Last month, the Chicago Bulls' Front Office claimed they didn't believe they'd be able to get insurance on a new contract for Eddy Curry ? another supposed factor in their decision to trade the 6-11 center instead of re-signing the restricted free agent. This ongoing saga seems to have a new twist in it.

Apparently, they didn't try hard enough.

According to reports, the Knicks were making strong headway in getting Curry's six-year, $60 million contract insured. The normal NBA contract is insured 80 percent against a career-ending ailment, minus a half-season deductible.

An L.A. heart specialist from Good Samaritan Hospital, Dr. David Cannom, who examined Curry on behalf of the Bulls in August, spoke with the Knicks Tuesday.

"My understanding is they were very close to getting insurance," said Dr. Cannom. Dr. Cannom and cardiologists from Cornell and Tufts examined Curry in August and gave him a clean bill of health. The Knicks consulted with Dr. Cannom six weeks ago when they were researching the Curry case. After the Knicks made the trade Oct. 3, six more doctors reviewed Curry's latest round of heart tests.