Bulls, who might not be done, subtract 4 and add 2

MILWAUKEE - The virtual world of NBA gossip and trade rumors turned into reality for the Bulls while they sat on a bus Wednesday afternoon in the Berto Center parking lot.

"We were on the bus and a few guys weren't there," guard Kirk Hinrich said. "We were like, 'Where are they?' Then we started rolling and they weren't on the bus."

The Bulls headed to Milwaukee without Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Michael Ruffin. All four were sent to the Sacramento Kings, though Ruffin was rerouted to Portland.

In return, the Bulls received center Brad Miller, back for a second stint with the team, and 6-foot-6 swingman John Salmons, who was averaging 18.3 points for the Kings.

"Vinny (Del Negro) stepped up and told us what was going on," Hinrich added. "Everybody had pretty much figured it out by then. It was quiet on the bus without Noc and Drew; they're two of the more talkative ones."

Whether this was the last of the Bulls' moves before today's 2 p.m. trade deadline remains to be seen. There was talk of Hinrich going to Minnesota for the expiring contract of Jason Collins and another player.

But the Bulls don't figure to unload Hinrich in a salary dump. Any move to Minnesota likely would be part of another deal, such as a revised package for Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire. As of Wednesday evening, league sources suggested the chances of such a trade were slim.

Trading unused guard Larry Hughes remains a possibility. If nothing better comes along, the Bulls may accept a deal with Washington for forward Etan Thomas and guard Mike James. Hughes was not with the team Wednesday in Milwaukee.

For now, though, the Bulls are welcoming two new players, who might be ready to play Friday when Denver visits the United Center.

Salmons, 28, has a chance to provide more consistent scoring in the sixth-man role than Nocioni, who became more of a 3-point shooter the past two years. Miller, 32, brings a veteran presence to the Bulls' inside game, joining Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

This deal doesn't hurt the Bulls if they plan to create salary-cap room for the widely hyped 2010 free-agent class. Gooden's contract expired this year, while Miller's runs through 2010. Salmon's deal ends in 2011, one year sooner than Nocioni's.

"Whenever you can add two quality players, it's a good opportunity," Del Negro said. "You're always trying to make your team better. I feel we've done that today."

None of the current players were around when Miller wore a Bulls uniform from 2000-02. Miller joined the Bulls as a free agent, then left in the trade that sent him and Ron Artest to Indiana for Jalen Rose and others.

"Brad Miller, I like him a lot," Ben Gordon said. "He's a great passer, great feel for the game. If anything, we'll be better offensively just with the way Brad can move the ball and get guys easy shots."

Added Hinrich, "Brad has been in the league forever. Everybody knows what he can do. He's been an all-star. I think he's one of the best passing bigs in the game. Both of them are definitely going to bring some things to this team that can help us."

Del Negro said both of the new players are capable of starting, but he will wait to figure out the best lineup.