Looks like other teams have to try harder if they want to pry away Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, or Jamal Crawford from the Chicago Bulls as GM Paxson shoots down rumors right and left.

''There is no truth to those rumors whatsoever,'' Paxson said Tuesday of talk that Curry was on the trading block. ''That's a bunch of nonsense. I've always said that we want to improve our team and we're doing that, and we always listen when people have something to say. We have received offers for Curry, [Tyson] Chandler and Jamal [Crawford]. But we have received nothing worth paying much attention to. We have no intention of trading them and we are not shopping them.

''In fact, since the draft I have not received one phone call from any general managers about any of our players. If somebody wanted to acquire Curry, they would have to make an offer that makes total sense because there aren't that many guys coming along with his size and his skill level. If we got to the point where we felt he couldn't become the kind of center we feel he can become, we would be interested in trading him. But we haven't gotten anywhere even close to that.''

Paxson made it clear that he will not let rampant speculation force his hand in trades.

''The easiest thing to do is get players' names and salaries and sit down and say the Bulls should get this guy or the guys should get that guy,'' Paxson said. ''There is more to doing a deal than that. It's not that easy at all. I got blasted by a lot of people and e-mails on draft day because I did not do the deal for [Indiana Pacers forward] Al Harrington. Well, the truth of the matter is that we tried. But they wouldn't do the deal. And we certainly are not going to give away players or do deals that help other teams but hurt us.''

Paxson said the drafting of guards Gordon and Duhon doesn't mean Crawford is history.

''That is a great misconception that I tried my best to put to rest on the night of the draft,'' Paxson said. ''Obviously, there are only two guards out on the floor at any given time. But you have to have a guard rotation and that's one of the things I thought we are able to build up in the draft. There is the belief that we will not match Jamal's contract offer.

''Well, we are going to talk with Jamal and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, on Thursday and see where they are coming from, and we will start that conversation. We have every intention of bringing him back. He's in our long-range budget proposals. We are going to see where the market is with Jamal and we will act on that. As long as I feel a player is signed to a tradeable contract, we will do everything we can to sign that player.''

The Jamal Crawford race will begin Thursday, with everyone trying to pry the free agent somehow away from the Bulls. Chicago has made a qualifying offer for Crawford, which gives them 15 days to match any offers he receives as a restricted free agent.

The teams that are supposedly interested are the Bulls, the Knicks, Nuggets, Sonics, Bobcats, Phoenix, Utah and the Clippers.

Shaq, T-Mac and Ray Allen.  Where will they go?

The Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers.  How will these two teams revamp their rosters?

These are some of the big questions of the coming months in the NBA, an off-season that is rich with free agents and promises to be rife with intrigue and player movement.

The article also discusses the impending labor discussions.  With indicators of popularity and revenues on the rise again, the NBA owners still want to roll back player salaries.  But one official is confident that no obstacle will be too big this time around:  "This isn't the NHL," said one league source. "I still think we'll get it done."

The two sides will talk throughout the month of July.

Ho hum draft? Of course it was, Isiah Thomas was not involved making a splash, but have no fear, the days look to be heating up with Crawford in the Knicks President's sights.

Although he appears to be playing it low-key, "Everything they've said about Crawford is they like him and intend to keep him," he said. "They could have a three-guard rotation. Chicago said they're happy with them. We'll see."

Isiah Thomas seems to be watching the situation in Chicago after they picked Ben Gordon. Regardless, people from Chicago say they'll be happy with a 3 guard rotation of new draft pick Ben Gordon, last year's pick Kirk Hinrich, and the rumor induced Crawford.

Still, much of that is considered just talk as Crawford still sees New York as a place he is extremely interested in.

"I definitely will [consider them]," he told The Post in April. "I don't look at him as Isiah the general manager. I look at him as Isiah one of the best players ever to play and also a good friend. I love coming here a couple of times a year. I'd be excited to play in this atmosphere every night. It would be unbelievable."

In the first pick of the draft, the Orlando Magic selected Dwight Howard, the Atlanta high schooler.  The Charlotte Bobcats then selected their chosen centerpiece, Emeka Okafor.  This ended long much speculation as to which big man would be chosen first, the solid UConn star, or the potential-laden youngster, Howard.

Orlando's selection seemingly fell into Charlotte's plan, as many speculated the Bobcat's were aching to get Okafor in the #2 spot.  

With both teams apparently getting what they want, only time will tell which big man was the better choice.

Rounding out the top three were the Bulls and their selection of Ben Gordon.

"The trade, which won't be announced until Thursday, will give the Suns one of the Bulls' second-round picks (No. 31), a future first-rounder and an undisclosed sum of cash in return for the pick.

The move is no surprise on one front -- the Bulls have been looking for a second lottery pick. They have had an infatuation with Oregon's Luke Jackson for some time and sources believe Chicago likely will select Jackson with the No. 7 pick."

The Suns were offering the pick to the Magic in a deal involving Tracy McGrayd, but the Suns decided to trade the pick to the Bulls.

The future 1st the Bulls are trading is top-3 protected next  year and top pick protected the following year.

"Why would the Suns give up a high lottery pick for only a future first-rounder? The Suns didn't feel that any player left at No. 7 would help their team immediately. They also wanted the extra cap space. By getting the No. 7 pick off their books, the Suns are suddenly looking at $16.3 million in cap space this summer to make a run at free agents."

The Suns also claim the they are no longer in talks with the Magic for McGrady.

Jay Williams, former Duke standout and #2 pick in the 2002 NBA draft is vying for a NBA comeback despite damaging nerves and tearing ligaments in his left leg in a motorcycle accident in Chicago last summer.  

Williams has undergone intense rehabilitation since the accident, and despite the seriousness of the injury, Williams is confident he can make another run at the NBA.

In a startling and touching business move, The Chicago Bulls decided to buy-out Williams? contract last year despite the fact that riding a motorcycle is in clear violation of his negotiated contract.  Seemingly moved by the generosity received, Williams remains loyal to the Bulls organization, naming them as his first choice to make his return.

Sam Smith says the Orlando Magic want to revamp and save money, so trading the unhappy Tracy McGrady is job one of that mission.

He speculates that Houston may be high on the list of bidders but that McGrady's aversion to practice may not sit well with practice-heavy head coach Jeff Van Gundy.  The Pacers may have the roster to make a T-Mac deal work, and the Suns will have an attractive offer (Shawn Marion and the number 7 pick).

Smith also discusss the possibility of the Bulls swapping picks with the Sixers this week and getting center Samuel Dalembert in a trade that includes Tyson Chandler.  This would open the door for an Eddy Curry trade.

Meanwhile, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun told a Connecticut newspaper that he wouldn't be surprised if the Bulls pick Ben Gordon at No. 3. "I keep getting calls from GMs saying what an incredible athlete he is," he said. "And Chicago is a team that seems to have the most interest."

Deng plans no workout encore

By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter

June 18, 2004, 10:06 PM CDT

Barring an unexpected change, the Bulls will have to be content with one up-close-and-personal look at Luol Deng in advance of Thursday's NBA draft.

Deng, who worked out for Washington on Friday, has no plans to revisit the Bulls for a workout against competition.

The Bulls will bring back Arizona guard Andre Iguodala for a second workout Saturday. He previously worked out against projected second-round competition.

But Iguodala has dropped below Connecticut guard Ben Gordon on the Bulls' wish list, which still includes Deng and a possible trade down for a lower first-round pick and an established NBA player.

Gordon's strong workout at the Berto Center on Tuesday shouldn't be a surprise given the results of combine testing released to teams Friday.

Gordon bench-pressed 185 pounds 12 times, seven times more than Deng, who outweighs him by 28 pounds. Gordon also managed a vertical jump of 37? inches, six more than Deng. Gordon's size?6 feet 2? inches in shoes?could be a deterrent. But general manager John Paxson went against the grain last year in drafting Kirk Hinrich.