Carlos Boozer Likely To Play Saturday For Bulls Vs. Cavaliers; Carmelo Anthony Trade Still A 'Maybe'

After missing the last three Bulls games — two wins and a loss — Carlos Boozer took part in practice Friday with the Bulls and pronounced himself ready to go for tomorrow’s matchup with Cleveland at the United Center:

Asked to put his status in NFL injury terms, Boozer passed on whether he’d be listed as “probable.”

Boozer said the ankle swelled to “about the size of a grapefruit” and it took three or four days for the swelling to come down but now it’s gone “way, way, way down.”

The Bulls could have used Boozer’s rebounding (not to mention scoring) skills in their loss to the Bobcats; they did manage to beat Dallas without him, but in a tight defensive struggle. It still may be a few more weeks before the triad of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Boozer are all back together.

Meanwhile, rumors are still flying about Carmelo Anthony possibly coming to the Bulls after the deal to send him from the Nuggets to the Nets fell through. The Bulls have made it clear that Noah would not be included in any such deal; a more likely player to go west would be Luol Deng, but there’s still no actual framework for such a trade, just more internet rumors.

As always, we await developments.

26 Points From Derrick Rose Spark Bulls Past Mavericks, 82-77

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Derrick Rose scored a game-high 26 points to go along with nine assists as the Chicago Bulls edged the Dallas Mavericks, 82-77, at the United Center.

Kurt Thomas added nine points and 11 rebounds, while Luol Deng grabbed 12 rebounds with seven points for the Bulls, who played their third straight contest without forward Carlos Boozer.

Boozer has missed the team’s last three games as he recovers from a sprained left ankle he suffered in Chicago’s 99-96 victory over Miami on Saturday.

Dirk Nowitzki paced the Mavericks with 19 points, while Tyson Chandler, DeShawn Stevenson and Jason Terry each contributed 12 points. The Mavericks have lost seven of eight dating back to January 6.

Chicago Bulls Vs. Dallas Mavericks: No Carmelo Anthony, Instead A Test

SB Nation Chicago's David Miller today wrote about new efforts by the Denver Nuggets to deal Carmelo Anthony to the Bulls after the deal that was going to send him to the New Jersey Nets fell through.

While Anthony would help the Bulls, are there enough basketballs for him and Derrick Rose? And would this cause another distraction? The Bulls were asked to give up Joakim Noah the first time around; Noah may be another few weeks away from returning, but I suspect the answer will be "no" again.

In the middle of all this, the Bulls face a Mavericks team that snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Lakers at home last night. However, they have a four-game overall loss streak that the Bulls would love to extend. They'll have to do it without Carlos Boozer, who's still nursing the ankle he sprained on Saturday.

No local TV for this one -- it's on TNT only, at 7 p.m. CST.