Bulls not lacking for Thomas suitors

The Charlotte Bobcats bid Acie Law(notes), and Flip Murray(notes), a league executive said. The Bobcats have been searching for a long, athletic forward like Thomas, the fourth pick in the 2007 draft, and are expected to be aggressive pursuers. Portland Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard made an offer they’ll have to improve upon to be taken seriously – one of his expiring contracts (Steve Blake(notes) or Travis Outlaw(notes)) and two future second-round draft picks.
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The New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Hornets are among the multiple teams who’ve spoken to Chicago about Thomas. The Bulls are telling people that they have several teams willing to offer first-round picks – in 2010 or beyond.

Bulls management is telling teams they expect to take the bidding right to the Feb. 18 deadline.

The latest news is old news in that the Bulls have contacted the Knicks again regarding Al Harrington's availability. Those teams also talked in a rumor that leaked in early December.

A deal involving Thomas and Jannero Pargo for Harrington would need other salaries to work under the collective bargaining agreement.

Portland's interest in Thomas is believed not to be serious. Denver also is hesitant to take on a player whose qualifying offer is $6.2 million this summer as a restricted free agent.

The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets made bids for Thomas over the weekend, league sources said. The Nuggets have actively searched for a big man in recent weeks, working to pry younger (DeAndre Jordan(notes)) and older ones (Antonio McDyess(notes) and Ben Wallace(notes)) without success.

After losing out on Caron Butler(notes) to the Mavericks, Houston has gotten serious with bids for Thomas and Washington’s Antawn Jamison(notes), sources said.

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Nevertheless, here are two developments to watch with Thomas: Several league executives suggested the Minnesota Timberwolves could be a sleeper for him. Minnesota general manager David Kahn has been researching Thomas and has plenty of assets – three 2010 first-round picks, multiple second-rounders and a host of expiring contracts – to make it happen.

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This prompted several executives to suggest the Blazers were working on a three-team trade, including one Eastern Conference general manager who had been told the elements of the package included Thomas and Vujacic to Portland, the Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich(notes) to Los Angeles and the Lakers’ Adam Morrison(notes), another expiring deal and a first-round pick to the Bulls.

Trade talk: League sources said the Bulls are still involved in talks with the Nuggets Rockets and Spurs regarding Tyrus Thomas. It's unknown if the Knicks' pursuit of Tracy McGrady has affected their interest in Thomas.

In smaller news, Tyrus Thomas is likely to be traded. Big surprise right? Thomas’ has been discussed in almost a dozen different scenarios and is almost certain to be moved by Thursday. If Al Harrington is not part of a T-Mac deal, look for a Tyrus-Harrington swap (and salaries to make it match) to go down.