<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Tim Thomas normally would've returned to work this week following the four-day All-Star weekend he enjoyed with his wife and two young daughters in Southern California. Thomas' life has been far from normal for nearly three months, though, and he hopes the strange situation completely changes once the NBA trading deadline passes at 3 p.m. today. The former Paterson Catholic star figures the Chicago Bulls will wait until then, in the unlikely event a franchise finally makes an offer for Thomas' expiring contract, to begin negotiations on a buyout of what remains on the six-year, $67.5 million deal he signed in the summer of 2000. Thomas, who'll turn 29 Sunday, has remained away from the struggling Bulls since early December, when Chicago general manager Jim Paxson informed him that he should stay away from the team while he explored trade options. Thomas played in only three games for Chicago after a trade from the Knicks and is still owed roughly $6 million of the $13.95 million he is contracted to collect this season. That enormous sum makes a trade unappealing even to the Nets, San Antonio, Miami and Philadelphia, the four teams Thomas indicated have expressed interest in signing him for the remainder of the season if the Bulls buy him out. Paxson hasn't initiated buyout talks with Arn Tellem, Thomas' agent, but Thomas isn't discouraged by the inactivity. Nevertheless, Thomas said Wednesday that he wouldn't accept less buyout money than the sum he is owed to officially part ways with the Bulls. "I hope it's not one of those things where I have to sit out a whole year," said Thomas, who will become an unrestricted free agent again in July. "I don't think it's going to get that far because I think they'll do what's best for their organization and we'll both move forward." The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Thomas wouldn't mind moving forward with any of the four aforementioned teams.</div> <div align="center"> Source</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Bulls likely will release Tim Thomas before March 1, general manager John Paxson said Thursday after the league's trade deadline passed. That would allow Thomas to be eligible for the playoffs if another team picks him up. The Spurs and Nets are said to be interested in Thomas, whom the Bulls acquired in the Eddy Curry trade for his expiring contract. He has been paid most of his salary, nearly $14 million, to stay away from the team after playing in three games. Paxson and Thomas' representatives are working out an agreement that will allow Thomas to join a Western Conference team or an Eastern Conference team, as long it isn't in the Central Division and the Bulls aren't chasing it for a playoff berth. "I respect the fact he wants to play," Paxson said. "We're also paying his contract and we have the right to make sure that it's the best thing for us."</div> <div align="center"> Source</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">I have forgotten but what prompted all this?</div> Tim Thomas left the bench during a Bulls came, and watched the game from the locker room due to lack of playing time. He also skipped a week of practice, and returned acting as if nothing was wrong. Then he requested a trade, and the Bulls said they would do their best to accommodate that, but there was no interest so they put him on the IL.
