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Bulls stand pat for stretch run

The NBA trade deadline passed very quietly Thursday at the Advocate Center.

Players and coaches headed to the airport for a flight to Detroit, so the practice gym cleared out quickly. A few reporters waited around just in case something happened, but by 2:01 p.m., the Bulls officially were standing pat.

"We feel good about the people that are here," coach Tom Thibodeau said when practice ended.

None of the other top teams in the East - Atlanta, Toronto, Washington or Cleveland - did anything, so the Bulls aren't the only contender feeling good about its current lineup.

"We can win a championship with this roster," Cleveland's LeBron James said, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

There's still a chance the Bulls could add a player - an unsigned veteran such as Ray Allen, someone coming back from overseas or a player who accepts a buyout from another team.

There was talk the Bulls would have interest in former Oklahoma City center Kendrick Perkins if he's bought out by Utah. Thibodeau was an assistant coach in Boston when Perkins played there, but the Los Angeles Clippers, with ex-Celtics coach Doc Rivers, might be the more likely landing spot.

The Bulls have one available roster slot. But if they are at full strength, which the Bulls should be Friday in Detroit, there are no glaring needs.

Derrick Rose made it back from vacation in time for Thursday's practice, and Kirk Hinrich should return from a turf-toe injury.

If Tony Snell continues his hot shooting from before the break, the Bulls may not have enough minutes for everyone who deserves to play.

"I thought we had a good four-game stretch to finish the first half of the season," forward Mike Dunleavy said. "It would have been nice to keep playing. I thought we had a good rhythm. At the same time, I think guys kind of needed a break, so it was good and hopefully we can pick up where we left off."

It was quiet in Chicago, but across the NBA there was a flurry of activity in the final 20 minutes before the trade deadline. The Bulls' next three opponents exchanged multiple players.

• Detroit acquired point guard Reggie Jackson from Oklahoma City to help offset the loss of Brandon Jennings to a torn Achilles tendon. The Pistons also brought back veteran forward Tayshaun Prince from Boston. Detroit sent D.J. Augustin and Kyle Singler to the Thunder, and forward Jonas Jerebko to the Celtics.

It's too soon to tell if Jackson or Prince play against the Bulls on Friday. For now, the most likely starting point guard for the Pistons is ex-Bull John Lucas III.

• Phoenix, which visits the United Center on Saturday, had a significant changing of the guards. Goran Dragic asked to be traded, and the Suns accommodated, sending him to Miami. Then the Suns shipped guard Isaiah Thomas to Boston, center Miles Plumlee to Milwaukee and added point guard Brandon Knight from the Bucks.

According to reports, the Suns got Danny Granger, Shawne Williams and Justin Hamilton from Miami and John Salmons from New Orleans for Heat guard Norris Cole.

• Milwaukee pulled off the biggest shocker of the day. While giving up Knight, their best player, the Bucks acquired last season's rookie of the year, Michael Carter-Williams, from Philadelphia, along with rookie guard Tyler Ennis. Milwaukee also reportedly agreed to a buyout with center Larry Sanders.

The Bulls host the Bucks on Monday, and if the season ended today they would be matched up in the first round of the playoffs.

A few Western Conference contenders added some pieces. Portland got shooting guard Arron Afflalo from Denver. Houston acquired rookie K.J. McDaniels from Philadelphia and guard Pablo Prigioni from New York.

Besides getting Augustin and Singler from Detroit, Oklahoma City landed center Enes Kanter from Utah, giving back Kendrick Perkins.

An attention-getting trade that probably won't have playoff implications is Kevin Garnett agreeing to go back to Minnesota, his longtime NBA home, while Thaddeus Young heads to Brooklyn.

• Get the latest Bulls news via Twitter by following @McGrawDHBulls.

Bulls finally enjoying healthy roster

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