Bulls Acquire Thomas in Draft Night Trade
Paxson selects Aldridge at No. 2, then swaps for Thomas and Khryapa
June 28, 2006 - The Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers made the following trade tonight: Chicago traded the Draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge (the second overall pick) and a future Bulls second round draft choice to the Portland Trail Blazers for the Draft rights to Tyrus Thomas (the fourth overall pick) and the contract of Viktor Khryapa.
A 6-9, 220-pound forward, Thomas comes to Chicago after leading LSU to the 2006 NCAA Final Four in his redshirt-freshman season. He averaged 12.3 ppg, 9.2 rpg (second in SEC behind teammate Glen Davis) and an SEC-leading 3.09 bpg.
A Kiev, Ukraine native, Khryapa is a 6-9, 210-pound forward entering his third year in the NBA. He has played in 101 career games, including 58 starts, and has posted career averages of 5.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 20.0 mpg, while shooting .455 from the floor, including .341 from three-point range, and .654 from the free throw line.
Aldridge, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, played two seasons on the campus of Texas and averaged 12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 1.83 bpg, while shooting .585 from the floor and .649 on free throws.