<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Knicks and Bulls continued serious discussions yesterday about a sign-and-trade for Chicago free-agent center Eddy Curry, sources said. Curry has told friends the Knicks are still in the mix. The deadline for Curry to re-sign with the Bulls for their one-year, $5.1 million qualifying offer has been pushed back from today to Monday. The holdup in a Knick-Bull deal is the Bulls' refusal to take one of the Knicks' two first-round picks next year. The Bulls prefer a young player added to the package, such as David Lee or Trevor Ariza. Michael Sweetney and Tim Thomas have...</div> <div align="center">Source</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Bulls may still be able to avoid a confrontation with center Eddy Curry over genetic testing. The team spent the week trying to trade Curry, according to a league source. But dealing the restricted free agent will be difficult. First, the Bulls must find a team willing to pay a salary that?s acceptable to Curry, knowing that his next contract will not be insured if he is forced to retire because of a heart condition. The Bulls want to get something of value in return without ruining the salary-cap room they expect to have next summer. Besides all that, any deal is subject to complicated base-year compensation rules if Curry gets more than a 20 percent raise above the $3.9 million he made last year. Today marks the deadline for Curry to accept the Bulls? one-year qualifying offer of $5.14 million, but that date can be delayed all the way through March 1 by agreement of both parties. It?s possible Curry will not sign any contract this weekend and sit tight while the Bulls continue to search for a trading partner. Once Curry puts his signature on a new contract with the Bulls, he cannot be traded for three months. A long-term deal that would guarantee Curry at least $19 million remains another option. Bulls general manager John Paxson acknowledged Thursday there have been trade discussions regarding Curry. As recently as last Friday, Paxson said he had not heard from any teams interested in a sign-and-trade deal.</div> <div align="center">Source</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Eddy Curry's agent continues to pursue a sign-and-trade for the Bulls' center, and apparently he will keep pushing for it right up to Monday night's deadline for qualifying offers. Curry has until 11:59 p.m. Monday to accept the Bulls' offer of $5.14 million for the upcoming season, preparations for which open Tuesday with the start of training camp workouts. Originally, the cutoff date for qualifying offers was Saturday, but it was changed to coincide with a weekday. The Bulls can extend the deadline further at their discretion. A source close to the negotiations said the Knicks still are offering to send Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney, which is unsatisfactory to Bulls general manager John Paxson. Contracts for Thomas and Sweetney, valued this season at $13.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively, expire next spring. Paxson is said to be seeking a draft pick. It seems unlikely that the parties will reach an agreement. First, Paxson is reluctant to deal Curry to an Eastern Conference team, though he could be looking to avoid an ugly standoff between the team and player on DNA testing. Paxson did not respond to a message Friday night.</div> <div align="center">Source</div>
I have mixed feelings about this trade maybe going down. I am extremely mad at Curry for not wanting to take the DNA test. I understand the guy doesn't want to lower his value, but this is his life his putting in jeopardy. For all we know he could be tested and it turns out he?s fine. I think many people are underrating Curry?s ability. The guy might not be the most efficient defensive power but his offense is amazing and is only going to get better. He is already a top five center in the East in my opinion and is only going to rise on that list health permitted. Michael Sweetney is good but he is no Eddy Curry and I wouldn't really like the idea of starting Chandler at center. If this trade goes down I guess I could live with it but I would much prefer taking a chance on Curry.
If we can get Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney, Trevor Ariza, and a first round pick in package deal for Curry I think this becomes a huge steal for us. Especially should Curry not stay healthy. Mike and Ariza are two young kids who could really contribute a lot to the team this season. I am not a huge fan of Sweetney however Ariza has been opening peoples eyes ever since the start of his rookie season he has supposable bulked up this offseason and would solidify our swing man group with him, Nocioni, and Deng in the rotation. It would also give us some size in the back court to possibly move Hinrich back to point guard, and start Ariza at shooting guard. There would be many opportunities should this deal go down. However, it does seem unlikely right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">I think this becomes a huge steal for us.</div> More like a felony after you raped us. Ariza, Sweetney, Thomas, and a first round pick is a bit demanding. I do like Curry and I feel that he has plenty of potential, but this is a pretty lopsided trade in favor of the Bulls. Curry is a 16.1/5.4 player; points-wise that?s solid but rebounding that?s terrible for a 6?11?, 285 pound big man. His defense is also subpar and considering we?d give away a good defender in Ariza for a pretty bad defender in Curry, we?ll be worse than we were last year on the defensive end. Sweetney is a promising young player who is a beast on the boards. In fact, in almost 10 less minutes of action, he averages just as many rebounds a game as Curry. Another thing I like about him is his work ethic. He?s a hard worker and Curry hasn?t been noted for his. Ariza is the same way. He?s always working and put on 10 extra pounds this season. If he stayed a little longer in college, I?m sure he would have been a sure-fire first round pick. And Tim Thomas is a hefty 13 million dollar expiring contract. Plus we give up a first rounder for Chicago. That?s too much. For all of that we should get something more than Curry.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Sweetney is a promising young player who is a beast on the boards. In fact, in almost 10 less minutes of action, he averages just as many rebounds a game as Curry. Another thing I like about him is his work ethic. He?s a hard worker and Curry hasn?t been noted for his. Ariza is the same way. He?s always working and put on 10 extra pounds this season. If he stayed a little longer in college, I?m sure he would have been a sure-fire first round pick. And Tim Thomas is a hefty 13 million dollar expiring contract. Plus we give up a first rounder for Chicago. That?s too much. For all of that we should get something more than Curry.</div>I agree with you on Ariza got nothing, but good things to say about the kid, but Sweetney concerns me a little bit. He is a hard worker when on the court, but at the same time a lot of people complain about Curry being overweight well he is 6?11? 285 and Sweetney is 6?8? 270 so it is not like Mike is the thinnest guy in the world either. That concerns me a little also because he is so small we could not use him at center and we would be forced to play Chandler at center. I don?t know how much I like having Chandler at center his post game is not refined enough to draw double teams so it will make things harder for our guards. Also another thing I was thinking about should this trade happen we would have a log jam at small forward with Ariza, Deng, Nocioni, and Tim Thomas. Not sure how much of a problem that would be since both Ariza and Thomas are capable of playing two positions. Also I think if this trade went down Harrington and Davis would be involved as well either Davis or Pike who the Bulls have been trying to get rid of to make all the contracts matchup.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post"> but Sweetney concerns me a little bit. He is a hard worker when on the court, but at the same time a lot of people complain about Curry being overweight well he is 6?11? 285 and Sweetney is 6?8? 270 so it is not like Mike is the thinnest guy in the world either. That concerns me a little also because he is so small we could not use him at center and we would be forced to play Chandler at center. I don?t know how much I like having Chandler at center his post game is not refined enough to draw double teams so it will make things harder for our guards.</div> Sweetney nor Curry are overweight. Their sizes affect their post-up games and who they are as players. The Bulls won't be too bad without Curry. Sweetney's offensive game in the post is coming along nicely. If he adds a baby jumper to his arsenal, he will be quite a force on offense--a force good enough to draw doubles. Chandler isn't really used for offense anyway so it won't be much of a problem.
Sweetney would bring some potential, and a guy who hustles when he is on the floor, But he is inconsistent from what I have seen watching him in 40-50 games already...He also gets himself in foul trouble...But he isnt dead weight though..One thing which really sticks out for me about him is his character..He is a great person..which can really help any team out..
I still haven't discovered Curry's motivation in all this. It seems like he had a pretty good fit in Chi-town. The trade I think would be substantially lopsided in favor of the Bulls. It's difficult for me to imagine that Curry's upside is that attractive, particularly considering his infamous work-out habits and health condition.
