Timing's good for Bulls
Since the Bulls are one of four NBA teams that played Thursday, they got an extra day off for the all-star break and won't return to practice until this afternoon.
So with a break from interviews, this is a good chance to review some relevant topics heading into the final 30 games of the season.
Jason Kidd's nation: The trade sending point guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey to Dallas appears close to becoming official, and the Bulls will get a good look at both sides of the deal.
The Bulls' next game is at New Jersey on Wednesday, which could be fortunate timing, since neither Kidd nor any of the pieces coming from Dallas figure to play. Guard Devin Harris, the Nets' key acquisition, hasn't played since Jan. 27 because of an ankle injury.
With the Mavericks playing their next three games on the road, Kidd is expected to make his Dallas debut Monday against the Bulls.
The next five games actually could be the Bulls' most important stretch of the season. Coming out of the all-star break, they face road games at New Jersey, Houston, Dallas and Indiana, surrounded by one home date with Denver on Friday.
The Bulls could lose all five, which would put them at 15 games below .500. That would be a tough hole to escape, even against weak Eastern Conference competition. Getting at least 2 wins might be an indication the Bulls are serious about finishing strong.
Gordon in limbo: Ben Gordon is expecting to return soon after missing 10 of the last 12 games with a sprained right wrist. In the meantime, there has been talk the Bulls are exploring their trade options with Gordon in advance of Thursday's deadline.
Sources have suggested that the Bulls are checking the trade market on Gordon because he has threatened to sign the qualifying offer this summer and become an unrestricted free agent in 2009.
But the Bulls would want something significant in return, and nothing appears to be serious right now.
If the story is true about Gordon's intentions, it doesn't necessarily mean he's eager to leave Chicago. Threatening to sign the qualifying offer is really the best leverage he will have while trying to get a new contract.
The Bulls don't want to risk losing their leading scorer for nothing in return. At the same time, any NBA player would prefer to avoid the one-year qualifying offer, which in Gordon's case would be worth $6.4 million.
Not only would Gordon be leaving money on the table by turning down the Bulls' best offer this summer, it's virtually impossible to predict which teams would have cap room to sign him in 2009.
If Gordon becomes unrestricted in '09 with no pursuers, he will be in worse shape to negotiate than he is now.
Skiles to Hoosiers? Rumors already are flying that former Bulls coach Scott Skiles will become head coach at Indiana if Kelvin Sampson is fired, but don't count on it.
Skiles is an Indiana native and owns a home in Bloomington, so there's a natural connection. But he sees himself as an NBA coach.
Besides the fact that he probably wouldn't be paid even half of the $4 million per year he received from the Bulls, college coaching involves selling yourself to 18-year-old kids, kissing up to influential alumni and dealing with shady street agents.
Does that sound like something Skiles would be interested in? Not really. Chances are, he will wait patiently for the next NBA job.