Mitch Lawrence: Bulls Want Odom; Draft Stinks;

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

            NY Daily News - 5/30/99
            Mitch Lawrence
            Bulls Run With Odom 
            <snips>

            SAN ANTONIO 

            Double-dribbling as Dave Checketts meets with Phil Jackson today at 
            center court in Market Square Arena, and then denies it:

               
            Unable to watch Scottie Pippen perform live for the first time in 11 
            years because of his own doing, Chicago's Jerry Krause and his aides 
            spent an inordinate amount of time this season scouting a college 
            player the Bulls believe can be the next Pippen.
            Perhaps you've heard of Lamar Odom.
            While the Bulls' VP of Demolishing Dynasties loves to keep 
            everything a deep, dark secret when it comes to his draft plans, he 
            reportedly is locked in on taking the New York product with the No. 
            1 pick.
            "Jerry has kept very close track of Odom," said one GM. "They did a 
            lot of scouting of Odom in person."
            Odom is not as athletic as Pippen. 
            But he's 6-9, can play point guard or forward, and already is 
            considered a better shooter than Pippen. 
            In just one season on the college level, Odom showed he can be a 
            special player.
            "He played with a lot of bad players at Rhode Island, but he made 
            those kids better," said a scout. "Right now, that's what the Bulls 
            need, a player who can make other guys better."
            Finding the next Michael Jordan wouldn't hurt, either.