Smith Notes, Bulls still interested in Boozer, Lee, Rose update Options

[Balta1701-B]

A few blurbs from Sam Smith today.

“The roster (is set) as of now,” said Bulls general manager Gar Forman, who is here with coach Vinny Del Negro to watch Rose’s play in the USA Basketball mini-camp. “We talk to a lot of teams to see if we can make ourselves better. Outside of a major type trade, I really don’t see us doing anything. We would anticipate we will carry 13 players.

We have a qualifying offer out to Aaron Gray and all indications are that he will sign it and return.
 I like our roster. We like our young core and where we’re at. We feel pretty good going into the season.”

The Bulls, according to sources, have engaged in preliminary discussions about numerous players, including Boozer and Lee. As a restricted free agent, the Knicks are said to be prepared to match any offer around the $8 million range for Lee. Lee is seeking a contract worth as much as $12 million a season. No team can or is willing to pay anywhere near that, sources indicate. And the Knicks have pretty much said no to all sign and trade possibilities. Lee probably will return to the Knicks with a qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent after next season, when the Knicks say they would have the money to sign him. As for the Jazz, they apparently are holding out for a top starting player and substantial cost savings, which they have been unable to get for Boozer. They are saying they’ll be patient and could now wait until well into the season to make a deal. Or just allow Boozer to play out the season and become a free agent and save his $12.7 million salary then.

“It looks like Derrick has taken another step with his maturity,” said Forman. “It looks like he believes he belongs and he does. He’s been more vocal. He’s been extremely unselfish, which is unusual in this setting, which I think is a real positive. You can tell he’s spent a lot of time working on his shot. It seems like he’s got kind of a swagger to his game.

“It’s part of his growth,” said Forman. “He knows this. He’s got to become more of a leader, more vocal. A lot of people have commented in losing Ben (Gordon) that Ben was a guy who can go make plays at the end of a game. For Derrick to continue to develop and his game to grow he’s got to take on more responsibility in that area.”

“Derrick looks like he’s been lifting (weights), which we talked about,” added Del Negro. “He looks stronger. He’s such an excellent athlete. He’s working on his shot a lot. His progression will continue to go north.”

[eddog2]

A stronger, better shooting, more vocal and determined Rose will do wonders for our team. Now if he can only spend some time on defense.