Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 10:00 am  |  69 responses

Bulls, Knicks Exploring Tyrus Thomas Trade?

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The Tyrus Thomas era may soon come to an end in Chi-Town. And what an era it’s been!

The Bulls and Knicks, according to reports, are in talks about a trade package that would include Al Harrington and the rotting corpse of one Jerome James. Yes, James is apparently still considered an NBA player.

Yahoo! reports:

For starters, multiple league executives believe the Chicago Bulls’ shopping of forward Tyrus Thomas could result with him moving sooner than later. 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 said.

Basketball-wise, the über-athletic Thomas would certainly be an interesting option in a Mike D’Antoni offense. Too bad the Knicks aren’t even remotely equipped to run such an offense. Oh well.

This isn’t really about basketball, though. Should the deal be consummated, it would work out wonderfully for the bean counters on both sides. Thomas becomes a restricted free agent next summer, and New York would have the option of giving him a qualifying offer (approximately $6.2 mil) or cutting him loose and allowing Tyrus to become an unrestricted free agent.

Jerome James is in the last year of his deal, and Al Harrington also becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

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  • Sam Z

    first

  • Sam Z

    who could the bulls get in return that would make this trade worthwhile all the knicks want to do is dump the contracts of curry and jeffries and no one in the league wants those

  • http://www.twitter.com/Th3_R3al_Chris Th3_R3al_Chris

    The Knicks HAVE to do this, right?

  • Sam Z

    and moving al harrington would be stupid for the knicks hes been the only consistent player besides david lee theyve had since d’antoni took over. what they should really do is get rid of doo-doo duhon

  • PJ

    please please be joking, ty is about to go off

  • Orlando Woolridge

    I understand Tyrus has been a disappointment, but the Bulls have a tendency to get rid of players like this only to see them help other teams (JR Smith and to a lesser extent, Shannon Brown). Taj is alright, but I want them to keep Tyrus. Unless of course they can land Bosh next year.

  • tavoris

    @Orlando-it goes further back than that. Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Tyson Chandler…

  • http://277president.com jim

    Knicks need to dump duhon, nate, curry and jeffries.

  • Orlando Woolridge

    oh yeah, I understand that…those players were more established though. I was talking about players who nobody thought much of until they landed elsewhere.

  • Orlando Woolridge

    jim, if that list of garbage ends up on the Bulls roster, I’ll hang myself.

  • james

    tyrus for al harrington are you serious ahhahahah bulls need another person who can actual shoot and score without being completely retarded and immature! al harrington welcome to CHICAGO! KNICK ARE RIDIRKULOUS

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    If they Knicks get Tyrus Thomas, that would make the Jordan Hill pick ABSOLUTELY useless. Another great move by the Knicks for not picking up a point guard in the draft. As well, Harrington is one of their best players who can actually score and they decide to play him as 6th man. This trade would upgrade the Bulls so much, especially since they don’t have a real 3pt threat since Gordon then.

  • slamfan4life

    It would def help out chi, but im gonna miss tyrus dunkin on peeps

  • Sparker

    esp since the last time the bulls did a deal with the knicks, it worked out so well for new york

  • LA Huey

    @niQ, I agree about the J. Hill pick. Too bad Jennings wasn’t avai…er…nevermind. Harrington would be a help in the short-term but unless Tyrus has work ethic issues they might be giving up too early.

  • Simmy Sosa

    You know whats going to be awesome? When the big free agents resign with their respective teams and the Knicks announce Corey Maggette as their one and only signing.

  • JDH21

    Any deal with Bulls consummate with the Knicks is a good one in my mind. Considering they got Tyrus for Eddy Curry to begin with and another first round pick as well I believe. The reason the Bulls don’t take guys like JR Smith and Tyrus and turn them into players is because they don’t fit their system. For that Matter how many systems in the league would JR Smith honestly fit?

  • God Shamgod

    Any deal that the Bulls consummate with the Knicks is a good one in my mind. Considering they got Tyrus for Eddy Curry to begin with and another first round pick as well I believe. The reason the Bulls don’t take guys like JR Smith and Tyrus and turn them into players is because they don’t fit their system. For that Matter how many systems in the league would JR Smith honestly fit? The bulls trading Lamarcus Aldridge for Tyrus to begin with is upsetting, but that fact that they could have got BRoy is far worse.

  • Orlando Woolridge

    I wouldn’t mind having JR on the Bulls right now actually. It would give the Bulls an outside threat they need so badly. He’s a moron in my opinion, but he has skills.

  • http://myspace.com/rsaenz24 RoG23

    Earl Smith would fit almost all 6 man systems. I can’t see him starting anywhere. Maybe NY. Okay NY, NJ, MIN

  • http://myspace.com/rsaenz24 RoG23

    I think JR Smith is good. He has to be because he has a fade !

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Good trade for Chicago, they need all the scoring they can get. Tyrus Thomas is more skilled than Taj Gibson but Taj is already a better basketball player.

  • jpen

    wat does d bulls really need? INSIDE SCORING=DAVID LEE!!

  • http://joe@aol.com Mike

    Good trade for the Knicks.

    Now the Knicks have to trade Duhon . . . to anyone . . . for anyone . . . or anything

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    So, what we’ve established is that the Knick have no interest at all in being competitive.

  • Tim

    Is it just me or does D’Antoni have a myth of being a offensive genius?
    With out a legit point guard that can run on the break they have nothing
    Suns only did well because of Nash/Amare
    compared to Duhon/Lee

    FREE NATE ROBINSON

  • LA Huey

    @Z, I don’t know about Ty having more skill. Raw talent, for sure. But Taj is definitely a better player.

  • a_whiteman

    When was jr on the bulls? I thought he came to denver straight from nawlins

  • Orlando Woolridge

    JR came over along with PJ Brown when the Bulls traded Tyson.

  • http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

    Hey they have a plan allen. The plan is : bench their second best scorer, trade their best scorer, let said second best scorer and best rebounder/player walk at the end of the year. Sign King James and play him all 48 minutes at all five positions simultaneously.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    This would make sense if the Knicks had a freaking draft pick next year…geez they’re management is so retarded…

  • Ghost (of Mario Elie)

    So let me get this straight.. The Knicks trade the rights to what would become Tyrus Thomas to Chicago for Eddy Curry which has been a bust. Al Harrington has been the best player and one of the few bright spots for the team. Now they want to trade Harrington for the injured Tyrus Thomas and Jerome James whose tenure with the Knicks was spent on an exercise bike. Why do they want James back? and why do the Knicks look for prospects on other teams’ injured lists?

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Just when you think the Knicks can’t get any worse…I guess Thorn and Walsh have some type of high stakes bet on who’s franchise can lose the most games this year.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    I may be the first to say this. “FREE WILSON CHANDLER!”

  • http://slamonline.com/ niQ

    Bryan you forgot the part about paying James all 5 salaries as well.

  • Seven Duece

    Lord, everyone mentioned in this trade can suck it.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    cosign brad long

  • MBE18

    Make it happen!!!!!!
    Let Gallo get more playing time!!!!!!

  • http://www.sixers.com 360vue

    Tyrus is a highlight machine. Shame the rest of his game isn’t as developed. Harrington’s contract expires this year though doesn’t it? And he is the only other player, aside from Lee, who has had a substantial positive impact this year. I don’t get it

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    WHY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Did someone let Isiah in to use the phone?

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Al Harrington is the BEST PLAYER ON THE KNICKS RIGHT NOW. You can’t be f*cking serious! FOR TYRUS THOMAS?! F*ckin’ Knicks once again manage to suck @ss. This is the Jamal Crawford trade all over again.
    Harrington is the only Knick averaging 20+ ppg and he does it coming off the bench. What more can you ask of him? Now you’re going to trade his @ss for ANOTHER UNSKILLED FORWARD, WHEN YOU NEED GOOD PERIMETER PLAYERS?!
    Al Harrington, Toney Douglas, Wilson Chandler, and maybe Danilo Gallinari are the ONLY players worth keeping beyond 2010. F*cking stupid @ss management.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I can’t wait for the Knicks to bring back John Starks

  • Da-Bulls-Fan

    The Bulls and Knicks need to look at maybe a three team trade with Houston. Harrington to Chicago, Curry, Thomas & James to Houston, and T. Mac to Knicks. This would give the bulls another scores, that maybe they can resign. Rockets get to dump T. Mac and pickup another scoring w\ Thomas and the Knicks could free up almost $72 Mil in expiring contracts.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    If Jerome James comes back to NY it will eclipse Iverson going back to Philly. Make it happen!

  • knickerbonkers

    sighhh why are they doing this to me? James?!? Why? Seriously, why? You know we shoulda kept n played Marbury. We would have still sucked but then we would have picked up Iverson and had Nate as backup. That woulda been entertaining in and out of the lockerroom.

  • Da-Bulls-Fan

    Hey dont shoot the messenger. That’s the deal that’s on the table now. Thomas and James for Harrington. The truth is neither teams are going to the finals this year, heck maybe not even the playoffs. And Harrington is no going to resign with the knick. So you might as well free up some cash to sign a Wade\Bosh or LeBron\Bosh combo or something.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Da Bulls FAn: Trust me, the Rockets do NOT need Tyrus Thomas.

  • ab_40

    ok well he isn’t the low post scoring option they wanted but harrington and deng starting at the trhee and four is better then deng and thomas. Just do it. he’s stromwile swift no. 2. you know they hired scottie pippen to work with him on his game and he’s still doing the same dumb things on the court. And the knicks are gonna suck even more with thomas. oh and if this goes through jordan hill will start crying

  • http://alan.george@gmail.com Breeze

    well see i think people are over-reacting because it was a high doubt that al harrington was coming back this year anyway so why not get something im not specifying on jerome james but thomas could be a good energy assist some start they suppose to sign next year as in bosh or even amare ..now they got chandler who is really a high jumber and not a better shooter yet then al-harrignton but jordan hill will eventually dissapear. and maybe you get wade which is doubtful since i think they can sign bosh..or you get amare…or boozer….tyrus and a boozer/lebron or wade connect doesnt sound so bad ..jerome can keep the jokes flowings..

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