Will Bulls go after Carmelo now?

The Bulls are reconsidering whether they should make an attempt to trade for Denver's Carmelo Anthony.

On Wednesday, New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced at a news conference that the Nets are pulling out of Anthony trade talks.

There was a reported four-team trade on the table in October that fell through. In recent weeks, the Nets thought they had a three-team deal in place that also included Detroit.

“There comes a time when the price comes simply too expensive,” Prokhorov said. “I'm asking our team to walk away from the deal.”

Whether this means Anthony to the Nets is finished or if it's a bluff to help move the process along is not clear. Prokhorov also said the Nets will not meet with Anthony as scheduled to sell him on the idea of signing an extension with New Jersey after a deal was made.

Yahoo.com reported Wednesday that Anthony confidant William Wesley has approached the Bulls about making another run at Anthony.

It is widely believed Denver has insisted center Joakim Noah be included in any Anthony deal, which the Bulls are reluctant to do. It would be more difficult to trade Noah now that he's signed a long-term extension. But the Bulls have gone 12-6 with Noah on the sideline with a thumb injury.

The Bulls are discussing whether Anthony would give them a better chance to win an NBA title, according to a league source. They might also wait to see if Denver's price drops closer to the Feb. 24 trade deadline and the Nuggets will accept a package of Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and first-round picks.

Anthony can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer. With a lockout possible, there have been suggestions Anthony would rather sign an extension with a new team now.

Taj steps up defense:

Taj Gibson made the most of Carlos Boozer's absence, collecting a career-high 6 blocked shots in the back-to-back games against Memphis and Charlotte.

Gibson also played 90 of a possible 96 minutes while Boozer sat out with a sprained left ankle. It's possible Boozer could return Thursday against Dallas.

With his two-game flurry, Gibson moved all the way up to 13th place among NBA blocked shot leaders at 1.7 per game. He's just behind Atlanta's Josh Smith, who is regarded as one of the league's better defenders and averages 11 minutes more per game than Gibson.

The Bulls' second-year big man ranks eighth in blocks per 48 minutes.

“His defense has been terrific all season long,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He has great feet, which allows you to do a little bit more switching than you normally would do. He can actually defend, in some situations, all five positions. He's been a big asset.”

Short shot bypassed:

The Bulls trailed Charlotte 81-80 in the final minute when Derrick Rose found Ronnie Brewer alone under the basket.

With Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace closing in from behind, Brewer decided not to attempt the lay up and threw it outside to Luol Deng, who missed an open 3-pointer with 38 seconds left. The Bulls never regained the lead.

“When D-Rose threw the ball, as a basketball player, you always try to be aware of your surroundings,” Brewer said after the game. “When I had it, I knew Gerald Wallace is an (above) average shot-blocker. I felt him coming down aggressively. So I tried to pivot and I saw Lu wide open at the 3-point line. That's kind of his bread and butter shot. It was a good look. That happens.”

Kick off time:

Ronnie Brewer was involved in another strange play with three minutes left. He missed a shot on a drive to the basket, then collided with Charlotte's Gerald Wallace.

Wallace jumped to block the shot, landed on Brewer's shoulders and the two players fell to the court. As they were getting up, Wallace earned a technical foul for kicking Brewer in the back. The resulting free throw gave the Bulls a 2-point lead.

Wallace appeared to turn his ankle as he fell, then Brewer landed on top of Wallace's ankle, which was the apparent motivation behind the kick.