Isiah Thomas hit the ground in New York style last week, leaving victims wherever you looked. And that could be good for the Bulls.

Within hours of becoming Knicks president, Thomas moved to buy out the contract of Clarence Weatherspoon and cut second-rounder Slavko Vranes, the 7-foot-5-inch project from Serbia and Montenegro. Thomas ripped second-round 7-footer Maciej Lampe for poor work habits, berated the team for allowing Latrell Sprewell to curse out owner James Dolan during a home loss to Minnesota without a response and had rookie Michael Sweetney activated because Thomas didn't know if he was worth keeping. He also made it clear Antonio McDyess, who was benched, isn't crucial to the team's future. "I wouldn't say we live and die with his health," Thomas said.

This is what the Bulls need to do (according to Sam Smith): Get McDyess and Charlie Ward, the latter having fallen to third point guard with Illinois' Frank Williams starting for the Knicks. Combined, McDyess and Ward make almost $20 million and are in the last season of contracts. The Knicks are looking to compete now. Would the Knicks take Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams? Probably not Williams. The Bulls might have to sweeten the pot with Crawford. Or Kirk Hinrich. The point is getting $20 million off the books [for Kobe Bryant].