Isiah wants Curry

[FilthyFinMavs]

In other words Isiah wants to overpay Curry this offseason:

Isiah seeks to
cook up Curry deal



BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

The Chicago Bulls are committed to trading Eddy Curry and Isiah Thomas believes he can find a place on his roster for the 21-year-old center.
Thomas spoke with Bulls GM John Paxson yesterday and offered the Knicks' starting center, Nazr Mohammed, for Curry, taken out of an Illinois high school as the fourth pick of the 2001 draft. Paxson rejected the deal but the Bulls would be willing to trade the 7-foot, 285-pounder to New York if Thomas increased his offer by making either Kurt Thomas or Michael Sweetney available.

Paxson was fielding calls from several teams regarding Curry's availability but talks only are in the preliminary stages. The Memphis Grizzlies are considered one of the leading candidates to acquire Curry, whose work ethic and limited production have frustrated the Bulls front office and coaching staff. Chicago would prefer to trade Curry to a Western Conference team.

"I'm not going to be pushed into doing something," Paxson said in Chicago yesterday. "He's our player. He's under contract and we have the rights to him going forward. We're in the better position."

Thomas, the Knicks' president, was in Chicago yesterday to watch free agent Eddie Robinson work out and was unavailable for comment.

Thomas and the Bulls were involved in a major trade over the summer when the two teams hammered out a six-player deal that resulted in a seven-year, $56 million contract for Jamal Crawford. Thomas wants to upgrade his front line and find a young big man to work with Stephon Marbury.

Curry is a nimble center who averaged 14.7 points last season and has a career shooting percentage of 53%. The Bulls elected not to extend Curry's contract before the Oct. 31 deadline, which makes him a restricted free agent in July. His representatives were looking for a six-year, $78 million deal over the summer.

As for Robinson, he is scheduled to take a physical today in New York and the veteran swingman is expected to sign with the Knicks. Robinson's contract was bought out by the Bulls last week.

Robinson will replace recently released Shandon Anderson on the roster. But Robinson, who needs to get himself back in playing shape, could be placed on the injured list on Tuesday, when center Bruno Sundov is eligible to come off.

When Robinson, who was unhappy with his limited role in Chicago, improves his conditioning, he'll be fighting for minutes with Tim Thomas, Penny Hardaway and rookie Trevor Ariza.

"He's not going to take away from Trevor," Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens said. "Trevor is an outstanding young man and I love what he does."

Also, the Knicks will need a roster spot when Allan Houston returns sometime in December. Houston said yesterday that he is close to practicing with the team.

I don't know what to think. If all you have to give up is Nazr Mohhammed and/or Kurt Thomas the deal isn't that bad. You still keep Crawford and Marbury.

[bernardos70]

Dumb deal. What can Curry do that Mohammed and Thomas can't? How long will GM's overpay for unrealized talent?

And is Curry out of his mind? This guy is an idiot. He trims down and before the season ever starts he wants to get a max contract? For what? What has he done for the Bulls?

[jayC]

The Knicks need to stick with their young players Frank Williams and Mike Sweetney. Instead of trying to be a marginal playoff team trade Marbury. Try to dump houston on some team and most of all stack pile draft picks.

[OzMavs]

Originally posted by: jayC
The Knicks need to stick with their young players Frank Williams and Mike Sweetney. Instead of trying to be a marginal playoff team trade Marbury. Try to dump houston on some team and most of all stack pile draft picks.

The New York Fans would never stand for that. The Knicks will trade one of them for Curry.

[MavKikiNYC]

Too late for F.Williams anyway--he's already been dealt to Chicago as part of the Jamaal Crawford deal.

[rakesh.s]

the knicks and warriors are going to be two teams that will be mediocre at least until the end of the decade based on all the foolish contracts they've handed out

[jayC]

My bad , forgot about the Crawford deal. Eddy Curry is definitely not the guy I would want on my team. The guy just doesn't have the motivation to be a good player in this league. He was what 36 pounds over weight before Chicago got after him to lose the weight.

[FilthyFinMavs]

He's a young guy who has potential to be a good big man. That's something other than a handful of teams can wish for and when you have the chance to atleast attempt to get one I think you have to do it.

[GP]

Isaiah just wants name brand goods. Curry isn't ready to be a big time contributor and may never be. He has talent and size and might be a good backup right now. I don't see him as a starter on a contending team just yet. IMHO he would have been better served going to college instead of getting drafted by a franchise without a clue. Curry and Chandler were both improving tremendously until they fired Cartwright.

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: GP
Isaiah just wants name brand goods.

And he pays retail.