Eddy Curry's agent has asked the Bulls to consider a sign-and-trade for the restricted free agent, a source familiar with the negotiations confirmed Tuesday.

Curry's agent, Leon Rose, did not respond to a message, and Bulls general manager John Paxson declined to confirm or deny the request. But Paxson acknowledged the parties are nowhere near reaching an agreement.

"We're not anywhere close to having anything done," Paxson said.

The workings of a sign-and-trade tend to be complicated. Last summer, after 34 days of negotiations, the Bulls and Knicks agreed to a sign-and-trade that sent Jamal Crawford to New York. The upside was the financial relief the Bulls received in salary-cap room.

Curry seems an unlikely candidate for a sign-and-trade, mainly because his heart condition makes such a scenario even more complex than usual.

Two months ago the league informed the Bulls that Curry's condition would be excluded from disability coverage by its insurance carrier, and since then Rose has been unable to secure a policy for the former Thornwood High star.

Without insurance, the Bulls will not make a long-term contract offer, leaving the parties at an impasse, though Paxson said talks remain amicable.

"There's nothing negative," he said.

Nevertheless, he doesn't have any meetings scheduled with Rose this week and an Oct. 1 deadline is looming. If Curry does not have a contract in place by then, and if he does not have an offer sheet from another team, his only option is to play for the Bulls' qualifying offer of $5.14 million. The latter appears most likely at this point.

Before they make a long-term commitment to Curry, Bulls officials want to see how the condition detected last spring affects his play. If he can play one season without incident, an insurance company is more likely to drop exclusions for 2006-07.

Curry has an enlarged heart and an irregular heartbeat, which forced him to miss the season's final 13 games and the playoffs. Prominent heart specialists the Bulls consulted did not clear Curry to play, but he sought the opinion of a respected cardiologist in Los Angeles and received clearance.

If he plays with the qualifying offer, Curry would need to play with the kind of intensity players exhibit during contract years to command mega-millions next summer as an unrestricted free agent—assuming his health would allow it.

While the Bulls could make the most generous contract offer next year, they run a risk of alienating the 22-year-old center. He could spurn the Bulls if he believes they slighted him.

A sign-and-trade would give the Bulls something in return, but as long as his heart issues continue to haunt Curry and the Bulls, his value diminishes.

Meanwhile, questions continue to surface about Curry's weight and whether he's in shape. Earlier this summer he said he wasn't playing full-court because he didn't want to risk an injury while negotiating a contract. He has been drilling and lifting weights under the guidance of Tim Grover, Michael Jordan's former trainer.

Posted by JUNKMEIN:

Well there you go....straight from the horses mouth. Paxson admits that they want a big guard. So, with all due respect to Q Richardson....and Brandy ....a trade of Q plus filler for Curry plus filler.

Posted by fishmike:

fats = JJ

Posted by djsunyc:

Posted by crzymdups:

Q for Curry would be a mistake.

i think it's a good calculated risk.
we'd again lose depth in the backcourt BUT that spot is easier to fill than a potentially 15/7 center with a post game.

it could blow up in our faces but this is the type of "gamble" and "unconvential" moves isiah should be making, not signing the vin bakers of the world.

I don't mind him signing Vin Baker of the world so long as Jamal Crawfords of the world are attached to the deal.