Chicago Bulls Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Terry, Hill, Parker, Bulls

March 30th, 2012 at 10:53am CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few Friday morning links….

According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, Jason Terry won't be willing to take a discount to stay with the Mavericks. Terry, an unrestricted free agent at season's end, would prefer to remain in Dallas, but at a fair market price, says Kyler. Terry said yesterday that he'd be interested in signing with the Heat this summer, so I wonder if the no-discount stance applies to them as well — as a taxpaying team, Miami couldn't make Terry a very significant offer.
Suns forward Grant Hill will undergo minor knee surgery and could miss the rest of the regular season, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
Retirement is becoming a distinct possibility for Anthony Parker, says Bob Finnan of The News-Herald. As he has said before, the veteran Cavalier will weigh his options, including retiring, at season's end: "It's not something I've decided on. Obviously, it will be decided after the season."
In a mailbag for Bulls.com, Sam Smith fields readers' questions on Derrick Rose, Greg Oden, Joakim Noah, and more.

Lakers Notes: Bynum, Kupchak, Fisher

March 30th, 2012 at 8:43am CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers lost just their fifth home game of the season last night, falling to the Thunder after a 17-point, third-quarter surge from Russell Westbrook. Derek Fisher and his new team will return to face the Lakers at the Staples Center once more before season's end, and if last night's game is any indication, the two squads could provide a pretty entertaining playoff matchup as well. Here's the latest buzz surrounding the Lakers:

Andrew Bynum's misguided three-point attempt earlier this week was "only the tip of the iceberg," the latest in a "catalogue of items" that have annoyed Lakers' coaches and management, a team source tells Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News.
Speaking to Sam Amick of SI.com, GM Mitch Kupchak downplayed the drama surrounding Bynum's benching, saying the team will deal with any issues internally.
Kupchak also said that he felt trading Derek Fisher was necessary for Ramon Sessions' sake: "Derek's an icon. You know [if you're Sessions] that you're walking past Derek and saying, 'I'm taking his minutes.' For a young developing player, that's really not fair to do. What if Ramon has a bad game at home, and the crowd starts to cheer for [Derek], you know what I mean? It's not right."
Fisher had his own view on the trade that sent him to Houston, as Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports writes. "I’ve always thought there are different ways to handle trades and waiver-type situations where there can be some more communication," Fisher said. "Not necessarily far in advance but enough not to have to find out from the mailman or at the post office that you’ve been traded."
Fisher added that he received inquiries from five teams, including the Heat and Bulls, after he was bought out by the Rockets.

Odds & Ends: Clippers, Ewing, Bulls, Sixers

March 29th, 2012 at 8:03pm CST by Daniel Seco

As the Wizards take on the Pacers in the first of four Thursday night games, let's take a look around the league to see what's happening from coast to coast.

DeAndre Jordan has embraced the heightened expectations surrounding the Clippers and understands the resiliency needed to overcome setbacks such as a recent three-game losing streak, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Instead of letting the downturn ruin their season, the Clippers responded by winning three in a row.
If Mike Woodson isn't the long-term answer for the Knicks, Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing wants to throw his name into the mix as the next head coach at Madison Square Garden, but may not have history on his side, says Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. As a 7-footer, Ewing would become only the seventh head coach in NBA history with a height of 6-foot-10 or taller.
While much of the Bulls' success stems from stellar play by their stars, a growing phenomenon dubbed the 'Bench Mob' has aided in the team's success, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Taj Gibson and Omer Asik are among a group of Bulls bench players who have stepped up their play to help close out games.
A major reason for the Sixers' strong season stems from their ability to beat lesser teams, writes Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The squad is 18-5 on the season against sub .500 teams, which currently places as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for the Sixers, an inability to beat quality teams may spell an early end to their season come playoff time.

Hinrich Wouldn’t Mind Return To Bulls

March 28th, 2012 at 8:17pm CST by Chuck Myron

Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his nine-year career this summer, and he's open to returning to the Bulls, where he spent his first seven seasons, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

"I wouldn't be opposed to it," he said. "It's still a ways away, and a lot can happen. We'll see. I have no preconceived thoughts on what will happen."

Hinrich, 31 is on the last year of a five-year, $48.75MM deal he signed the Bulls before the traded him to the Wizards in 2010 to clear cap space for that year's heralded crop of free agents. The Wizards sent him to the Hawks at the trade deadline a year ago.

Johnson points out that Hinrich will have to take a pay cut to go back to Chicago, as the Bulls' commitments will put them over the cap and close to the luxury tax line next season. That would leave only cap exceptions or a minimum-salary deal at their disposal. Hinrich also said he's enjoyed his time with the Hawks, who possess his Bird rights and only have $60.9MM on next year's payroll.

The former Kansas standout is suffering through perhaps his worst season, putting up career lows in points (9.8) and assists (3.7) per 36 minutes. The Bulls have shown they have plenty of backcourt depth this season when Derrick Rose and Richard Hamilton have been sidelined by injury, but Rose, Hamilton and rookie swingman Jimmy Butler are the only guards whose contracts are fully guaranteed next year. Bringing back Hinrich is not a move the Bulls have a pressing need for, but if Hinrich is willing to make it happen at a bargain, they may take him up on that.

Injury Updates: Stoudemire, Hamilton, Gordon

March 28th, 2012 at 10:20am CST by Luke Adams

With the season winding down, health and injury issues loom larger than ever. Teams with injured players may look to find reinforcements via 10-day contracts or rest-of-season deals, while free-agents-to-be with injury woes could see their stocks affected by their health problems. Here are a few Wednesday morning updates on a few such situations:

The Knicks announced today that Amare Stoudemire will undergo non-surgical treatment on a bulging disk, and will miss two-to-four weeks (Twitter link). With Carmelo Anthony and Jeremy Lin also battling nagging injuries, New York could look to the D-League or free agency to add depth.
Richard Hamilton is "very close" to returning for the Bulls and there's a chance he plays tonight, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. I'd imagine Mike James' contract status relies on Hamilton's health to some extent, though the Bulls have the roster space to bring James back for the rest of the season either way.
The Hornets could have Eric Gordon back in their lineup in "a matter of days," writes Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. A centerpiece in the Chris Paul trade and a restricted free agent at season's end, Gordon has played just two games for New Orleans. A healthy final few weeks for him could make a significant impact on the contract he signs this summer.

Odds & Ends: Turiaf, Arenas, Lakers, Greene

March 26th, 2012 at 10:24am CST by Luke Adams

Let's check in on a few Monday morning odds and ends from around the league….

The player option included in Ronny Turiaf's deal with the Heat for next season is worth $1.2MM, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
This week's Morning Tip column from TNT's David Aldridge examines the Bulls and the Pacers, and includes an interview with Dwight Howard.
Although the Lakers worked out Gilbert Arenas before the veteran guard signed with the Grizzlies, it doesn't sound like L.A. was ever close to adding him, as coach Mike Brown tells Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times: "Unless something gets real close or it might not even get close, I'm not always involved with the process. It never got to a point where they wanted my opinion on it or said we're not going to do it because of this or that."
Facing free agency this summer, Kings forward Donte Greene just has a few more weeks to prove his value, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
Keith Langlois of Pistons.com fields questions on the Pistons' draft and free agent outlook in his latest mailbag.

Odds & Ends: Chandler, Bulls, Lakers

March 25th, 2012 at 9:35am CST by Daniel Seco

With eight games on the Sunday schedule, let's take a look around the NBA to see what's going on as the season takes a turn into the final stretch.

Not only was the signing of Tyson Chandler one of the best free-agent acquisitions of the entire offseason with regard to a player's ability to contribute on the court, it was also one of the best additions of leadership to a lockerroom, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
The Chicago Sun-Times says the Bulls are in no rush to bring back Derrick Rose and Richard Hamilton before they are properly healed especially considering how well they are playing without the two stars.
Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News reports the Lakers' main objective is to improve their seeding with hopes of making a championship run and solidify homecourt advantage heading into the playoffs.

Bulls Plan To Re-Sign Mike James In April

March 24th, 2012 at 11:55am CST by Zachary Links

Mike James‘ second ten-day contract with the Bulls expired on Friday and the veteran guard wasn’t present at the team’s morning shootaround. The team’s plan for James now is to re-sign him at some point next month, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

Until then, the Bulls are left with two vacant roster spots and could use one to sign Rasual Butler. James, 36, saw time in eight games for Chicago this season and averaged 5.4 PPG and 3.1 APG in 11.4 minutes per contest.

Odds & Ends: Butler, Heisley, Kroenke, Bayless

March 23rd, 2012 at 11:20pm CST by Chuck Myron

Much of the NBA spent the evening with concerns about Celtics swingman Mickael Pietrus, who suffered a head injury during tonight's game with the 76ers and left the arena in an ambulance. It originally appeared Pietrus would spend the night in a hospital, as ESPN's Chris Forsberg and others reported, but apparently his injury, a concussion, will allow him to return home for the night, Forsberg tweets. Here's more from around the Association:

Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel reports that Rasual Butler, who is drawing attention from the Bulls, would have gotten a look from the Heat at the beginning of the season had they not signed Shane Battier (Twitter link).
Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is out of the running to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers, but separate groups that include Magic Johnson and Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke remain in the hunt with a decision looming as soon as next week, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
Raptors backup point guard Jerryd Bayless shined while starter Jose Calderon missed games with injury earlier this month, and Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld argues the team should bring back the restricted free agent this summer and give him a larger role.
Despite a loss to the Raptors tonight, the Knicks have been playing markedly better since Mike Woodson took over as coach, but that doesn't mean the team had quit on former coach Mike D'Antoni, Tyson Chandler says, according to Newsday's Al Iannazzone.
Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida tweets that the Pistons have offered retiring Ben Wallace a job for when he hangs up his sneakers, but Wallace is undecided on whether he'll take it.

Bulls Eyeing Rasual Butler, Prioritizing Big Man

March 23rd, 2012 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Mike James' second 10-day contract with the Bulls expires at the end of the day, which will leave Chicago with two open roster spots if the team doesn't re-sign James for the remainder of the season. With an eye on the postseason, the Bulls are considering how best to make use of those two spots.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that Chicago is a potential destination for Rasual Butler, who was waived by the Raptors today. Meanwhile, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune says (on Twitter) that landing a big man is still a priority for the Bulls.

The Bulls have been linked to Leon Powe and were also thought to have a little interest in Ronny Turiaf, but Turiaf quickly signed with the Heat upon clearing waivers. If Chicago decides to use its open roster spots, expect the club to add a shooting guard and a big, but as we heard earlier this week, the team's current players don't feel like an addition is a necessity.