Chicago Bulls' Nate Robinson isn't focused on non-guaranteed contract

Even though his one-year contract worth $1.2 million is not guaranteed for the remainder of the season, Chicago Bulls point guard Nate Robinson told reporters on Thursday that he still won't allow himself to be bothered by the situation.

Robinson's contract officially counts against the books on Jan. 10, a deadline that offers Chicago's organization an intriguing way to save a sizable chunk of money in the middle of the season. The 28-year-old Robinson told Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com that he plans to control only what he is capable of going forward, and has no idea how his contract issue will play out.

"I don't know the future to that," Robinson said Thursday. "If it comes and I get the guaranteed contract I'll be happy, if not I'll keep pushing. I'm not going to drop my head, I'm going to keep working hard and continue being the player that I am."

With the news that superstar Derrick Rose remains on schedule to return at some point in the second half of the season, many are clamoring that Robinson may be deemed expendable if the Bulls are still firmly in contention in the East. But while Robinson's $1.2 million contract coming off the books would be a nice boost for a team that is already well over the luxury tax threshold, the Bulls would still be entering uncharted territory after having relied upon Robinson so heavily all season long.

The 5'9 guard is averaging 10.8 points and 3.6 assists per game this year for Tom Thibodeau's team, and is coming off quite possibly his strongest performance of the season with an 18-point effort against Boston on Tuesday. It's hard to imagine the Bulls won't at least consider cutting Robinson loose, but right now a decision like that sounds like a risky proposition to say the least.