Bulls management sure can! Only after the team was eliminated from the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes on Monday did word get out that the Bulls were serious contenders.

While the Bulls seemed awfully quiet since the free agent period began on July 1, senior management was actually secretly meeting with Bryant in California. Kobe had even discussed a possible visit to Chicago, a step which he had not reached with other teams interested in signing him.

The Bulls came up short in part because the Lakers refused to take part in a sign-and-trade deal, which would have been necessary to clear enough salary cap room to accomodate Bryant's probable seven-year, $136.4 million contract.

On Monday, Bryant informed the Bulls he had narrowed his choices to the L.A. Lakers and L.A. Clippers. Kobe is expected to make his final decision today.

Once again, Chicagoist is left dreaming about what could have been...