http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/253839p-217337c.html

Isiah willing to deal
Sweetney for Curry

Isiah Thomas had another conversation with Chicago Bulls GM John Paxson in recent days, and it now appears that Thomas would be willing to trade Michael Sweetney for Eddy Curry.

Thomas, the Knicks president, believes that Sweetney has a big upside, but Sweetney is a power forward while Curry is a 22-year-old, agile 6-11 center. Several executives feel that Curry will flourish once he leaves Chicago, his hometown.

The Bulls, however, are prepared to wait and see if they can field better offers for Curry.

Frank Isola

Disappointing to here, but if that's how it goes down, not much I can do about it.
Sweetney is going to have a great career wherever he goes. I think I would have rather seen if anything could be worked out for Kurt instead, but for all I know, Zeke might have tried.

Posted by matt:

I don't think thats true, for the one reason that Sweetney has been advertised with Houston and Marbury everywhere. So I think that's just a rumor

You can't really go by advertisement at this point. It's during the season and new offers are coming up. Spree was advertised all the time before he was traded.

I'm really hoping that you're right, but my gut is telling me you're not.

Posted by fishmike:

good news... if the DN reports it you know there is zero chance of it happening

Haha, good point. Didn't even think about that.

I would reluctantly make the trade, but I think the Bulls could get more.

Isiah has made some good moves,getting Marbury and Crawford,drafting Ariza.Some not so good moves Nazr/TT,hiring Wilkens,and some moves that didnt do much at all Baker/Moochie/Sundov.Still,I have been satisfied with his performance as GM in part because I dont believe he has made any panic moves

I can understand why he wanted Nazr and TT considering KVH's reputation as a choker and Doleac's contract about to expire but trading Sweetney would be a panic move IMO and a step back for the team.If anything he should have brought in a new coach and seen if he could change the team's fortunes that way instead of trading for another underachiever.

Like Fishmike says its the Daily News so its probably BS but even a broken clock is right twice a day so Im hoping they are wrong.I can see the NY press and some of the fans start to turn on Isiah if he makes this move which would be a shame since he has done some good things since coming to NY.




This move IMO would show that Isiah is tinkering with this team too much when he should have been more focused on getting a better coach.We arent winning a championship any time soon so it would be a better idea to see if a new coach could get more out of them and possible prevent Isiah from making a trade he didnt need to.


[Edited by - kwazimodal on 11/18/2004 08:30:17]

just to add, Curry would also be a valuable trade piece to have if a more established veteran C became available, like a Jamaal Magloire or Brad Miller.

Number one Brad Miller is not going to be on the block. The Knicks missed out when he was there for the taking.

But as good as I think Sweetney can be where are we going with him is the question and the answer is nowhere. If they can sign Curry to a reasonable deal, I would bring back Ewing as an Assistant coach, great move but Isiah would stick with Acguire because he has no brains. And eventually he could look to move those expiring contracts for some nice talent.

Our bench will have JYD on it for a long time, and maybe we could look to bring Frank Williams back in a year or so, or a player that could play 15 a night, and come cheap. You still have Ariza, Marbury, and Curry, Thomas will be a solid PF, if we can't upgrade. And Crawford should have good value by that time, and we can always use the mid-level effectively. You just look to add stopers like Trenton Hassel Types, to fill in as role players, and Houston will provide good vetran leadership for a sg of the future.

Its a 2 1/2 year plan, and when Chris Wilcox who was #1 on my draft board keeps maturing he is going to make Brand Expendable, because number one he is a clipper and they are going to want salary relief after next season because they may make a run at Ray Allen, Redd, or another shooting guard, or bench talent.

Its not a panic move, its a smart move. Sweetney is what he is but he may never be able to lose enough weight, which is Curry's problem to be the player we want him to be.

One thing that is always going to be a premium in this league is height, and its always going to have value, look at Dampier, James, anyone who could turn into something special can be moved.

So as much as I don't like Curry, I think its a deal that needs to be done, considering our weakness is at the center spot, and we have PF to go around, Thomas, Baker, JYD

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-041117bullskcgamer,1,5973319.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines

Knicks sweeten Curry offer
Thomas said to be willing to deal power forward

By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter

November 18, 2004, 12:08 AM CST


OAKLAND -- General manager John Paxson keeps emphasizing he wants Eddy Curry to play well to help the Bulls win rather than to increase Curry's trade value.

Paxson's claim is being tested. Curry started strongly in Sacramento on the Bulls' seven-game trip, even though his performance couldn't stop them from dragging a 33-game losing streak on this annual extended November trip into Oakland Arena Wednesday against Golden State.




But according to two league sources, it did prompt Knicks President Isiah Thomas into reversing his stance on power forward Michael Sweetney.

Curry had four points and two rebounds Wednesday night as the Bulls fell to 0-2 on their seven-game trip by losing to the Golden State Warriors 98-85.

Thomas has added Sweetney—previously thought to be off limits—into ongoing trade talks with Paxson regarding Curry.

Thomas has been in touch with Curry's representatives to gauge their client's interest in playing in New York.

As previously reported, Paxson expressed interest in Sweetney when Thomas made an initial call about Curry with Nazr Mohammed as bait. The acquisition of Sweetney would allow the Bulls to play Tyson Chandler at center, a lineup Paxson and coach Scott Skiles sometimes favor.

But Curry's two strong outings entering Wednesday's game have given Paxson pause, team sources said.

Either Paxson now believes he will get more than Sweetney—a logical thought—or his claim about wanting Curry to help the Bulls win is true.

More salaries would have to be included to make any deal with Sweetney work.

The second-year forward, who is averaging 10.2 points and five rebounds, makes just shy of $2 million. Curry is at $3.8 million.

Curry, for his part, is torn about the ongoing rumors.

"I just want to focus on basketball," he said.

On paper, Wednesday's game represented one of the best, if not the best, opportunity to win on this seven-game trip.

The Warriors signed 2001 draftees Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy to six-year contract extensions totaling $128 million and then started 1-7.

Paxson opted to go the other way with Curry and Chandler, putting off extension talks until next summer, when both players will be restricted free agents.

That has been Paxson's modus operandi since becoming GM—making players prove their worth.

Skiles' attitude is similar, which is why he called on Curry for more production after what appeared to be a strong game—14 points, 10 rebounds—in Sacramento. Curry, a career 52.6 percent shooter, is at 36.6 percent this season.

"I know Eddy is going to shoot better," Skiles said. "And we need him to because we're letting our perimeter players know that we're going inside.

"I think the first two games off [for a suspension] affected Eddy. As a player, if I took a day off, I felt rusty. The more we can keep getting Eddy the ball, I'm confident he'll shoot better."

Curry did early against Golden State, hitting his first two shots. But he also committed a turnover on the Bulls' first possession, one of four he had in the first quarter.

Richardson heated up early for the Warriors with 11 first-quarter points from the perimeter as Golden State grabbed a 27-22 lead.
Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

You guys are talking about using Curry as a bargaining chip?We havent signed him yet and you are already looking to trade him and the only reason we would trade him is if he were a bust here as well and what are we going to get for a player that had been a bust with his last 2 teams? Zip.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by MS:

Number one Brad Miller is not going to be on the block. The Knicks missed out when he was there for the taking.

you sure about that? if SAC takes a nosedive this season, do you think they'll want to hold onto all that salary rather than breaking up the core & building back up w/youth? that team has been together longer than any other team in the NBA...i think they're about due for a major overhaul...part of that overhaul could involve Brad Miller if the right deal were on the table...i think having an Eddy Curry to use as a bargaining chip could give the Knicks a legitimate shot at him if he became available.

wow. Part of any overhaul of Sac would involve C-Webb, Christie, and whatever. Not Miller.