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More proof that anybody who pays more than the MLE for Curry will come to regret it.
Bulls
Curry's hurry irritates Paxson
July 9, 2005
BY ROMAN MODROWSKI AND JOHN JACKSON Staff Reporters
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Bulls operations chief John Paxson took exception Friday to Eddy Curry's comments that the Bulls aren't living up to their word in negotiating his contract.
In Friday's edition of the Sun-Times, Curry said: "They said that once I got cleared, they were going to lock me up [with a new contract], and that was going to be it. But that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. It certainly isn't happening right now. It's definitely leaving a sour taste in my mouth.''
Paxson resented the implication. Teams often wait until their restricted free agents receive offers from other teams, thereby creating a market value. Teams can match any offer made to their restricted free agent.
Besides, Curry's situation is complicated by trying to find insurance for him.
"This is a process, and there is a reason the system is set up the way that it is with unrestricted and restricted free agency,'' Paxson said. "Our guys are restricted, and the process will work itself out.
"The only thing that I take personally is that we have bent over backwards for Eddy by trying our best to take care of him, flying him, his family and friends all over the country on private jets to make sure his problem was addressed in the most professional way possible.
"To now suggest there is a 'sour taste' is wrong, and I will always stand by the way we have treated him.''
Paxson said he intends to keep Curry, as well as the Bulls' other three restricted free agents: Tyson Chandler, Chris Duhon and Jannero Pargo.
Paxson met Friday with Bill Duffy, who represents Duhon. No deal is expected over the weekend.
Although the Bulls are over the salary cap, they can use the NBA's mid-level exception to sign a veteran free agent. The value of that exception is about $4.9 million this year, but exactly how much the Bulls can use of that figure is uncertain at this point.
Under the complicated rules of the NBA's new collective-bargaining agreement, any contract signed by Duhon will count against the Bulls' mid-level exception.
"That's why we can't go out and do something with that right now,'' Paxson said. "We have to wait and see what the market is for Chris.''
By that time, though, pickings could be slim on the free-agent market for players willing to play for the mid-level exception, particularly at the positions the Bulls want: power forward and shooting guard.
Paxson has said the Toronto Raptors' Donyell Marshall likely will be out of the Bulls' price range.
Other possibilities at power forward are the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Anderson and the New Jersey Nets' Clifford Robinson.
As for finding a big shooting guard, the Bulls have signed undrafted free agent Eddie Basden, who averaged 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.3 steals at Charlotte last year.
"I'm a defensive-minded player, and I'll do whatever it takes to win,'' Basden said. "They said they wanted a bigger shooting guard that can fill that position, and that's kind of been my niche.''
More proof that anybody who pays more than the MLE for Curry will come to regret it.
Isn't this a spurs forum?
Eddy Curry is to basketball what Crack is to nutrition.
Curry is way overrated this offseason. I guess it's due to the weak FA class.
Lebron doesn't know . He is a 20 year old that is, forgive me for using a really lame cliche, too big for his britches.yet LeBron still wants him....what does he know that we all dont?
Curry is never in this much of a damn hurry to grab a rebound.
Lebron isn't in the top 5 all-time. He has a good chance to be there when he's through, but right now he can't even carry a team to the playoffs, and he has a far better big man in Z than Jordan ever had with the Bulls.
That's a ridiculous argument.
As for personnel decisions, I'm not following. Larry put together a of a team in Indy, fight night be damned.
All those guys also were playing GM after their playing days were over, not two years after prom.
How are the bulls over the cap, theh have no veteran contracts on their roster?
Chicago Tribune (registration required): " Eddy Curry has scheduled a visit to Atlanta for Monday-Tuesday, making his first official move in the free-agent market."
Actually they got bill cartwright who was a 20ppg scorer and a much better defender then Z could ever imagine. grant, brian williams, and rodman were great defensive big men(well maybe not rodman but he got you some boards). lb also hasn't had a solid perimeter player to play with. What ever happened to dajuan wagner? That dude was a iverson type of player in his rookie year. Then he got hurt.and he has a far better big man in Z than Jordan ever had with the Bulls.
I remember watchin him and thinkin man this guy is gonna be good, of course the cavs musta screwed that up too.
I don't know why this article says that. As far as I can see, they are about $15-20M under the cap.
They do have one vet contract in Antonio Davis, but that's it.
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