Bulls Reject Knicks Sign and Trade Offer

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Bulls free-agent center Eddy Curry will slip through Isiah Thomas' mitts again. The Post has learned the Knicks offered Chicago a sign-and-trade package of Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney for the ailing big center, but has been rejected repeatedly by GM John Paxson.

Barring a trade, Curry, suffering from heart irregularities, is expected to sign the Bulls' one-year, $5 million qualifying offer before Saturday's deadline, according to his Jersey-based attorney, Ed Milstein.

Curry has been commiserating on the phone almost daily with his best friend, Knick guard, Jamal Crawford...</div>

<div align="center">Source </div>

 

not even a draft pick offered?

 

IMO, this trade isn't that bad. Tim Thomas has a big expiring contract and Michael Sweetney is a young, physical PF who could start right off the bat. The only reason I think Paxson rejected this is because he wanted Curry to stay, and isn't too open to the concept of moving Chandler to center and starting Sweetney at PF. Next year, the Bulls might lose Curry for nothing in return.

 

This really isn't that bad for the Bulls. They'd get Thomas' huge expiring contract (something like $14mil I think), and they'd get a physical power forward. However, if they were to trade Curry, they'd lose their only real offensive post prescence, and I don't think Paxson wants that to happen, which is why he rejected it.

 

I have no idea why the Bulls wouldn't except this trade. With Hinrich becoming a FA soon, shouldn't Chicago do all in its power to try and contain every part of their young core? With Tim Thomas, a huge 13 million dollar expiring contract, they get tons of cap room and Sweetney is becoming a FA this season, too. In addition, both Sweetney and Tim Thomas will contribute more than just Curry.

Sweetney is a physical low post player who is great on the boards as well. He's never been questioned about his heart or work ethic, either. Playing under Mark Aguirre, Sweetney has learned to become a better overall player and I expect that to continue. It can be argued that Sweetney alone is better than Eddy Curry. Tim Thomas is a good player to use off the bench despite his many flaws. He can shoot, post up and he's just a solid overall scorer to use. A couple of years ago, he was the runner up for Sixth Man of the Year so he is capable of providing sparks off the bench for Chicago.

Eddy Curry is probably not re-signing with the Bulls after he beomces an unrestricted FA, so why would the Bulls waste 5 million on him? They'll borrow his services temporarily and then they'll just lose him. If they accepted New York's trade, they would have had two player who will have a better impact than him and they would also save 15 million dollars. It almost seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

We are not in dire need of cap room, and that is really all we would get out of this trade. Though cap room is always nice the more you have the better, should we hold out until just prior to the trade deadline, and Curry still be healthy their is a fairly good chance a better deal may arise preferably one to the western conference. Possibly acquiring Nene and some other good players from Denver would be a nice deal, and so would a deal with the Grizzle if it happened. Also what would we be saying to Curry if we sent him to the team he wanted to go to? You whined, refused to take a DNA test, and ignored calls from the organization when we where reaching out for you so now as a result go to the team you want to go to and get your money? I don?t think Paxson wants to put Curry in Curry?s ideal situation. Unless the Bulls get an ideal trade, of course. It would make Paxson?s word seem less credible since he stated they did not want to trade Curry to a eastern conference team.

 

Well, until I realized Tim Thomas was expiring, I thought this trade was horrendous. But really, it's not that bad, but I'll trust Pax's judgment. Resigning Curry to a one year deal and trying to patch things up for the first half of the season would be the best idea, but if things start looking bad trade him during the season. That's what I'd do right now, unless something great came up soon.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Interesting trade proposed by the Knicks, I'm wondering how much they plan to pay Curry per season? Combined, Sweetney and Thomas make $16M per season. Does this mean the Knicks plan to pay Curry $8M for 2 years? or $5.3M for 3 years?</div>

The Knicks planned on paying Curry 13 mill a year, which is within 25% of 16 mill a year. I wonder how many years they were offering. Paying 13 mill a year on Curry sounds crazy.

 

After learning a bit more about the trade, I sitll think this trade is horrendous. I wasn't aware of AD having to be traded, because I hadn't really thought about it. TT's contract isn't enough bigger for me to give up our leading post scorer, veteran help for at least a year with an expiring contract almost as large, for a guy like Sweetney who is pretty good but not great by any means. No thanks, good judgment by Pax.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"The Knicks offered the Bulls a package that would start Curry at more than $13M and give Chicago cap relief after season. Tim Thomas' contract ($13.5M) and Sweetney's ($2.1M) expire after the season. Isiah has offered Thomas in multiple deals because of his tradable contract and the Knick glut at swingman."</div>
New York Post source

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">WOW! $13Million a season for Curry!?! No wonder why him and his agent have the Knicks on top of their list. I would assume it's a 2 year deal, so if Curry doesn't workout they have his contract and Houston's expiring at the same time in 2007.</div>
I'm wondering how many years they were offering, also isn't there a rule that restricted free agents have to have contracts of at least 3 years length?

 

I dont see this as a bad trade at all for Chicago...Tim Thomas only adds to a glut of wingmen but his contract is expiring and I'm sure Skiles would be able to motivate him...plus its a contract year so you know he'll play well...sweetney is a bruiser in the low post and rebounds well, and atleast chicago will know what it will be getting from him...its interesting that chicago turned down the deal...

 

I'm almost sure this is a bogus trade rumor. Most likely someone heard a little bit of a trade talk between the two teams and then insinuated the rest.
The contracts of Thomas and Sweetney would put the Bulls well into the luxury tax (not sure of numbers) and furthermore, Isaiah Thomas doesn't want to get rid of Sweetney.
If in fact this report is true, most likely there were other considerations requested of the Bulls. Thus validating Paxson's notion that this rumor is "bizarre."
Then again, what do I know? Maybe Paxson's a fool.

 

Not Bogus here is what Paxson said about the offer.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Paxson confirmed he had talked with the New York Knicks earlier in the week about a possible sign-and-trade deal for Curry, but he said it was highly unlikely such a move would be made.

Paxson denied a published report that in recent days he had repeatedly turned down the Knicks' proposed offer of forwards Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney.

Paxson called it a "bizarre proposal" but declined to elaborate.

Such a deal would provide the Bulls with salary-cap relief, in that the contracts of Thomas and Sweetney are scheduled to expire after next season. At the same time, the Bulls are already well-stocked at the wing positions and the addition of Thomas could compromise team chemistry.</div>

<div align="center">Source</div>

 

Allow me to clarify: I believe talks are going on, I just don't believe we know all of the stipulations in the deal. My guess is the Bulls would have to part with something more, or requested something more.
You'd be hard pressed to be a basketball fan and not know by now that something's going on between the two teams.