Hunter fails physical, so that trade's on hold
By PHIL JASNER
jasnerp@phillynews.com
In his brief time with the 76ers, Steven Hunter didn't pass muster. Traded Wednesday to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, the 7-foot center apparently didn't pass his physical.
That left the trade of Hunter and cash considerations for second-round draft choices in 2006 and '07 temporarily on hold. Also on hold was the $2.85 million trade exception the Sixers created in the deal.
"We're in discussions," Sixers president/general manager Billy King said. "Our doctors are talking with their doctors."
There was no word on the specific nature of the problem. King was hoping to have the situation resolved in the course of the weekend.
There was also reason to believe that King was waiting to see whether the Chicago Bulls might waive or buy out former Sixer Tim Thomas by the Feb. 23 trading deadline. If that were to happen, a source confirmed that King might consider signing him to a minimum-salary contract.
Thomas, who played one season at Villanova, was a first-round draft choice of the New Jersey Nets and traded to the Sixers. He spent one full season with the Sixers, then was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks the following season.
Thomas has been on the Bulls' inactive list and appeared in only three games this season (4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.7 minutes). He was acquired from the Knicks on Oct. 5 in the Eddy Curry deal.