Salmons doing his best to get back

Being traded to the Bulls worked wonders for John Salmons' recuperative powers. He continued to rest a groin strain Thursday but felt confident that he will be back on the floor Saturday when the Bulls host New Jersey.

"I was just thinking, if I as in Sacramento, this might be it right now," he said with a laugh. "But these games are too important. You've got to try to fight through it."

Salmons missed Tuesday's loss at Indiana and sat out the end of Sunday's overtime defeat in Toronto. He said this was a recurrence of an injury he first experienced early this season. It also flared up once while he still played for the Kings.

"The first time it was worse," he said. "This time is similar to the second time. When I try to make cuts, I think about it, so my reaction time is a little slow. It's hard to just have a burst."

If Salmons skips the Nets game, he'd get three more days of rest before the Bulls host New York on Tuesday. But every win is important, since the Bulls trail seventh-place Detroit by a half-game and lead Charlotte by 11/2 games for the final playoff spot in the East.

"There's no leeway for anything," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Right now we need all the bodies we can get."

Rose would've switched: If John Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky a year ago, Bulls guard Derrick Rose suggested he might have played his college ball in Bluegrass Country.

"It would have been tough going (to Memphis) without Coach Cal there, to tell you the truth," Rose said. "I probably would have followed him."

Rose said he spoke to Calipari twice a week throughout the season. They even discussed the job change when Calipari visited Rose in the locker room after last Saturday's win over Indiana.

"He told me about Arizona and Kentucky," Rose said. "I just told him to go wherever he thinks is the right choice. He has a family, so how can he turn down that money?

"That's what I was thinking. There's nothing you can say about $35 million. He's getting paid NBA-type money. It's perfect for him."

Bull horns: Ben Gordon is one of five finalists for the Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. - Tyrus Thomas skipped Thursday's practice with a shoulder injury but is expected to play Saturday against the Nets.