Bulls content to stand pat for stretch run
While other NBA contenders are adding reinforcements, the Bulls appear to be in no hurry to fill their roster with a 15th player.
A rash of players were released this week, since Friday was the deadline for a player to be waived by one team and eligible for the playoffs with a new team. When such a player signs with the new team doesn't matter.
Miami inked veteran big man Ronny Turiaf, who played in four games for Washington this season. San Antonio added ex-Bobcats forward Boris Diaw. Both players are French national teammates of Joakim Noah.
Oklahoma City built some veteran depth earlier this week by signing former Lakers point guard Derek Fisher. Indiana added former Utah center Kyrylo Fesenko to replace Jeff Foster, who retired because of back problems.
Rasual Butler, who finished last season with the Bulls, was released by Toronto on Friday and rumors quickly spread that he could be headed for a second stint in Chicago. But a league source suggested the Bulls have no plans to add Butler.
Many Bulls fans hoped the team would bring back popular forward Andres Nocioni, who was released by Philadelphia. But Nocioni is headed to Spain to play for Caja Laboral, according to reports.
For the time being, the Bulls will focus on getting a couple current players — Derrick Rose and Richard Hamilton — back on the floor. Rose has missed five games with a groin strain and isn't likely to play today against Toronto. Hamilton hasn't played since Mar. 5, when he suffered a bruised right shoulder.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose participated in about half of Friday's practice at the Berto Center and has been running in the pool. Hamilton took part in all of practice, but has yet to try a full-contact scrimmage.
Hamilton, the Bulls' key addition before the season, has played in just 16 of 49 games. But Thibodeau isn't thinking about adding a replacement shooting guard to the roster.
“We feel good about what we have,” Thibodeau said. “Ronnie (Brewer) has played great all year and our bench has played great. We just have to keep making our improvements. We want to be playing our best ball at the end of the season, be as healthy as possible.”
The Bulls rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Toronto 94-82 on Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre, which improved their record to 11-4 this season while playing without Rose.
“We know what we need to do to win,” Noah said. “We feel like if we can play good defense, get back in transition and win the rebounding contest, we have a pretty good shot of winning the game.”
The Bulls needed to make a decision on Mike James by Friday night. His second 10-day contract expired, so they have to either sign him for the rest of the season or let him go.
James has made just one brief appearance during his latest 10-day, but he seems more likely to spend the playoffs with the Bulls than anyone on the waiver wire.
mmcgraw@dailyherald.com