Bulls GM John Paxson has been seriously discussing trade scenarios with the Memphis Grizzlies, surrounding a deal involving Eddy Curry.  Lorenzen Wright and Bo Outlaw are the likely return pieces, and Paxson may choose to expand the deal by including Eddie Robinson.

There are also trade negotiations involving Tyson Chandler and Dikembe Mutumbo being sent to the Houston Rockets.  Scottie Pippin's name has also come up under a variety of trade scenarios.

Despite the ongoing Olympics, Grizzlies forward and Spanish national Pau Gasol is talking contracts.  He will be a restricted free agent next summer and Jerry West is already making the retaining of Gasol a top priority.  Gasol has acknowledged that he hasn't spent a significant amount of time contemplating it, but he is confident that he does intend to resign with the only NBA club he has played with.

The roster of the Shaquille O'Neal era in Miami remains a makeshift one.  The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that O'Neal is high on Memphis point guard Jason Williams and Pat Riley is currently exploring scenarios where they can bring in the former University of Florida player.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal confirms that the Memphis Grizzlies have asked the Chicago Bulls about trading center Eddy Curry, but the part about Stromile Swift and Bonzi Wells being the two that the Grizzlies are offering in return is not.

According to a league source, three other teams have presented the Bulls with offers for Curry, and Bulls general manager John Paxson remains somewhat hesitant to move the Bulls' big man.

Memphis is still trying to land Golden State free agent Erick Dampier via a sign and trade, with Curry being their fall back plan.  With Atlanta appearing to be the favorites to land Dampier's services after offering a six year - $50 million deal the Grizzlies may come up dry on both of their targets.

Erick Dampier's status is the focal point of the NBA's off-season at present, and this saga is also impacting the Cleveland Cavaliers' planning.

Teams pursuing Dampier include Atlanta, Memphis, Indiana and New York.

The Cavaliers are not in the Dampier sweepstakes but the matter affects them because they have targeted Iakovos Jake Tsakalidis to be their backup center behind Zydrunas Ilgauskas.  

The 7-foot-2, 285-pounder is a restricted free agent and the Grizzlies hold his rights.  Memphis would like to use him and power forward Stromile Swift in a sign-and-trade with Golden State to bring back Dampier.

Memphis President Jerry West hasn't given up hope yet of landing Erick Dampier, despite negotiations that have lasted for most of the summer.

"It's been frustrating," West said in a telephone interview. "But this (summer negotiating) is the fun part. I haven't lost patience. You have to be persistent. We're still trying."

Free agent power forward Stromile Swift is not believed to be part of the deal. West would not discuss specifics, though.

"All I can say is we're still working," West said. "I would say that things are very busy but very quiet. There have been a number of times when we thought we were in a good position to get something done.

"But we need a lot of cooperation to get this done. We need us, an agent and another team. Nothing is looming. But we're hopeful."