'Charles is a natural-born leader' - Jerry Krause on Charles Oakley bringing vet presence to the 2001-02 Bulls

During the 2001 NBA offseason, the Chicago Bulls made a trade that stood out for reasons beyond basketball. In a deal with the Toronto Raptors, the team, under GM Jerry Krause, brought back a familiar figure: Charles Oakley. Shortly afterward, Krause explained why acquiring the seasoned big man was a smart move for the team.

"Oak's always been a joy to me because of the kind of person he is. Charles is a natural born leader. He'll be great with our younger players. They're going to have to follow him because he will demand it, and he'll get it done," remarked Krause, per ESPN.

Guiding the herd

It's safe to say that "Oak Tree" would find the Bulls in much different circumstances than during his first stint with the franchise. Selected ninth overall by the team in 1985, the Ohio native spent three years in the "Windy City" before moving on to the New York Knicks and the Raptors and eventually returning.

During Charles' early years with the Bulls, the team was a strong contender led by the legendary Michael Jordan. However, after he returned to Chicago, they had one of the youngest rosters in the league, featuring talents like Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford, and Metta World Peace (now Metta Sandiford-Artest).

Bringing in a 37-year-old veteran made perfect sense to guide this inexperienced roster. However, it wasn't just his experience that made "Oak Tree" so valuable. According to Krause, it was also his leadership qualities.

"He wants his teammates to play as hard as he does, and he's disappointed when they don't," said the former GM.

Vet presence and tank commander?

Oakley holding his teammates to high standards and expecting the same of himself was something he had also shown with the Raptors. This had reportedly prompted a clash with Vince Carter during the 2001 NBA playoffs.

However, Krause saw it in a positive light and believed it wouldn't disrupt the Bulls' team atmosphere—a belief reinforced after a one-hour conversation with the 6'9" veteran.

"He's a quality person," Jerry said afterward. "And a person who really loves the game and really appreciates the game."

To acquire this "person," the Chicago front office traded away young forward Brian Skinner and also received a 2002 2nd-round pick in return.

Ultimately, "Oak Tree" started 36 out of 57 games that year, averaging modest stats of 3.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. Looking at these numbers, it's fair to say that the 1994 All-Star brought veteran presence and helped the team tanking. This seems true because the Bulls finished with a disappointing 21-61 record and ultimately got the second pick in the lottery for the 2002 NBA Draft.