Augustin wants to stay ... and says Bulls want him back

This is becoming a familiar theme when a Bulls season ends.

Last year, Nate Robinson begged to come back - he didn't, obviously - and now another point guard is hoping to continue a positive run in Chicago.

D.J. Augustin struggled in the playoffs, but he was the Bulls' leading scorer, at 14.9 points per game, from the time he joined the team on Dec. 13.

"They told me that they wanted me back, and I really want to be back so we'll see how everything works out," Augustin said as he walked out of the Berto Center on Wednesday.

"I don't know (the chances). I'm just going to leave that to my agent and the team. Just go into the summer, try and relax a few weeks and then get back to work."

Augustin obviously has no idea what sort of offers he'll get this summer. The Bulls can't be sure of what they might offer because it will depend on what other players they pursue.

"It's a business, you know. They definitely gave me an opportunity. I owe them a lot and like I said, it's not always about the money," Augustin said. "It's where you feel comfortable or where you fit in. I definitely want to be here and hopefully everything works out."

Even with the expectation that Derrick Rose will be back and play a full season, Augustin is willing to remain a Bull.

"He can create and he can get people open shots, and I can create and get people open shots, so I think it will be good for us as a team and each other," Augustin said.

Rose may stay home:

Derrick Rose increased his practice activity during the last few days of the season. It's too soon to know if Rose will be able to try out for the U.S. National team in July, but Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau expects to see more of him in the coming months.

"He's going to be here more this summer, which is going to be good," Thibodeau said Wednesday. "We'll have him work with our team here and then we'll see where he is in July. We'll probably have more guys in in preparation for summer league. And that will be a good setup for him to go into the USA practices, which begin right after the NBA summer league."

Thibodeau isn't suggesting that Rose play in the summer league, but he could, in theory, participate in the rookie and free-agent camp that leads into summer league.

Rose has traditionally worked out in Los Angeles during the summer.

Noah had knee drained:

Coach Tom Thibodeau said Joakim Noah has his left knee drained at some point in the season. The knee clearly bothered Noah during Tuesday's Game 5 loss to Washington.

"It was good for a long time and it came back, so we have to see what's going on," Thibodeau said.

The coach said he didn't know the exact nature of the injury. Noah didn't talk about it as he left the Berto Center.

"It was a long season," Noah said. "Disappointed in the way it ended, but I'm very thankful for all my teammates. Now it's time to rest and regroup, and get it together. There was a lot of adversity this year, but we're just disappointed with the way it ended. We feel like we could have done more."

Hinrich always a Bull:

On his way into the Berto Center on Wednesday, Kirk Hinrich made it sounds as though he's prepared to move on, but would like to stay. Hinrich has played for the Bulls in nine of his 11 NBA seasons.

"I grew up a Bull in this league and I'll always think of myself as a Chicago Bull, no matter what happens," Hinrich said. "I have a great relationship with my teammates who are coming back and the organization, there's definitely a lot of history there.