Sure, he grew up a Lakers fan, but Korver thrilled to be a Bull

A few hours after signing former Utah sharpshooter Kyle Korver last Friday, the Bulls made a play for another shooting guard by signing Orlando's J.J. Redick to an offer sheet.

Did Korver get a heads-up on that second transaction?

"We did not know that was coming," he said Tuesday at the United Center. "But I'm totally fine with that if they do (sign Redick). You put me and him on the wings, there's going to be a whole lot of room to operate in the middle. I would love to have J.J. here."

Orlando has until the end of the week to match the Bulls' three-year, $20 million offer to Redick, a restricted free agent.

It's easy to see why Korver is thinking positive. He'll help fill a spot in the lineup the Bulls were trying to give LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson.

The 6-foot-7 Korver was known mostly as a 3-point specialist during seven years as a pro. He was on pace to break Steve Kerr's single-season NBA record for 3-point percentage, but played in just 52 games.

He ended up knocking down 59 of 110 attempts for 53.6 percent, while averaging 7.2 points in Utah, and credited off-season wrist surgery for his improved shooting.

Now the former Creighton star is hoping to prove he has enough all-around skills to stay on the floor for significant minutes. The free agent signed a deal worth $15 million over three years.

"Knowing the pieces that are here and the need for what I do best, it just felt like a really good fit," he said. "Once you feel that, you just try to make it work."

Inside the house that Michael Jordan built, Korver, 29, admitted building a healthy dislike for His Airness growing up, saying he thought Jordan was selfish back then.

"I grew up a Lakers fan. I was born in L.A., lived there until I was 12," he said. "We didn't have any money growing up, so all we did was watch Lakers games. Obviously, their biggest rival was the Bulls. In my hatred for the Bulls, I developed - not a hatred, but a strong dislike - for Michael."

Of course, that all changed as time went on. Korver also shared a story about meeting Jordan for the first time at a party in Denver during a recent all-star break.

"I saw him in the corner," he recounted. "I was like, (whispers) 'That's Michael Jordan.'"

Korver noticed Jordan was standing near a restroom, so he saw the opportunity to get a better look at the NBA legend. Sure enough, when Korver closed in, Jordan acknowledged the newcomer.

"He kind of breaks off his conversation and gives me a little hug and he's like, 'What's up K.K.?'" he said. "And I'm like, 'He knows my name.'"

Korver said that last line using the voice of a schoolgirl whose crush just made eye contact in the hallway.

Korver's father was a minister and after the riots in Los Angeles, the family moved to Western Iowa in 1992. All the Bulls hatred is long forgotten now.

"To have your name on the back of a Bulls jersey is a really cool thing," he said.

Korver is the second former Jazz player to sign with the Bulls this summer, joining power forward Carlos Boozer. Korver said he's encouraging ex-Utah forward Ronnie Brewer to join the party.

Asik signs on: The Bulls officially signed 7-foot Turkish center Omer Asik, a player they acquired on draft night 2008. Asik, 24, hasn't played much in the two years since he was drafted. He suffered a knee injury while training with the national team in the summer of 2008, then broke his collarbone last December and missed several months.

In seven Euroleague games for Fenerbahce Ulker last season, he averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. He shot 66 percent from the field, but just 36 percent at the foul line (12 for 33). In the Turkish league, he averaged 11.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in eight games. Asik has been working out at the Berto Center and is said to be healthy.

Bulls lose summer debut: The Bulls were thumped by Denver 99-71 in their opening game at the Las Vegas summer league on Tuesday.

Guard John Lucas III led the Bulls with 15 points, followed by second-year forward James Johnson with 13. The Bulls piled up 25 turnovers and were never in the game, trailing 54-30 by halftime. Ty Lawson topped the Nuggets with 18.