The Chicago Bulls announced today the signing of veteran forward Lawrence Funderburke. Simultaneously, the team has placed center Eddy Curry on the Injured List with an irregular heart beat.
The 6-9, 230-pounder has played six NBA seasons, all with the Sacramento Kings, appearing in 316 games and 21 playoff games. He holds career averages of 6.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 14.9 mpg, while shooting .506 from the field and .676 from the free throw line. The 34-year-old Funderburke was originally selected in the second round (51st overall) by the Sacramento Kings in the 1994 NBA Draft. He spent the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons playing in Greece before six consecutive seasons with the Kings.
Curry appeared in 63 games, including 60 starts, in his fourth season and averaged a career-high 16.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 28.7 mpg, while shooting a team-best .538 from the floor (4th in the NBA) and a career-high .720 from the free throw line. Curry led the Bulls in scoring 19 times and in rebounding on eight occasions. The 6-11, 285-pounder also posted six point-rebound double-doubles this season.
Funderburke will wear number 51 and will be in uniform when Chicago hosts New York at the United Center tomorrow night. The Bulls? roster now stands at 15.