Teammates don't get chance to say so long to Salmons

Posted February 17, 2010 10:00 pm

Mike McGraw

NEW YORK - There have been trade-deadline stories in years past of Bulls players getting pulled off the team bus because of an impending deal.

On Wednesday, the bus already had left without John Salmons when word came from management that a trade was near and Salmons should remain at the hotel.

NBA teams typically have two bus runs on game nights and Salmons usually catches the second one. So in the locker room before facing the Knicks, his Bulls teammates didn't realize a trade was about to happen.

"I thought I saw him in the locker room," said rookie Taj Gibson, who has the locker next to Salmons at the United Center. "But then guys were saying, 'No, that wasn't John.' It was crazy."

Before playing the Knicks, Derrick Rose was asked if he'd spoken to John and he casually said no, then did a double take.

"John? What happened?" Rose asked reporters.

Told about the impending trade, Rose gave a tentative sigh or relief.

"You all scared me," he said. "I was like, 'What's going on?' Man, that's crazy, just thinking a guy leaving before the game here. If he does get traded, we'll definitely miss him.

"That's just how the NBA goes. People are going to be on your team. Next thing, you look up and they could be gone. He usually comes on the second bus, so I was thinking he's usually out there shooting at this time. I guess not."

Hinrich approaches record: Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich is closing in on the team record for 3-point baskets. He went 0-for-4 against the Knicks on Wednesday, though, so he still needs 2 to tie and 3 to surpass Ben Gordon.

Of course, if Hinrich is traded today, he will never break the record. That is, unless he comes back to the Bulls down the road, like Scottie Pippen.

Asked if he's feeling any more nervous about a potential trade this year, knowing the Bulls want to clear more cap space for the summer, Hinrich just shrugged.

"I'm not nervous. Whatever happens, happens," he said. "I really can't control it, so I don't dwell on it. Really, I only hear what friends and family tell me. I talk to my agent. That's about it."

Pargo plays: Maybe the Bulls moved Jannero Pargo into the playing rotation to promote him for a trade. But he sent the Bulls ahead for good Wednesday by canning a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, a day after scoring 12 points against the Knicks in Chicago.

Coach Vinny Del Negro offered some praise following Wednesday's contest.

"J.P.'s kind of been the odd man out all year," Del Negro said. "To be honest, I don't think I've done a very good job with him. He's been a total pro. He works in practice. Sometimes matchups have been difficult for him. It's nice to see him play well."

Bull horns: John Calipari and Rod Strickland, Derrick Rose's college coaches at Memphis, attended Wednesday's game. They now work at Kentucky. - The Knicks traded Darko Milicic to Minnesota for Brian Cardinal on Wednesday and were expected to swap slam-dunk champ Nate Robinson for Boston's Eddie House. - It must have been old Knicks night at the Garden. Charles Oakley, Larry Johnson and Bernard King all were sitting courtside.