(But) we're in a position where it's probably not going to happen here. |
[The Bulls spent the ensuing three months investigating Curry's health.] Three years ago, Eddy told the Chicago newspapers that his mother had had a mild heart attack, ... Later we asked him about it, and he said that no, it wasn't true. Of course, we were not able to [confirm] that kind of information. |
All I can say is we expect to have different directions that we can go in this summer. What we have to decide is which would allow us to achieve our ultimate goal ? to become a championship contender, and sustain that long-term. |
At some point, I think everybody has to accept the fact we're in this business to get to the playoffs, ... It's important we put expectations on these guys because there hasn't been any real urgency to start the season the last five years. |
But the thing I know about our group is that they will compete. They will get down and dirty and get after it. |
Everybody tried to make this an ethical employer-employee issue, which we never thought about. We wanted to do everything we possibly could to safely put him back on the floor. We were never allowed to do that. |
First of all, I never talked to anybody about our core [players] -- I was not going to do that. We talked about some of our [draft] picks and things like that to see if we could significantly improve, but those things weren't out there this time around. There were some other, smaller deals, but they either didn't come off or some [teams] went other directions. That's what happens. |
For what we're working for, he's a key component, a component that defensively could be special down the road. |
From a basketball standpoint, I understand what I'm doing. But I have an obligation to this organization and the people I work for to do the right thing. And I did the right thing. That's all I've got to say. |
He is the type of player and person we desire. His level of skill will strengthen our already solid front line. |
He wants to play, |
He would have an above-average lifestyle that would put him in a position that most other people aren't in, |
I am not going to apologize for us having a certain standard. [Thomas] didn't fit into that standard. He can say whatever he wants. He's entitled to that. But so can I. I'm not going to apologize for asking our players to work hard and be in shape and those types of things. |
I do like our young talent here, but it needs to get better. And we need some better veterans if we can go out and get them. We all get discouraged by losing. I sit there every game and see the little things that happen and you feel like they cost you games. But the reality is that we are still some time away from being what I hope we can be. And that's going to take some good decision-making on our part. |
I don't now if there's a correct answer. |