two seasons and the Bulls made only marginal improvements in the standings, Krause was raked over the coals by Chicago media and fans who had no patience for rebuilding after experiencing six championships in eight seasons from 1991 to 1998.

Krause resigned from the Bulls on April 7, 2003. His health was one reason given, but in truth, Krause sensed that it was time for him to move on. In the statement released on that day, Krause said, in part: "I'm very confident that we have assembled the key pieces so that the franchise can return to the NBA's elite teams in the very near future."

Well, the Bulls are close to making it back into the NBA's elite, but they have done it without either Chandler or Curry. That doesn't mean that Chandler and Curry failed. Instead, what it demonstrates is how rarely NBA teams stick with young players long enough to capitalize on their talents. Indeed, Chandler and Curry, who are both only 24, stand today on the precipice of greatness, the very greatness forecast for them by Krause six years ago.

Chandler, who is the better rebounder and defensive player of the pair, is the starting center for the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, and he is battling All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard for the NBA's rebounding title. Through Sunday, Chandler was second in the league in rebounding with 12.4 per game, trailing only Garnett's 12.8 and ahead of Howard's 12.1.

Chandler is also in the top 15 in blocked shots (1.74 per game) and in the top 10 in field goal percentage (61 percent). Chandler's rebounding and defensive presence helped the Hornets weather an incredible storm of injuries to their three best players (Peja Stojakovic, David West, Chris Paul) well enough that if the season ended today, the team would qualify for the playoffs.

A year before the Bulls traded him to the Hornets last summer for veteran P.J. Brown and youngster J.R. Smith, Chandler was rewarded by Chicago with a six-year contract that pays him more than $10 million per season.