With trade deadline passed, will Bulls shop in bargain bin?
The Bulls did nothing during trade deadline week. Chances are, they'll be more active now that the NBA has moved on to "buyout bargain shopping."
With the trade deadline passed, teams are agreeing to contact buyouts with unwanted players, setting them free to find a new home. One big name waived Friday was Orlando forward Glen Davis. He's expected to choose between Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Clippers.
An interesting name that could hit the market soon is former Bulls guard Ben Gordon. He's played in just 18 of 55 games for Charlotte this season and is discussing a buyout, according to Yahoo Sports.
But don't make plans for a BG reunion just yet. The Bulls will spend their money carefully with a small window to avoid paying the NBA's luxury tax. They most likely would not pursue Gordon, according to a team source.
Because of the limited funds, the Bulls might prefer to wait and see if they suffer another significant injury before making any addition. Jimmy Butler left Friday's game late in the first quarter with a rib contusion, but it's not clear how long he'll be out.
A couple more ex-Bulls are on the market. Houston released Ronnie Brewer on Friday. He's a defensive-minded wing player who could help fill in for Butler.
Roger Mason Jr. is another potential option. He was on Miami's roster before being traded to Sacramento this week and then released. Mason is a veteran with the ability to play either guard spot, which could make him an attractive target for the Bulls.
There's always a chance the Bulls could re-sign veteran point guard Mike James at some point.
Bonus points for short roster:
NBA rules required the Bulls to add a 13th player this week. So they probably won't make any roster additions until Jarvis Varnado's 10-day contract expires next week and even then, might sit at 12 players for as long as they can.
One reason the Bulls are being careful with their roster is the possibility Taj Gibson could earn a $250,000 bonus for making the all-defensive second team. He'd get $500,000 by making the all-defensive first team and any bonus could push the Bulls closer to luxury tax territory.
Bull horns:
Joakim Noah recorded 45 assists in the previous five games. According to Stats, LLC, no center has done that since Vlade Divac dished out 47 assists over five games in 2004. … Former Bulls guard Nate Robinson visited the Bulls locker room before Friday's game. Robinson is out with a sprained ACL in his left knee. … Denver coach Brian Shaw on point guard Aaron Brooks playing heavy minutes after being acquired in a trade from Houston on Thursday: "We're just trying to get up and down (the court) anyway, so I think he'll be able to figure it out."