Eddy Curry will fly to Los Angeles Thursday to visit noted cardiologist David Cannom before becoming a restricted free agent at midnight Friday.

John Paxson said for the first time publicly on Wednesday that the Bulls would clear Curry to resume physical activity once the meeting with Cannom is completed.

"That's just great news to hear," Curry said by phone. "It's the ending I thought it would come to and the words I've been waiting to hear."

Curry, 22, has been sidelined since March 30 after experiencing an irregular heartbeat before a game in Charlotte. Cannom determined last week that Curry's enlarged heart doesn't constitute a life-threatening situation and is a byproduct of exercise.

Curry also visited heart specialists in Boston and Minneapolis, both of whom wanted to determine if the fourth-year center is genetically disposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially fatal condition.

If the Bulls have remaining health concerns about Curry, look for them to materialize in the form of short-term or incentive-laden offers during the free-agent negotiating period, which begins Friday and lasts until July 22.

"I've said all along I want to stay in Chicago, and that's still the case," he said. "Some people think playing in my hometown is tough or a distraction for me, but I've always looked at it as a positive.

"Plus, this is the team I started out with and now we're building something. We have a great group of young players, the fans have always supported us and [coach Scott] Skiles will be around for the next four years. He has proved what he can do as a coach. I'm excited."

Curry is eager to resume working out to shed the 10-15 pounds he has added in his three months of inactivity.

"I want to show that last summer wasn't a fluke and I will," Curry said. "I was in the best shape of my career last season and I plan to be in even better shape next season."

Atlanta and Cleveland reportedly will show interest in Curry. Paxson plans to be proactive with Curry, but how his health situation affects his market value will be interesting to monitor.

NBA players approved their new labor agreement Tuesday, and Chicago Bulls center Antonio Davis was elected president of the players' association at the union's annual convention.

About 60 players were in attendance, and the vote to ratify the tentative labor agreement was "overwhelmingly in favor," union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

The union reached agreement with the league on a six-year deal last Tuesday. It replaces a seven-year pact that expires June 30.

Once the new agreement is finalized and put into writing, all players will have the opportunity to vote by mail, Wasserman said.

Davis was elected to replace Michael Curry, who is retiring after an 11-year NBA career.

Derek Fisher of Golden State was elected to Davis' former post of first vice president, and P.J. Brown was chosen to take Fisher's spot on the union's executive council.

?The Bulls have had the opportunity to review Dr. David Cannom?s report on Eddy Curry.  His positive report is terrific news for Eddy. The next step is to schedule a face-to-face meeting between Eddy and Dr. Cannom. Our goal has not changed from day one and that is to ensure Eddy?s long term health as our number one priority.?

Dr. David Cannom is the Director of Cardiology at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif.

According to Chicago Tribune writer K.C. Johnson Bulls restricted free agent Eddy Curry could be cleared to resume physical activity as early as Thursday or Friday if team doctors accept the diagnosis of a prominent Los Angeles-based cardiologist.

Dr. David Cannom, an expert on ventricular arrhythmias and chief of cardiology at Good Samaritan Hospital, has determined that Curry's enlarged heart isn't a life-threatening situation and is consistent with an athlete's heart, according to sources.

"I just feel relieved because I want to start working out again," Curry said Wednesday in a phone interview. "I miss playing basketball. I feel weird not playing."

The Chicago Bulls announced today it has agreed to terms on a new contract with Head Coach Scott Skiles? through the 2008-09 season. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Skiles, 41, joined the Bulls on Nov. 28, 2003 and Chicago has posted a 182-161 (.531) record during his tenure. He led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference?s third-best record of 47-35 last season after the team finished just 23-52 in 2003-04 (19-47 under Skiles). The 47 victories last year under Skiles marked the most the franchise has experienced since the 1998 Championship season. Skiles also guided the Bulls to the playoffs last year, ending the team?s six-year postseason drought.

Now that he is back in La-La-Land, Phil Jackson is trying to bring former Bull and one of the NBA?s 50 greatest players, Scottie Pippen, onto the Lakers coaching staff.

Pippen has already been contacted by Jackson about joining the Lakers as an assistant coach, although Pippen is so far unsure if he wants to give up his retirement lifestyle. He ended his playing career before last season.

Buried deep in Sam Smith's latest article for the Chicago Tribune contains a very interesting tidbit.

According to Smith one reason the Cleveland Cavaliers are said to be cool toward Zydrunas Ilgauskas is that they would like to make a major offer to the Bulls' Eddy Curry.  Curry missed the Bulls playoff run with heart problems which still remain a question mark as he heads into his restricted free agent status.

Smith adds that the Atlanta Hawks are also interested in Curry should Andrew Bogut be taken with the first overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Just a day after Scott Skiles declared that he broke off contract negotiations with Chicago, Bulls' GM John Paxson announced that the team had reached a four year extension with its head coach.

"I'm really glad he's back," Paxson said. "This is a big thing for the franchise."

It apperantly took a heart-to-heart talk between Skiles and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf to seal the deal.

"I actually came in this morning and kind of felt bad to say the least about the way things have gone," Skiles said. "I didn't want anything to break down because, you know, sort of foolish pride on my part, or some sort of immaturity on my part. I wanted to have a man-to-man talk with the owner of my team."

Skiles added that any "small, minor misunderstandings" he may have had with the team were cleared up during a talk he had with Bulls' owner Jerry Reinsdorf on Tuesday.

"In pretty short order we had a deal," added Skiles.

After suffering severe injuries in a June 2003 motorcycle accident which almost required the amputation of his left leg former Chicago Bull and Duke standout Jason Williams is getting ever closer to a return to the NBA.

?All the stuff we've been talking about is coming true," said Kevin Bradbury, Williams' business manager. "He can cut, run backward and his lateral movement is good. He just needs to continue strengthening his leg to get all his speed back. But he's close."

Williams first choice would be the Bulls.  Considering the team bought out his $3 million contract even though there were not obligated to do so might explain J-Will?s loyalty.

Contract talks between coach Scott Skiles and the Chicago Bulls have broken down and it is looking less likely that Skiles will come back as a lame duck head coach even if the Bulls pick up his $2.75 million option before June 30.

When Skiles was asked if he could come back as a lame duck head coach, he seemed to indicate that he would not.

"I have to let this sink in," Skiles said. "I have a lot of thinking to do about my future. There are a lot of people I still respect in the organization that I don't want to say anything that isn't well thought out."

Tension between the two sides seems to be worse though to the point that Skiles and his agent Keith Glass do not want to have any further discussions.

Apparently talks broke down over the team's $2.75 million option being ripped up and the 4th year of the purposed $17 million deal not being fully guaranteed.