CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – The New York Knicks were waiting for Eddy Curry to report to training camp amid suspense about medical tests into the irregular heartbeat that prompted Chicago to trade him this week.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas and coach Larry Brown had hoped Curry would make it to the College of Charleston on Wednesday, but by late afternoon, team spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said Curry likely would not work out until Thursday. Before then, the team will not reveal anything about the 22-year-old’s health status.

“My gut feeling is that we probably won’t have an update today,” Supranowitz said.

Along with Curry, Chicago traded veteran forward Antonio Davis in the deal the NBA approved Tuesday. The Knicks sent forwards Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney and Jermaine Jackson to Chicago. Several draft picks also were involved in the deal.

Curry, the Bulls’ leading scorer last season, missed the final 13 games of the regular season and the playoffs after the irregular heartbeat was diagnosed.

Brown had crossed his fingers that Curry would pass his physical and heart tests and join the Knicks.

“I don’t know. I was asking Isiah, but we don’t know,” Brown said. “I hope they can come. When it happens, it happens. It’s the second day, so I don’t think it’s critical.”

Thomas promised Tuesday night that doctors examining Curry would find any potential problems. Brown wouldn’t speculate about his newest center.

“Hey, I’m a coach. I’m not into that other stuff,” he said. “Whatever guys show up here I’m happy about and try to coach them the best I can.”

Chicago didn’t want to part with Curry, but team officials demanded he take a DNA test to see if he’s susceptible to cardiomyopathy, the ailment that killed former Boston Celtics guard Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers. Curry refused, saying the test violated his privacy because it could also be used to determine if he was predisposed to a host of other conditions going into his fifth NBA season.

Thomas had said the Knicks couldn’t give Curry a DNA test because of New York’s privacy and employment laws. If Curry plays, he’ll join six-year NBA veteran Jerome James (7-foot-1) and rookie Channing Frye (6-11) in the Knicks’ revamped front-court rotation.

“Anytime you’re in the NBA, you’re going to have good people playing with you,” said Frye, the Arizona center taken with the eighth pick overall last June. “We’re a good team and we’re going to be a better team because of him.”

James, who signed as a free agent in August after spending the past four seasons with Seattle, was not bothered that Curry’s addition might cut into his playing time.

“I’m 29,” James said. “I lost my ego somewhere around my fifth season.”

James thinks he and Curry will solidify the Knicks’ inside presence.

Much was expected out of Curry after the Bulls selected him in the 2002 draft out of Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill., but he came into the league overweight and struggled his first three seasons.

Last season, Curry lost 40 pounds and broke through to lead the Bulls in scoring with a 16.1 average. He played a major role as the Bulls won 47 games and reached the playoffs for the first time since 1998 – when Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen led them to their sixth NBA title.

“He’s a guy that can dominate,” Knicks guard Allan Houston said.

AP-ES-10-05-05 1837EDT

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