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Pistons get Hunter for CurryJoe Dumars continued his tinkering with the Pistons' roster Thursday, making a trade that could take care of immediate and more pressing future needs. Pistons captain and starting guard Michael Curry was sent to the Toronto Raptors in a straight-up exchange for guard Lindsey Hunter. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Hunter, who was the Pistons' top draft pick in 1993 and played for the team for seven seasons. "We're very comfortable with Lindsey after having him play here in the past," said Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations. "We know what type of energy and effort he brings to the game." The Curry-Hunter trade brings several implications. Dumars has been trying to clear salary-cap space for next summer, when center Mehmet Okur becomes a restricted free agent. Okur's stock is rising in the NBA. The Pistons are preparing to deal with a looming high-priced bidding war to keep him, in anticipation of Okur having another breakout season. Okur is set to earn $1.1 million this season. He made $1 million in his rookie year last season. Point guard Gilbert Arenas triggered a similar financial frenzy this summer when he became a restricted free agent. He left the Golden State Warriors, signing a six-year, $65 million deal with the Washington Wizards. Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Curry swapped for HunterThe Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have acquired forward Michael Curry from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for guard Lindsey Hunter. “Michael is a solid veteran who is known for his defensive ability,” said Senior Vice-President and General Manager Glen Grunwald. “(Head Coach) Kevin (O’Neill) coached Michael the past two seasons in Detroit and highly recommended him to us.” Curry, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, is a nine-year NBA veteran who has seen action in 579 regular-season games, averaging 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds. He has also appeared in 36 postseason contests. Curry averaged 3.0 points, 1.6 assists and 19.9 minutes in 78 contests last season. He ranked tied for fourth among league leaders for fewest turnovers (0.55). He tallied a season-best 11 points versus Miami and Orlando. The past two seasons as a starter with the Pistons he helped lead them to back-to-back 50-win seasons and consecutive Central Division championships. Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Deal expected soon; Atkins next to go?Michael Curry and Lindsey Hunter have been friends since the Pistons signed Curry to a 10-day contract on Jan. 31, 1996. Hunter soon should return to the Pistons, but at his friend's expense. The Pistons and Toronto Raptors, the Free Press has learned, are expected to announce a deal that would send Curry -- Detroit's captain and starting small forward -- to Toronto for Hunter -- a versatile guard who spent an injury-plagued year across the border after being dealt by the Lakers. Acquiring Hunter could signal the end of Chucky Atkins' tenure in Detroit. Atkins, a 5-foot-10 point guard who started until last season, is on the trading block for salary cap reasons. He is halfway through a six-year, $22.5-million contract. The Pistons need cap room for next summer because of Mehmet Okur, who becomes a restricted free agent and could command a handsome salary if he has a big season. Teams could offer Okur a fat contract and the Pistons would have to match it or risk losing the 24-year-old Turk, who will compete to be the starting center after finishing his rookie season with a stellar playoff run. Returning to Detroit won't require much of a living adjustment for Hunter, who kept his suburban home after he was traded to Milwaukee for Billy Owens on Aug. 22, 2000. The Pistons would use Hunter as their fourth guard and, at 6-feet-2, 195 pounds, to defend small point guards. (The other guards, besides Atkins, are Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Bob Sura.) Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Pistons Aug 2003 Archive
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