Chicago Bulls SF Luol Deng won't get wrist surgery until summer of 2013, if at all

Luol Deng won't be undergoing wrist surgery this season, and may not end up needing surgery at all.

Chicago Bulls pegged at No. 15 in ESPN's NBA power rankings

With Derrick Rose projected to miss a solid chunk of the season, the Bulls are projected as a middle of the pack NBA team in 2012-13.

Derrick Rose finishes No. 5 in #NBARank

The Bulls point guard finished one spot ahead of 14-time All-Star, Kobe Bryant.

Kyrylo Fesenko agrees to deal with Bulls, according to report

The Bulls and free-agent big man Kyrylo Fesenko have reportedly agreed to a non-guaranteed contract.

Chicago Bulls work out free agent Kyrylo Fesenko

The ex-Utah Jazz big man tweeted on Monday that he was in Chicago to work out for the Bulls.

Derrick Rose's new adidas spot is one of his best commercials yet

Derrick Rose is just only beginning his rehabilitation from a torn ACL, but a new adidas commercial wonders what it will be like when the Chicago Bulls star returns.

Jeremy Lin Lauds Omer Asik's Offensive Ability

Jeremy Lin is praising the offensive prowess of his newest teammate, Omer Asik, saying he is much more than just a defensive stopper, according to Mark Strotman on CSN Chicago.

"Omer [Asik], people don't give him enough credit for his offensive ability," Lin said. "He's known for his defense but he's not bad offensively. I think he's surprised everybody. That's the biggest thing so far. I haven't been able to see the rookies play enough yet to draw any firm conclusions."

Asik has averaged only 2.9 points and 0.4 assists per game throughout his two year NBA career, including 3.1 points and 0.5 assists last season. Defensively, however, he averaged 5.3 rebounds and one block in 14.7 minutes during the 2011-12 season, including 30 steals in 66 games.

Asik and Lin both signed with the Houston Rockets this offseason for three-year, $25 million contracts. The Chicago Bulls did not match Houston's offer for Asik and instead opted to sign veteran Nazr Mohammed.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out Blog a Bull. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Chicago Bulls Training Camp: Andre Emmett, Ryan Allen, D.J. White Join Voluntary Workouts

Several Chicago Bulls players have been assembling for voluntary workouts in Deerfield before training camp, and they've been joined by a few players who aren't currently under contract as well, according to Aggrey Sam of Comcast Sports Net:

On the court, the bulk of the team has arrived in Chicago for voluntary workouts in preparation for the regular season, joined by the likes of erstwhile Bull Jannero Pargo--the free-agent guard, who played for the Atlanta Hawks last season, is in discussions to sign with various teams, as reported by RealGM.com, though the Bulls don't currently have the salary-cap space to bring in the veteran on a guaranteed contract--reported training-camp invite and journeyman wing Andre Emmett, Chicago native Ryan Allen (a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee product and the younger brother of Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen) and unsigned power forward D.J. White (who has been linked to multiple NBA and overseas teams as of late), according to an individual familiar with the proceedings in Deerfield.

Emmett, a veteran of international leagues, had not played in the NBA since 2004-05 until he appeared in six games for the Nets last season. Allen has yet to play in the NBA. White played in 58 games for the Charlotte Bobcats last season, averaging 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 49 percent.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out Blog a Bull. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Bulls Preview: John Hollinger Says Kirk Hinrich Better At SG Than PG

The Chicago Bulls brought one of their former players back this offseason when they signed free agent guard Kirk Hinrich away from the Atlanta Hawks. The next step is finding out whether he'll play as a point guard during his second stint in Chicago or if he'll primarily play off the ball when he's summoned off of the bench.

There hasn't really been any indication either way from the Bulls' front office, but it's likely he'll see considerable time at both positions this season -- at least until Derrick Rose returns from injury, and order to the depth chart can be restored a bit. That said, ESPN's John Hollinger is a much bigger believer in Hinrich as shooting guard rather than a point guard.

One thing that's obvious from his tenure as a Hawk is that he's much more effective as a 2 than a 1, at both ends of the floor. Atlanta played some of its best ball late in the season with Hinrich starting at the off guard, where he can be a defensive menace and spot up on the weak side.

Defensively, he can't handle quick point guards anymore but he's still great against wing isos. Although he gives up inches on the wing he's great at crowding opponents and taking away their space. Opposing 2s had just an 11.0 PER against him, according to 82games.com.

Considering this information, it'll be interesting to see whether the Bulls attempt to use Hinrich more off the ball despite his reputation as a combo-guard.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out Blog a Bull. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Bulls Player Previews: A Look At Luol Deng

The Chicago Bulls have a lot of great pieces on their squad, one of them being veteran wing Luol Deng. Deng has one of the longer tenures of any players on the Bulls' roster and, consequently, most Bulls fans have already developed a pretty firm opinion on him.

One of the more-respected opinions when it comes to the Bulls belongs to the brilliant minds of those behind SB Nation's Blog a Bull. So, when they went about doing their previews for the upcoming season, it seemed to make sense to check in for their thoughts on Deng.

Not surprisingly, they (mostly) like him. JayPatt writes:

I admire what Deng brings to the table. He's tough as hell, can play multiple positions relatively well and plays balls to the wall for 40 minutes a night. His minutes are a running gag at this point, and I doubt they'll be diminishing anytime soon. With small-ball being somewhat en vogue these days, Hollinger notes that we may be seeing more Deng at power forward, especially with Omer Asik making now making bank in Houston.

But despite all this, I have major questions about whether Deng can improve upon the rather weak efficiency numbers he posted last year. Based on Hollinger's projections, he has those questions as well.

It'll definitely be interesting to see if Deng makes the transition to small-ball power forward on a more regular basis and -- as has been pointed out previously -- what that does for his averages heading into next season.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out Blog a Bull. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Chicago Bulls Preview: Carlos Boozer's Defense Put In Perspective

Since signing a five-year deal worth $75 million with the Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer has drawn much criticism from fans. While offensively he's still very much a force, leading the NBA in field goal percentage for shots three to nine feet from the basket, his defense has been suspect.

In his player-by-player preview of the 2012-13 NBA season, ESPN's John Hollinger put Boozer's poor defensive play in perspective:

Defensively, Boozer is Chicago's worst frontcourt player, but the excellence of the other three made him look worse: Chicago gave up 8.6 points per 100 possessions more with him on the court. While he was 11th in rebound rate among power forwards, his help defense was pretty deficient, consisting largely of screaming loudly that a pick was coming before pretending to stop the ball handler. He also has short arms and doesn't always sprint back, making him something of a magnet for criticism in the Windy City.

On a team with Derrick Rose consistently in the MVP talks, Boozer's offense has remained strong, but not at the level of a player worth $75 million, says Bulls blogger Jay Patt. While his shooting percentage around the rim has been solid, Boozer has been spending much less time there and subsequently costing himself free throw attempts.

With a suitable replacement in Taj Gibson coupled with Boozer's large salary, much of the fan base is now hoping that the two-time All-Star is with the team for not much longer.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out Blog a Bull. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Chicago Bulls C Joakim Noah Working With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has been working with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar over the summer, according to the Boston Globe (via CSN Chicago's Mark Strotman), and the Hall Of Famer expects Noah's post game to improve this season.

Noah's scoring output decreased to 10.2 points per game last season, after it had gone up in each of the previous four. That will have to improve this season, as leading scorer Derrick Rose remains sidelined for an indefinite amount of time. In addition, Noah can expect to see more minutes this season after the Bulls replaced Omer Asik with the much-older Nazr Mohammed.

Abdul-Jabbar has worked with some other big-name centers recently, as he is currently assisting Los Angeles Lakers big man Dwight Howard. Before that, Abdul-Jabbar spent five years mentoring former Lakers, and current Philadelphia 76ers, center Andrew Bynum.

For more on the Bulls, be sure to visit Blog A Bull. And, for additional news and analysis from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

Chicago Bulls Didn't Give Nate Robinson Guaranteed Contract, According To Report

The Chicago Bulls are hoping that Nate Robinson will help them out at the point guard position, bringing him in after Derrick Rose tore his ACL. According to Mark Deeks via Twitter (H/T CSN Chicago), Robinson's contract is not guaranteed. This means that the Bulls take no risk in bringing him in, something that is basically required given their present financial issues.

Robinson signed for the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million on July 30. That's a one-year contract, and it is a bit odd to see him have his contract not guaranteed. It seems like someone of Robinson's caliber would be able to sign elsewhere and get that minimum guaranteed. Then again, the Bulls have been one of the top teams in the NBA, and coming from the Golden State Warriors might be enough.

Chicago definitely can't afford a sunk cost of $1.2 million given their situation. Still, Robinson is expected to make the roster and get playing time behind starter Kirk Hinrich, and will likely stick around even when Rose returns, presumably some time after the All-Star Break.

For more on the Chicago Bulls, check out Blog a Bull. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page.

Derrick Rose Unveils New Signature Shoes, Logo, Apparel Line At Adidas Event

Adidas threw a party in Chicago on Thursday to unveil Derrick Rose's new apparel line. SB Nation Chicago's Ricky O'Donnell was there to take it all in.

Bill Russell Touts Chicago Bulls Center Joakim Noah

Hall Of Famer Bill Russell had some high praise for Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah in an interview with NBA.com, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

During a segment in which Russell was asked which current NBA players play with the most pride, he ran off a list of superstars before saying the following about Noah:

"A player who doesn't get much attention and is one of my favorites to watch is Joakim Noah. The Bulls don't utilize some of his skills. Not only is he a good rebounder but he's an excellent passer. A good passer is more important to a team than a good shooter on offense."

Russell also went on to mention Noah's teammate, Derrick Rose, when asked about some of the smartest players in the game.

For more on the Bulls, be sure to visit Blog A Bull. And, for additional pro basketball coverage, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub.

VIDEO: Derrick Rose Sheds Tears At Launch Of New Adidas Line

Derrick Rose Again Sounds Off On Chicago Teachers' Strike

Derrick Rose isn't normally one to comment on social issues, but the teachers' strike in Chicago has gained the Bulls star's attention.

Chet Walker NBA Hall Of Fame Speech: Bulls Great Discusses Off-Court Victories

Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers legend Chet 'The Jet' Walker was inducted into the Hall of Fame Friday.

Walker, however, was arguably more important to the game as it is today off the court than on it. Curtis Harris of Yahoo!'s Ball Don't Lie explains:

Under the archaic and repugnant "reserve clause" a team still retained a player's rights for one year after their contract expired. The Bulls refused to negotiate with Walker on a new salary, and then refused to trade or release him. He was held in limbo and his lawsuit to free himself from the Bulls eventually failed. Refusing to play for the Bulls, Walker's career thus came to its inglorious yet principled end.

Walker discussed the fact that NBA players in his era were mostly not well-compensated, and he acknowledged the monumental struggle that he and others had with the league, which eventually resulted in players being granted free agency.

"We went to court, filed a lawsuit and eventually won free agency, which meant that players could now make more money," Walker said in his speech.

Walker was thankful to teammates and others who helped him in his life, but turned to former teammate Billy Cunningham when he had a hard time discussing his own on-court credentials. "Would you say something about me? I can't promote myself," he said to Cunningham, one of his presenters.

"You know what he's going to do, and you're still going to leave your feet," Cunningham said in a video before the induction.

Walker also has another Chicago connection. He produced a move about Mary Thomas, mother of Isiah Thomas, called, A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story.

"She basically eliminated all of the gang activity on the west side of Chicago," Walker said. "They should rename Michigan Avenue after her."

Walker was presented by Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, Adrian Dantley, Earl Monroe and Cunningham.

For more on the Hall of Fame, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Don Nelson NBA Hall Of Fame Speech: NBA Legend Is Enjoying The Fruits Of Retirement

NBA legend Don Nelson is mostly known for his career as a coach, where he ranks as the winningest coach in the history of the league. But he was also a stellar player, winning five titles with the Boston Celtics to cap a career that was started when he was drafted by the old Chicago Zephyrs.

On Friday night, Nelson was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame and he started with the usual platitudes that pepper these kind of speeches.

"When I look back on my career, I'm the luckiest guy in the world." Don Nelson. #Hawkeyes

— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) September 8, 2012

Toward the end, though, his speech started to veer into territory more befitting of one of the league's most colorful characters.

Classic Don Nelson. "Hopefully this will be the last tuxedo I'll be wearing," he says near the end of his speech. The man with the fish tie.

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 8, 2012

He then finished by plugging the small shop he runs in Hawaii.

Quote of the night from Don Nelson: "Come visit me in Maui, I have a coffee shop and shaved ice." #livingthedream

— Kris Koivisto (@KrisKoivisto) September 8, 2012

A fitting ending to an unpredictable career.

For more on the Hall of Fame, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Bulls Finished No. 24 In ESPN's Ultimate Team Rankings

ESPN's annual Ultimate Team Rankings have been revealed, and the Bulls come in at No. 24 overall.

The rankings are based on eight sets of criteria among the four major American sports, including ownership, affordability, stadium experience and more.

The Bulls were No. 5 in "Players," as well as No. 7 in "Fan Relations" and "Coaching." The Oklahoma City were the No. 1 team overall.

The Bulls were No. 7 among NBA teams, behind OKC, the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. The defending NBA champion Miami Heat came in at No. 9 in the NBA and No. 31 overall.

As for other local teams, the White Sox are at No. 69, the Blackhawks are at No. 74, the Bears are at No. 76 and the Cubs are at No. 112. A total of 122 teams in the four major sports are ranked.

Ronnie Brewer Injury: Former Bulls Guard Will Miss 6 Weeks With Torn Meniscus

Current Knicks guard and former Bull Ronnie Brewer will be out for six weeks after surgery to repair a meniscus tear, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times.

Knicks G Ronnie Brewer will be out 6 weeks after surgery for meniscus tear in left knee. Injury happened w/in last 2 weeks.

— Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) September 7, 2012

Brewer was drafted with the No. 14 overall pick by the Utah Jazz out of Arkansas. He played two seasons with the Bulls before they declined Brewer's option following the 2011-12 season. He signed with the Knicks in July.

Last season, Brewer averaged 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 24.8 minutes with Chicago. He has averaged 9.0 points per game in his career.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news.

NBA Hall Of Fame 2012 Induction: Time And TV Schedule

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame will enshrine its 2012 class on Friday.

Bulls Writer Sam Smith Honored By Hall Of Fame

On Thursday, legendary Chicago Bulls writer Sam Smith was recognized as a recipient of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's 2012 Curt Gowdy Media Award. It's been 40 years since he started his writing career that spanned many important moments in Chicago Bulls history, including the Michael Jordan-centric dynasty of the 1990s.

As the piece on NBA.com notes, Smith has never enjoyed being the story. He only liked to be the one to tell the story. But he recognized the honor for the huge accomplishment that it is, and we've got a quote on it below:

It's a wonderful honor. I'm so proud to be mentioned along with some of the great newspapers writers I followed growing up, like Leonard Koppett and Leonard Lewin, and to be mentioned along with writers who created modern NBA writing, like Peter Vecsey and Bob Ryan. There are so many talented and deserving writers. To be included in such a special group is beyond your dreams.

Those definitely are some strong names to be in company with. Smith's contributions have been so excellent and so many that there were plenty on-hand with him when he received the award, including Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, President and COO Michael Reinsdorf and General Manager Gar Forman.

If you want some real knowledge on Smith and his accomplishments, don't look any further than Kelly Dwyer's piece on Ball Don't Lie with Yahoo Sports. It does a great job of outlining the career of Smith and why he was so good at what he did. It's well worth a read.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

2012 NBA Hall Of Fame Class: Bulls Standout Chet Walker To Be Inducted Friday

Former Chicago Bulls forward Chet "The Jet" Walker will be inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night along with other roundball greats like Reggie Miller, Don Nelson, Ralph Sampson and Jamaal Wilkes. Walker, the No. 12 pick in the 1962 NBA Draft, earned AP All-American honors in each of his three years at Bradley and became a seven-time NBA All-Star over the course of his 13-year NBA career. He was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals and performed well as a key member of the Philadelphia 76ers' 1967 championship team.

Walker also played six seasons for the Bulls on the back end of his career, and he made the All-Star team four times during those six seasons. For his career, Walker scored 18,831 points (No. 55 all-time) and posted averages of 18.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game on 47.0 percent shooting from the field and a 54.0 percent true shooting percentage. According to Basketball-Reference, his closest statistical comparisons are Kevin McHale, Rick Barry, Bailey Howell and Dominique Wilkins.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Brian Scalabrine Turns Down Coaching Offer From Chicago Bulls

Brian Scalabrine's career continues to be interesting. So much so that the NBA journeyman who never averaged more than 6.3 points per game in 520 games over all or parts of 11 NBA seasons had a choice of either becoming an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls or broadcasting games in Boston.

Scalabrine chose the latter. He spurned the Bulls and will call games for Comcast Sports New England this season.

Brian Scalabrine has turned down coaching job with Bulls and will call games for Comcast Sports New England this season, he tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) September 6, 2012

Scalabrine became something of a fan favorite over his NBA career, which included stops in New Jersey, Boston and Chicago. He also played for a few months in Italy before returning to the Bulls. The 6-9 forward from USC won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008. He is 34 years old.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Derrick Rose Dives Into The Pizza Game

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau Reportedly Resume Contract Talks

The Chicago Bulls have moved very slowly on contract extension talks with head coach Tom Thibodeau despite two first-place finishes in the Eastern Conference and one Coach of the Year win in 2010-11, but the Bulls and Thibodeau have reportedly resumed talks on a new deal. The team has formally picked up Thibodeau's option for the upcoming 2012-13 season on his original three-year, $6.5 million contract, but there is no doubt that Thibodeau deserves more money and now a report from Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago says the two sides have started talking about a contract extension again.

Former head coach Jeff Van Gundy says he could get the deal done in 25 seconds:

"If I was (the Bulls) and Tom agreed to what (Oklahoma City's) Scott Brooks got (a reported four-year deal worth approximately $18 million), the whole thing would take 25 seconds. It's a no-brainer ... My thing is he's an elite coach and should be paid like one."

Thibodeau's hard-nosed defensive style has worked well in Chicago, and there is little doubt that he deserves to be paid like an elite head man, but Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has earned a reputation for being a very tough negotiator. Thibodeau was reportedly unhappy that he didn't get a new deal during the 2011-12, and now 2012-13 sets up as a big challenge as the team jettisoned Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, John Lucas, Brian Scalabrine(sort of) and C.J. Watson during the offseason.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Chicago Bulls Could Struggle With Three-Point Shooting

The Chicago Bulls are going to look vastly different in 2012 than they did in the previous two years of the Tom Thibodeau era, and one area where the team may see a noticeable drop-off is in three-point shooting. The team has parted ways with Kyle Korver and C.J. Watson, its two best three-point shooters, as well as John Lucas III, who was stellar from long range in 2011.

The Bulls added Marco Belinelli, a respectable long-range bomber, and will hope for better shooting out of Kyle Korver. That said, they'll be hard-pressed to replicate their shooting from the last few years, especially with Luol Deng still recovering from a wrist injury.

This all coincides with a story from SB Nation's Tom Ziller that spells out just how important it is for NBA teams to do two things: shoot threes, and make them. How often the Bulls do both in 2012 may go a long way toward determining whether their new look is a success.

For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Chicago Bulls Interested In Anthony Tolliver, According To Report

The Chicago Bulls may not be done tweaking their 2012-2013 roster. According to Chris Tomasson of FSN Florida, the Bulls have interest in free agent forward Anthony Tolliver, who spent the last two seasons as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls, though, are not alone. Along with Minnesota, the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards are also looking into acquiring Tolliver.

Tolliver is coming off of a down year in 2011-2012. In 17 minutes per game across 51 games last season, Tolliver averaged only four points and three rebounds. Tolliver, a career 42-percent shooter from the field and 32-percent shooter from three, shot only 39 percent from the field and 24 percent from three last season.

That said, Tolliver is a veteran with a minimal track record who is expected to take the veteran minimum. That is an attractive end-of-bench option for many NBA teams.

For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Derrick Rose Curates A Spotify Playlist Featuring 2Pac, Young Jeezy

Chicago Bulls PF Taj Gibson Laments End Of 'Bench Mob'

With the NBA preseason just over a month away, Taj Gibson will be without many of his Chicago Bull teammates from a season ago.

Those teammates -- including Omer Asik, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer -- were members of the 'Bench Mob' last year. Said Gibson,

"I was just with Ronnie in New York. It's crazy to think he's a New York Knick now, C.J.'s a Brooklyn Net, Omer's in Houston, Kyle is in Atlanta. It was just so crazy because our bench was so talented. With so many valuable assets, we knew across the league a lot of teams would want these guys. It's sad, but things like that happen all the time."

With Derrick Rose expected to miss a significant portion of the season, and so many new faces joining the Bulls (Nazr Mohammed, Marquis Teague, Marco Belinelli, Vladimir Radmanovic and Kirk Hinrich), Gibson expects to take on a greater leadership role both on and off the court.

For more on the Bulls, head over to Blog a Bull. For additional news, notes and analysis from around the NBA, visit SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Do You Know Derrick Rose's Signature Move? ESPN Loves Floaters From The Bulls PG

Chicago Bulls Rank Among NBA's Smart Spenders, According To Overly Objective Report

Chicago Bulls Are 10th-Best Spenders In NBA, According To Business Week

The Chicago Bulls are rated as the tenth-best spenders in the NBA by Business Week in its annual spending efficiency rankings, as CSN Chicago reports. For the past two years, Business Week has compiled data on payroll figures and competitive success to determine how efficiently each team is spending in terms of dollars-per-win.

Among the 122 professional teams ranked by Business Week, the Bulls come in No. 38 on the list. Teams were given special bonuses for wins above .500, playoff victories and championships. The Tampa Bay Rays are considered the most efficient spenders in pro sports while the Los Angeles Lakers get the highest ranking of an NBA franchise.

Coming off this offseason, Bulls fans probably don't want to hear too much about the fiscal responsibility of the Bulls' ownership these days, even though Chicago is paying the luxury tax for the first time. Numerous key players were jettisoned during this summer in order to trim payroll despite the team's recent success on the court.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

Chicago Bulls PF Taj Gibson Ranks As No. 16 Free Agent In 2013, According To SB Nation

The Chicago Bulls spent most of the offseason reshaping their bench unit, and after losing restricted free agent Omer Asik to the Houston Rockets there will be big pressure to keep Taj Gibson when he reaches restricted free agency in 2013. To recap the offseason for the Bulls, they lost Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, John Lucas, Brian Scalabrine (sort of) and C.J. Watson. Meanwhile, they added free agents Kirk Hinrich, Nazr Mohammed, Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli and Vladimir Radmanovic. That series of moves has drawn mixed reviews.

Tom Ziller of SB Nation has been breaking down the top-50 free agents for the 2013 NBA offseason, and Gibson clocks in at No. 16:

The next restricted free agent for someone to pry from the mysteriously hard-capped Chicago Bulls. Actually, it's likely the Bulls passed on keeping Omer Asik in order to be able to extend Gibson without making sweet love to the steep bits of the luxury tax. Gibson fits really, really well with the Bulls as a defender and rebounder, though expect Carlos Boozer to be in heavy rotation while Derrick Rose is out, simply because Chicago will need the points. Gibson should land around $8 million per season in his next contract, whether it's in Chicago or elsewhere.

The Bulls drafted Gibson with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and soon enough they will have to pay some big money if they want the 27-year-old forward to stick around for the long term.

For the latest on the Chicago Bulls, be sure to check out Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago. Head over to SB Nation's NBA hub for even more news. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video commentary.

NBA 2K13 Now Includes Scottie Pippen On '92 Dream Team

Reconciling With The Idea Of Brian Scalabrine, Assistant Coach For The Chicago Bulls

Brian Scalabrine appears set to join the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach. SB Nation Chicago's Ricky O'Donnell is just happy the fan favorite is no longer taking up a roster spot.

Derrick Rose Chats About Everything In A BET video

On Monday, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose sat down with John Reed of BET to talk a little bit about everything going on in his life, courtesy of SLAMonline.com.

Rose was open, speaking about his feelings on Chicago's basketball culture.

"I think Chicago is definitely a type of basketball that you play. I think I play the type of basketball where that Chicago type which is a dribbling, one-on-one type of game. There are no fouls called, you have to learn how to score...you've got to have heart."

Rose also was candid about how he stayed out of trouble as a youth growing up in the city.

"My family was always there for me. I wasn't a bad kid. I went to school, came home, played basketball the whole day and did my homework at night."

The Bulls star continued about the pressures of being young and having so much heaped upon him. Undoubtedly a pressure most can't understand.

"For me to be so young, I had to grow up super-fast where at 19 I'm taking care of my whole family, at 19 years old with only one year of college so everything was different. Now being at the age of 23 and having people look up to you like you're a role model, it's a different role for me where I just try to stay streaky-clean."

For more on Derrick Rose please be sure to check out site Blog A Bull and SB Nation Chicago for all the latest news and updates.

Brian Scalabrine May Return To Chicago Bulls Next Season As Assistant Coach

CSN's Aggrey Sam is reporting that the Chicago Bulls are considering Brian Scalabrine for their vacant assistant coaching spot. The job was made available after Rick Brunson left Chicago to take a position with the Charlotte Bobcats.

The NBA veteran spent the last two years as a bench player for the Bulls, logging just 210 minutes in 48 games over that span.

The transition would most likely be an easy one for Scalabrine, who has spent much of the last two years serving as a mentor for younger players.

The immensely popular forward expressed his desire to continue to play, but the Bulls' front office feels he would contribute more from a coaching role. Scalabrine has a long-standing relationship with Bulls' coach Tom Thibodeau.

For more on the Bulls, be sure to visit Blog A Bull. For all of your general NBA news and analysis, check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

Chicago Bulls' Offseason Earns F Grade From Wages Of Wins Journal

Wages of Wins Journal gives the Bulls' offseason an "F"