The Chicago Bulls are also interested in acquiring the rights to Spanish league power forward Luis Scola from the San Antonio Spurs.

Bulls forward Andres Nocioni is not likely to be involved in a trade to the Spurs. The Bulls may offer guard Chris Duhon if he is not included in a larger deal.

With the Free Agency upon us, it seems like a good time to have a catch-all thread for posts like this:
This guys seems like a sleeper Pax would go after.

With the Free Agency upon us, it seems like a good time to have a catch-all thread for posts like this:
This guys seems like a sleeper Pax would go after.

Wow, this would be a fantastic move if all it took was Scalia. I'd assume we would use part of the MLE on Scalia as well.

Looking at some of the old draft stuff on Scola, he seems like he would be a good fit. They describe him as a big man with good passing skills, who can run the floor, and with a jumper out to about 15 feet. It sounds like he might not be the strongest guy in the world, but you don't really have to be in the Bulls system.

Besides for the experience factor, I fail to see how we upgraded this season compared to last year.

"JamesOn is picking up what we're doing well," coach Scott Skiles said. "He has good quickness and does good things with the ball."

Besides for the experience factor, I fail to see how we upgraded this season compared to last year. We still don't have that low post scorer, and we are paying pretty much backup SF/PF close to 8 million.

So pretty much the way I see it we are upgrading everywhere (with certain guys getting better and more talent being brought in).

You know what amazes me most about the job Paxson has done? He's had the opportunity to gamble everything over and over on quick fix after quick fix, and it seems each time, he's gone with the slow, steady program he set in motion when he grabbed Hinrich.

Move after move, at least to my eyes, seems to wind up looking like the right one down the line, and sometimes sooner. Drafting Hinrich with the 7 pick, swapping picks with Phoenix to get Deng, dumping Curry on the Knicks in exchange for cap room, and the picks that would become Noah and Tyrus, holding onto those picks rather than giving them up, going for Tyrus, grabbing BWall as a FA, and on and on and on.

It's just amazing to me how patient Pax has been in building this team, and how he's managed to at every step seem to find a solution that may very well work for the next 5+ years.

After coming to terms with veteran free agent forward Joe Smith on a two-year contract, Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson reiterated his commitment to signing Luol Deng and Ben Gordon to long-term extensions. Both players could command upward of five years and $50 million each in a new deal.

Bulls to formally introduce Fs Nocioni, Smith on Wednesday

With the Free Agency upon us, it seems like a good time to have a catch-all thread for posts like this:
This guys seems like a sleeper Pax would go after.

the bulls are now looking to resign Lu and BG to long term extensions

Good. They better be looking to re-sign both of them. I think Gordon should get about $10 million per year, but no more, considering he's pretty one-dimensional. As for Deng, he should get like, what? $12 mil/yr for 4 years. Then he can become a free agent again when he's entering his prime, kind of like what LeBron, Bosh, and D-Wade did.

It would certainly be nice to add another year or two to Lu's deal beyond that if at all possible.

the bulls are now looking to resign Lu and BG to long term extensions

Scola reportedly is signing a 3 year $9.6 million dollar deal with the Rockets (plus $500K to help with his buyout). I'm predicting it now.

Rockets vs Bulls in the finals next year. Rockets win the title in 7 games.

Duhon is at WORST the 10th player on our roster. Unless you're putting him behind griffin, curry, gray, khryapa. which you shouldn't be right now.

From what I've gathered this offseason, performance on the court is not the only issue we're dealing with here.

My question is who introduced Chris Duhon to Brian Anderson?

From what I've gathered this offseason, performance on the court is not the only issue we're dealing with here.

who else thinks that noah is completly nuts

Dennis Rodman was completely nuts, and I wouldn't have kicked him out of Chicago.

Brian (NY, NY): Ben, is it just me, or do you seem to play better when you've got the full 'fro going, as opposed to the corn rows?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:40 PM ET ) No, it's not just you. I think a little bit of everybody thinks that. Maybe I do, maybe I don't.

Henry (Buffalo): How important was it to you to make a shoe affordable for all kids out there?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:40 PM ET ) It was very important. I knew when I was growing up, I couldn't afford the shoes I really wanted. This is a chance for people to buy the shoes and to help out not just the families buying the shoes, but the players playing the game. It was very important.

Kyle (Kansas): Ben, will you be wearing your Big Ben shoe this season?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:41 PM ET ) Oh yeah. Most definitely. I wouldn't ask anyone else to wear them if I wasn't wearing them.

JJ: Sup Ben. Your take on Garnett and how will you stop him. Or can you stop him at all?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:41 PM ET ) I think it's a good move for the Celtics. They're reloading and trying to make some things happen. They look good on paper. That's why we play the game.

Fred (Atlanta): What are we going to see opening night - fro or rows?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:42 PM ET ) Oh we still have yet to decide. It's going to be a surprise for everybody. It might be something other than a fro or the rows.

Hakim from Anaheim, California: Hey Big Ben, what are your thoughts on Kobe Bryant's trade demands to chicago this summer, and if he did become a bull, would you welcome his arrival? Thanks! Hakim

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:43 PM ET ) Yeah, I would welcome him. I think he could do some things to help us get to the next level.

Deegan (Kentucky): Is there any talk about any other NBA players joining your shoe line?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:43 PM ET ) Not at the moment, but we're always open.

Scott (chicago): What was your first impression of the Bulls? Has is changed at all, and what are you most excited about the upcoming season?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:44 PM ET ) I think my first impression was that they were a young team that played hard. I'm excited that they had a chance to get a year under their belt. Now I think they're hungry to get at it.

Matt (Scranton, PA): Hey Big Ben...just wondering if there's gonna be any clothing to go along with the shoe line...Thanks....GO BULLS...

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:44 PM ET ) Yeah, we're going to have sweats, T-shirts, button up shirts. We're going to have clothing.

Robbie (Chicago): Have you seen Ty Thomas this summer yet? If so how much has he improved from last season?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:45 PM ET ) I haven't seen him in person. I've talked to him. I think he's one of those guys that every year he can get in this league he's going to get better and improve.

Alan (new York, New York): hugh Bull Fan, What do you think of your new teamate Noah? what does he need to do to play on this level like he did in college. Also Tyrus Thomas looked good in the summer leauge do you think he is ready for the next level?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:46 PM ET ) I think he's going to stay active. He can't get caught up in the hype of the NBA. He just has to come out and play. As long as he plays the same as he did the last couple of years in college, he'll be all right.

Frank (Chicago): Who will the Bulls be playing in the NBA finals this season?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:46 PM ET ) Probably it will be the Suns. If the Suns are fortunate enough to get there.

Robbie (Chicago): Hey Ben whats up? So i was wodnering, do you think Deng will take the next step and become an all-star this year?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:47 PM ET ) You know, being an all star is a popularity contest. We thought he should have been an all star last year, along with Ben Gordon. As long as they keep playing like all stars, we'll be happy with that.

Tom (MI): Ben, I was a little heartbroken when you left detroit because no center can replace your defense and defense wins championships. any chance of ever goin back to the pistons?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:48 PM ET ) I don't really have any plans too. Even if I did, my defense wouldn't be as good as when I left.

Doug Chicago: Who do you think will have the biggest breakout season this year amongst the Baby Bulls?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:48 PM ET ) I think last year Luol Deng had a breakout year. I think this year it will be Tyrus Thomas.

Andre (Chicago): If the Bulls don't make it to the Eastern Conference Finals will you feel like the season was a disappointment?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:49 PM ET ) Not when you do it with a young team. It takes some time to where you're trying to go. This year, we're planning on getting to the East Finals. But if we don't, it will be another year of experience. Any time you can get the experience, it will benefit you in the long run.

Doug Chicago: Whose going to have the bigger fro this year, you or Joakim Noah?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:50 PM ET ) Joakim is going to have the biggest fro, but I have the best known fro.

Sebastian (Honolulu): Big Ben, Bulls fan here. What's your take on why the West is viewed as a much stronger conference than the East?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:51 PM ET ) I think because of the run and gun style of basketball. It's a little more attractive than the grind it out style in the East. I don't think the better basketball is in the West, I think it's in the East. We play both ends of the floor.

Scott (Chicago): Who was the one Bull that you didn't realize was that good until you played with him? Go Bulls!!!

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:52 PM ET ) Luol Deng. I knew he was long and he could get to the basket. I didn't realize how well he played on the defensive end and how much he does to change shots on the defensive end of the floor.

Fuad (Detroit, MI):: Hey Ben, do you still keep in touch with Sheed',Chauncey,Rip,Tay and those guys?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:52 PM ET ) Yeah, I talk to all of those guys. I talk to at least two of those guys every week. I keep in touch with all of them.

KC (Portland, OR): Ben, how do you see the East matching up with the West this coming season? It seems like some teams have made some good moves, including the Bulls. Is this the year that the West domination starts to dwindle?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:53 PM ET ) I definitely think that the East is going to be stronger than the West. That's still why we play the game. I guess the conference is only as good as the teams playing in it.

Nasir, Philly: Have you talked to Joe Smith? What do you think of his addition to the Bulls?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:54 PM ET ) I haven't had a chance to talk with him much. I had the chance to play with him in Detroit. I know what he's capable of doing.

Brian (Pasadena, CA): Ben, right after the "headband" incident last year, the Bulls really turned it on. Did that game feel like a turning point for the team to you guys?

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:55 PM ET ) I think sometimes you're out there and you think you're focused and you're not really focused on the job. Sometimes a distraction is a good thing. WE had a chance to talk about somethings that we weren't able to talk about.

SportsNation Ben Wallace: (12:56 PM ET ) Thanks for the support. Continue to write, call and asking questions. Go out and pick up the new Big Ben Wallace shoes at Steve and Barry's stores on Oct. 29.

Skiles was so impressed he said Gordon's work "ranks with the greatest summers I've seen." Paxson said he saw Gordon every time he looked out from his office overlooking the court. Ditto for Deng when he wasn't playing for Great Britain.

"I don't put anything past those two," Paxson said. "Luol's just 22 years old. His best basketball is ahead of him. I can see him getting better and his average going up, his game expanding. ... I think we have two guys who have the ability to score when we need scoring."

Gordon and Deng weren't the only ones staying busy over the summer. Forward Andres Nocioni dropped about 10 pounds to ease the plantar fasciitis in his right foot that caused him to miss 28 of 29 games down the stretch and limited him in the playoffs.

He said he's pain-free. His health is an important issue for a team that relies on his energy and ability to hit the 3-pointer.

There are two things that can derail this team

Ego and Injury.

If we avoid these problems, this is a damned good team, and I can't wait for the season to begin.

Adrian Griffin skipped practice with a sore back that also plagued him last season.

The United Center will name the arena’s club level after Lexus, Toyota’s luxury vehicle brand, under a new sponsorship agreement with the Japanese automaker.

The “Lexus Club Level” will feature seats with waiter and waitress service and other amenities, according to a statement from the Chicago Bulls. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

A plus to Lexus-driving Bulls fans: There will be designated parking spots in the club-level parking lots K and C specifically for fans driving Lexus vehicles, according to the statement.

“A major trend in sports marketing is rebranding areas within an arena,” said Steve Schanwald, executive vice-president of business operations for the Bulls. “We believe our new partnership will provide Lexus with a wonderful opportunity to deliver a direct, positive message to everyone who visits the United Center.”