Bulls getting close look at past teammates

The Bulls are getting a steady look at old friends.

ŸThey’ve already seen Omer Asik in Houston.

ŸRonnie Brewer came to town with New York last week.

ŸNow it’s C.J. Watson and Keith Bogans who will be in town with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

Watson spent two seasons with the Bulls and ended up starting in place of an injured Derrick Rose for much of last season. His contract option was not picked up and he joined the Nets as a free agent.

“We shared some good times,” Joakim Noah said Friday. “Good dude, him and Keith Bogans. It’s going to be good to see those guys.”

Bogans started every game at shooting guard in 2010-11, when the Bulls won 62 games and reached the Eastern Conference finals. He was let go before last season, signed with the Nets, but missed most of the campaign with a broken ankle.

This season, Watson is averaging 7.1 points in support of Deron Williams, while Bogans is averaging 14 minutes per game and 2.6 points.

“He’s a winning player,” coach Tom Thibodeau said of Watson. “He’s going to play for the team first. Those guys go a long way. Bogans, same thing for him.

“They did a great job for us, so I have great respect for what they did. I always look forward to seeing them after the game. Before (the game), they’re like everybody else.”

Rip not ready:Richard Hamilton was on the court when Friday#146;s practice ended, but he didn#146;t participate in any drills.Hamilton has been out since Dec. 1 with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot. He#146;ll likely be sidelined another week or two.#147;He#146;s doing better,#148; coach Tom Thibodeau said. #147;He didn#146;t practice, but he#146;s shooting some and doing some cardio stuff. So he#146;s feeling better, but he#146;s still not ready.#148;A great defender:Joakim Noah spent some time at the end of Friday#146;s practice shooting hook shots over a giant padded figure. The creation was in the shape of a basketball player with arms extended, and stood roughly 7-feet-6 at the top of its head.#147;That#146;s a big boy over there,#148; Noah joked. #147;We just got him. It#146;s going to help.#148;Does the big guy need a nickname? How about #147;Foam Omer?#148;