The Bulls didn't stop wheeling and dealing once they shipped off John Salmons. Later in the day on Thursday, they traded away Tyrus Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats for Flip Murray, Acie Law and a protected, future first-round draft choice. The first year for the pick would be 2012. But Coach Vinny insists the team will continue to focus on this season - with the Bulls tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference - and not on the big free agent market coming up this summer. The team has freed up around $18 million in an attempt to go after some of the big fish this summer, including LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. The Trib's K.C. Johnson takes his best guess at the Bulls' new depth chart.
The Morning After: Bulls Keep Dealing, 'Hawks Keep Skating
Bulls Trade Salmons for Expiring Contracts
With the greatest free agent class of all time available this summer, the Bulls are actively trying to amass as much room under the salary cap with which to lure the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh to Chicago. As today's 2 p.m. trading deadline looms, rumors have linked just about every player on the roster not named Derrick Rose to potential deals. But it's John Salmons who is the first to be sent packing in return for the coveted expiring contracts. Salmons goes to the Milwaukee Bucks in return for Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson Hakkim Warrick and Joe Alexander.
Sports Shuffle
The Sox un-retiring the number 11 isn't the only shuffling going on in the Chicago sports world. The Bulls, Bears, and Blackhawks have their own shuffling going on.
Bulls Lose Hinrich for Up To Two Weeks
In the midst of yet another rough "Circus Trip, " the Bulls got a piece of bad news about Kirk Hinrich and his sprained thumb, an injury suffered during a practice in Portland last week. The guard, who has been the team's sixth man all season, will miss one to two weeks with the injury. A MRI conducted Monday indicated that the injured ligament remains attached to the bone, which is good news in that he'll only miss a limited amount of action. Last year, Hinrich missed 31 games after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his other thumb. Still, the Bulls are already short handed due to Tyrus Thomas' fractured left forearm and the team was lacking in backcourt depth even before Hinrich's injury. How much can they depend on Jannero Pargo and Lindsey Hunter (the oldest player in the NBA) to contribute in the next few games. Let's just hope the Bulls don't do something rash and try to talk Allen Iverson out of retiring!
In Case You Missed It...
There was plenty going on this weekend in the news but we understand if you missed it and were, instead, outside enjoying the amazing warm weather. Here's your chance to catch up.
Thomas Fractures Forearm, Out 4-6 Weeks
The question of whether or not Bulls' forward Tyrus Thomas had the flu when the team sent him home this week is now irrelevant. Thomas will miss the next four to six weeks after fracturing his forearm during a workout yesterday. According to the Tribune:
True Flu or Blue Flu for Tyrus Thomas?
During Tuesday's morning shoot around, the Bulls sent power forward home Tyrus Thomas home with "flu-like symptoms." Thomas missed the Bulls dramatic comeback win against the Milwaukee Bucks last night, with rookie Taj Gibson starting in his place.
Morning Box Score: Bulls Trip T-Wolves Again
The Chicago Bulls continued their hot preseason, completing a home-and-home sweep of the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 94-90 victory Friday night at the United Center. Tyrus Thomas, playing for the first time in four games, led all scorers with 22 points. Taj Gibson added 14 for the Bulls. Despite leading most of the game, the Bulls saw the T-Wolves notch the game at 87-87 with less than a minute to go. But the Bulls hit some key free throws in the waning seconds to push ahead for the win. Said Thomas of his return, "It was good to just come out and play, have some fun and to get the win." Things didn't go so well for the T-Wolves' Kevin Love, who's out for a while after breaking a bone in his non-shooting hand. The Bulls only have a pair of preseason games left; the first is next Monday at home against Orlando (7 p.m., CSN).
NBA Rumors: Boozer to Bulls?
The Bulls front office seems to have an infatuation for Dukies, having drafted the likes of Elton Brand, Jay Williams, Chris Duhon and Luol Deng in the past few years. And they were supposedly trying to move up in this year's draft in order to land the Blue Devils' Gerald Henderson.
That's Amare
With the NBA trading deadline quickly approaching, trade rumors involving perhaps the biggest catch out there -- Phoenix Suns power forward Amare Stoudemire -- are circling back towards his landing with the Bulls. There is no doubt that Stoudemire would give the Bulls the front line scoring they need and the star type player they've been missing in recent years. The Suns seem to be very intrigued by Tyrus Thomas and are attracted to Drew Gooden's expiring contract. The Bulls, of course, want to move Larry Hughes and his overinflated paycheck. So can these two teams work out a deal? If Stoudemire does get traded, the Bulls seem to be the front runner now.
Pau! Bulls Poked in Face
Bulls GM John Paxson is having about as much luck these days as fellow Jerry Reinsdorf employee Kenny Williams. While the Sox have been unable to add a marquee center fielder to their roster, the Bulls keep keep coming up short when trying to land a player who can be the centerpiece of their franchise.
Bulls Win First Game
It only took them five games into the season, but the Bulls finally won a game on Thursday night. After dropping their first four to mediocre teams, they handed the previously undefeated Detroit Pistons their first loss of the season. Nice! Second-year player and new starting power forward Tyrus Thomas had his second monster game of the season, leading the team with 19 points while grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds. Luol Deng added 17 points,...
Bulls Look Good in Preseason
With the baseball season over for both local teams and the Bears falling flat on their face, what's a Chicago sports fans to do? Chicagoist has turned to the Bulls — even if it's only the preseason. Through three games of their seven-game preseason schedule, we're impressed so far. With last night's 97-76 win over the Washington Wizards, the Bulls stand at 2-1. Records don't mean much during the exhibition slate — teams give extended...
Yes, Noah
The NBA's annual draft took place Thursday night, and the Bulls added three new faces to the roster. With the ninth pick--which the Bulls had via the Knicks due to the Eddy Curry trade--they selected Joakim Noah from Florida. If nothing else, he certainly made the biggest fashion statement of the night with his seersucker suit, bow tie and crazy hair. Picking Noah was certainly consistent with GM John Paxson's style of going after players...
Bulls Go Down in Game 6
Well, the Bulls certainly didn't go down without a fight — not even after falling into a 3-0 series hole. But down they ultimately did go, losing to the Detroit Pistons 95-85 in Game 6 on Thursday night at the United Center. For a half, actually forcing Game 7 seemed like a realistic possibility as the Bulls took a 48-43 lead into the locker room. P.J. Brown had the playoff game of his long career,...
Bulls Win Again
We really thought that Tuesday night would be the end of the Bulls' season after the way that the Pistons demolished them in games one and two in Detroit. In those two games, the Bulls looked like some middle school team playing an NBA team. Sure, the Bulls looked pretty good in game four, at home and with Detroit sitting pretty with a 3-0 series lead. But Detroit couldn't possibly get caught sleeping again, could they?
Still Alive for Game Five
Down 3-0 and facing elimination from the playoffs, the Bulls finally beat Detroit on Sunday, winning 102-87. Unlike Game 3, the Bulls were able to hold onto their sizable lead this time. The Bulls extended a seven-point halftime lead to as much as 23 points before Detroit mounted a comeback. Detroit got as close as 87-80 before the Bulls again pulled away to close out the game. For the first time in the series, the...
Bulls Play Like S#!& Again
It was a different night, but the same results for the Bulls in Game 2 in their best-of-seven series against the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons jumped out to another early lead and never looked back, pounding the Bulls once again 108-87. The Bulls were outplayed in every aspect of the game yet again. The Bulls still couldn't shoot; a 34% overall shooting percentage just won't cut it. Kirk Hinrich was 0 for 7 from the...
We Hear That's Why MJ Did It, Too
We know he's just a rookie. And we know that he only played one year of college ball, so he's really just hardly out of high school. But we still thought that Tyrus Thomas was more mature than he proved on Monday, when he told the Tribune repeatedly that he was participating in the Slam Dunk Contest during the NBA All Star Weekend festivities for the prize money.
Bulls Begin "Circus Trip"
It's that time of year when the 'Hawks and Bulls are evicted from the United Center by the tigers and elephants, along with the clowns and the rest of the Ringling Bros. Circus.
Bulls Season Preview
The Bulls tricked the Miami Heat and treated their fans to a 42-point blowout of the defending NBA Champs, on the same night the champs hung their banner and received their rings. Is the 108-66 victory a sign of things to come for the Bulls' 2006-2007 season? Maybe... After two straight playoff appearances, but also two straight first-round eliminations, the Bulls are poised to compete for the Eastern Conference title this season. We're not saying...
Um... Even We Think That's a Bit Optimistic
By now, we have come to terms with the fact that the White Sox will not be repeating as World Series champs ... well, because you have to make the playoffs to get to the World Series. And that ain't happening.
Trading Places -- NBA Draft Edition
Man, what a crazy night at Madison Square Garden for the NBA Draft. As we predicted, there were a flurry of trades -- although mostly just draft picks moving around, along with throw-in future 2nd round picks and the like. The Bulls were among the early traders, drafting Texas' LaMarcus Aldridge, then shipping him to the Portland Trailblazers in return for Tyrus Thomas (picked 4th) and third year player Viktor Khryapa. Later in the...
Big Night for Bulls' Future
The NBA Draft takes place tonight, and with both the 2nd and 16th picks in the first round, it'll be a busy night for the Bulls. And a critically imporant night, as the outcome could have an substantial impact on the team's ability to return to greatness. This draft, however, is also one of the least predictable in a long time. And weaker than most -- in part due to the rules change that keeps...
Second City in NBA Draft
Chicagoist remembers when the highlight of the long, playoff-less off-season for the Bulls was the NBA Draft lottery. We saw the Bulls participate 6 years in a row, grabing the top overall pick in 1999. After a one year haitus, the Bulls again participated in the lottery event, held in the NBA's New Jersey studios. Of course, this time they participated on behalf of the New York Knicks' draft pick, traded to the Bulls as...

