Lackluster Bulls feeling Wallace's lack of production

The Bulls' postgame routine has become drearily familiar.

Inside the locker room, the key players are asked if they can identify any reasons why the team would show so little life on the court. They shrug, claim to have no idea, and walk silently out the door.

Even though the standings say the Bulls are on the brink of being a playoff qualifier, body language tells a different story. The Bulls are playing with little energy or enthusiasm. More often than not, they don't share the ball well.

In other words, the Bulls have become one of those teams they would routinely beat by 25 points last season.

This extended slump is not hard to figure out. Most of their problems fall under the heading, "Pro basketball is all fun and games until it's time to get paid."

The early-season Kobe Bryant rumors have nothing to do with the slow start. Last season's Pau Gasol talk was more realistic and had little effect on the team's performance.

The real issues are leading scorers Luol Deng and Ben Gordon didn't get the contract extensions they wanted and are under pressure to prove they deserve superstar money. It's easy to say that won't be a distraction when the season begins, but much more difficult to shake off the shooting slumps under those circumstances.

Kirk Hinrich has experienced a significant lifestyle change, not only by getting married this summer, but having his salary jump from $3.2 million to $11 million.

It's also safe to say the players have caught on to the same issue that is troubling every Bulls fan these days: The Ben Wallace signing is not working out very well.

Wallace is the team's highest-paid player at $15.5 million, but he is averaging just 8.5 rebounds and 4.3 points. Only Thabo Sefolosha and Viktor Khryapa have a lower field-goal percentage than Wallace's .328.

He's a tough fit on the court as a 6-foot-8 center, because the Bulls already were undersized at other positions. Also, Wallace, 33, and Joe Smith are the only regulars over age 30.

When the Bulls signed Wallace as a free agent in July 2006, they wanted to make another trade and be in position to challenge for a championship right away.

That move never happened, and now if the Bulls stay the course, they've got to look forward a few years when young big men Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah and Aaron Gray have some experience under their belts.

Serious trade talk typically doesn't begin until January in the NBA, but logic would suggest general manager John Paxson is ready to explore ways to trade Wallace.

The Bulls would have to pay a premium, but one positive is that his contract was front-loaded, which means from the original $60 million deal, he's owed $28.5 million over the next two seasons.

"Change is not always bad," Wallace said after Saturday's dismal 116-98 home loss to Houston. "If everybody wants to be here, we have to step it up and go out there and play basketball."

The most obvious trade targets for the Bulls are New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Memphis' Gasol, though both players have drawbacks. Kidd is 34, while Gasol is having a disappointing season (17.6 points, 8.0 rebounds). It's also difficult to imagine Memphis taking on Wallace's contract.

The Hinrich and Wallace for Kidd and Jason Collins deal mentioned here earlier would appeal to the Bulls. But the Nets still haven't hired a general manager to replace Ed Stefanski, who left for Philadelphia.

A coaching change is inevitable if the Bulls continue their lifeless performances. But management is not eager to cut loose Scott Skiles when they still owe him about $7 million through next season.

Bulls losing little ground

OK, the bad news is the Bulls are playing like they've stopped trying. The good news is the Eastern Conference is so mediocre, they don't have far to go to get back in playoff contention. Here are the standings from No. 4 down, though Saturday's games:

Team W-L GB

4. Atlanta 14-12 --

5. Indiana 15-13 --

6. Toronto 15-14 ½

7. Washington 13-13 1

8. New Jersey 12-15 2½

8. Cleveland 12-15 2½

10. Milwaukee 11-15 3

11. Philadelphia 11-16 3½

12. Charlotte 1 0-15 3½

13. BULLS 9-16 4½

Portland blazing hot

Portland became the second team in NBA history to post a 10-game winning streak a season after losing 50 games. The other team to do it was Phoenix, which won 11 straight in 2004-05.

The catalyst in the Blazers' resurgence has been second-year guard Brandon Roy, who has averaged 23.6 points, 6.8 assists and shot 49.7 percent during the streak.

Around the Association

• Atlanta's Josh Smith ended a streak of 76 consecutive games with a blocked shot by going blockless in a win at Washington.

• San Antonio's Manu Ginobili aggravated a sprained left index finger against the Clippers on Saturday and did not play in the second half. The injury has bothered him for about three weeks, but Ginobili hasn't missed any games. The Spurs' next outing is Wednesday against the Bulls.

Quotable

"I've been through so much in my life, and if I had to crawl off that court, I would have. Nobody was going to push me on a stretcher off that court. That wasn't going to happen."

Miami center Alonzo Mourning, who was helped off the floor by two teammates after suffering a torn patellar tendon last week that likely ended his career.