By David Pincus
October 3, 2005
[email protected]
Title: NBA Free Agents

        The biggest free agent left (literally) had been Bulls Center Eddy
Curry, who showed interest in the horribly ran Knicks and Hawks. Even though
Chicago has been dangling him like a fish for the good part of a year, he
was still a restricted free agent, and would've returned to the Bulls had he
been on friendlier terms with them. He's unrestricted next year, so will
other teams express interest him?
The Knicks had temporarily given up on Eddy Curry, partially since they
needed to justify the massive contract they gave to Jerome James, but Isiah
Thomas and salary cap have never seen eye-to-eye, and Curry is welcomed
aboard. Curry at his best is a lot like Shaq: tough to stop and good down
low. Eddy Curry at his worst is a lot like Shawn Kemp: overweight, can't
rebound, or move without the ball and can't play defense. Stan Van Gundy
personally asked Shaq to lose weight, and Scott Skiles needs to ask the same
of Curry if he is to avoid the heart complications he experienced last year.
Other teams will shy away from Curry when he is an unrestricted free agent
next year, because internal complications aren't as seldom in the NBA as
David Stern would like. Reggie Lewis, Alonzo Mourning, Sean Elliott, and now
Ronny Turiaf have missed extensive amounts of time in their careers, with
Reggie Lewis dying in the end. That won't encourage teams to sign long-term
contracts with Curry, and on the wake of Thomas Herrion's death, obesity is
definitely something that has to be brought up. Weighing 285 pounds at 6'11
isn't very overweight, but heart problems do paint a clear picture. Oh, and
I nearly forgot his problems with management. This year could very likely be
his last in Chicago.
Overall, spending an hour a day in the gym can cure Curry's problems. At
6'11, 5.4 RPG just has to be worked on. With only one dominant Center in the
NBA, Curry should be an investment for any team, if he isn't breathing funny
that is.