UPDATE: 4:20 pm – Good analysis of the potential trade on Yahoo.
Not straight up, of course since the salaries don’t match, but that’s the heart of the offer according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo!. Woj has been on the money a lot, and I trust if he’s seeing smoke. Here is what he says:
As Thomas has rehabbed a broken forearm, the Bulls have had discussions with several teams, but perhaps none as serious as the ongoing dialogue general manager Gar Forman has had with New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh… Several sources believe the Bulls are agreeable to a package of Thomas and Jerome James for Knicks forward Al Harrington. Thus far, Walsh has resisted parting with Harrington, but discussions are still active and the teams have explored different combinations in recent days that would ultimately deliver Thomas to the Knicks… “Nothing is imminent, but both sides would like to figure out a way to do this,” one league executive briefed on the talks told Yahoo! Sports.
As far as I’m concerned a deal like this couldn’t happen soon enough. The likelihood of a deal like this also seems high, considering they were a trade partner last year. It doesn’t necessarily do anything for us in terms of 2010, but I think Thomas would excel for the Knicks.
#1 by AY on December 4, 2009 - 10:15 am
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I love it too! Big question though – what’s Tyrus Thomas’s contract status? Did the Bulls not extend him a qualifying offer? That’s crazy if they didn’t. If they did (which hoopsworld says), he has a contract for next year, which makes this a no-no in Knicks world.
Or do we get RFA rights for him? If we do, I think we have a massive cap hold, also a no-no. Confusing!
Maybe they didn’t even extend him a qualifying offer, and he’s expiring. That would explain it.
You know, Tyrus Thomas was one of the draft picks Isiah gave up for Eddy Curry, and I bet Isiah would have drafted Tyrus since he likes talented knuckleheads. It’s fate!
#2 by YesandtheFoul on December 4, 2009 - 12:06 pm
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It sounded like there’d be a massive cap hold, BUT if we relinquish his rights it wouldn’t be an issue. A little confusing and I’ve read different things on it.
Harrington seems to replicate a bit of what Luol Deng brings to the Bulls, but maybe they imagine him as more of a small forward than he really is. He’d really spread the floor out for Rose to work, especially if you have Rose / Salmons / Deng / Harrington / Noah on the floor. That’s a pretty tough team to D up.
Adding Thomas for us wouldn’t really change the fact that we don’t have a regular center, but he is a real defensive presence down low. Unfortunately, Lee probably gets stuck playing out of position at center. Thomas almost seems Jared Jeffries like but with athleticism and unfulfilled promise. Or almost like a more developed Jordan Hill.
I think my motivation is simply to ship Harrington outta here and free up time for Gallo and Chandler. Maybe we can talk Nate into being part of the trade to give them some more guard depth.
#3 by AY on December 4, 2009 - 6:38 pm
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Yes, it seems we could just not make him the offer. Interesting . . . maybe if he absolutely kills it we’d make the qualifying offer. I like it!