Everything 'cool' as Thomas happy to be a Bull again
If Tim Thomas feels uncomfortable returning to the Bulls, a team that sent him home during the 2005-06 season, he didn't show it Saturday at the Berto Center.
Following a crash course in the team's offense from assistant Del Harris, Thomas joked about the shock of seeing Vinny Del Negro coach for the first time. Thomas and Del Negro were teammates in Milwaukee from 1998-2000.
"We're cool. Actually, I hate him," Thomas said with a laugh. "We were teammates before. We had a great relationship. It's kind of awkward the first day here, seeing him go through his coaching routine and stuff like that. I actually wanted to laugh."
Since Thomas arrived from New York on Saturday morning, passed a physical and then practiced briefly, he didn't have much time to catch up with Del Negro.
He was expecting that to happen over dinner Saturday night after the Bulls arrived in Indianapolis.
"He never took me to dinner as his teammate, so it's good to see as a coach he's going to take me to dinner," Thomas said. "He's probably going to be cheap on me, Steak 'n Shake."
Thomas, who turns 32 on Thursday, joined the Bulls along with guard Anthony Roberson and center Jerome James after being traded from the Knicks for guard Larry Hughes. Roberson was at the United Center to watch Friday's 116-99 win over Denver, while James is out with a torn Achilles' tendon and will stay in New York for the time being.
All the new Bulls - Thomas, Roberson, center Brad Miller and swingman John Salmons - were cleared by the league and are available to suit up today against the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse (11 a.m., Channel 9).
The Bulls used just eight players in Friday's game because the trades were not yet official.
Thomas was traded from New York to the Bulls on the eve of training camp in 2005 in the Eddy Curry deal. He turned an ankle in preseason, then played in the just three regular-season games before being sent home and eventually released in February.
The Bulls never gave a straight answer at the time, but it was obvious they weren't impressed with Thomas' practice habits and didn't want him rubbing off on the younger players.
Thomas shrugged off the unpleasant history since the coach at the time, Scott Skiles, is now with Milwaukee.
"There really is no need to talk about it," Thomas said. "That's in the past, and the guy who was pretty much controlling things is gone. Yeah, it's a weird situation. But I'm looking forward to making the best of it.
"I'm just trying to put myself in a position where I can win a championship. I think this group, we definitely have what it takes. We still have a chance to get to the playoffs. Once we get there, anything can happen."
The Bulls are planning to use Thomas as a power forward who can help spread the floor by shooting 3-pointers. In 46 games for the Knicks this season, Thomas shot 40.4 percent from behind the arc.
Even playing short-handed, the Bulls were able to maintain their up-tempo game and ring up 116 points against the Nuggets.
Now the question is how to incorporate Miller into that equation. The 7-foot center has run the floor well in his career, but he'll turn 33 in April.
"He'll rebound the basketball," Del Negro said. "He'll shoot and spread the defense. We'll try to put him in spots where he can be effective. Tim has versatility and John has versatility. We'll just work on it and see how it comes together. I like the way we're playing right now."
Thomas hurts hamstring: Forward Tyrus Thomas suffered a hamstring strain in Friday's win over Denver. His status is uncertain for today's game at Indiana. Thomas finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks against the Nuggets.