Chicago Bulls Blog – Page 82 – NBA Blog

Bulls waive Jerome James, sign Rob Kurz

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived center Jerome James and signed forward Rob Kurz for the remainder of the season.

James (7-1, 285), joined the Bulls on Feb. 19, 2009 in a four-player trade with the New York Knicks. In one and a half seasons with Chicago, James did not appear in a game due to a ruptured right Achilles he suffered during the 2008-09 season.

Kurz, 25, appeared in 39 games (35 starts) for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League. With the Mad Ants, he averaged 17.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.46 bpg in 37.2 mpg and shot .494 from the field, .435 from the three and .808 from the line. The 6-9, 230 pound forward also held a stint with the Golden State Warriors during the 2008-09 campaign. In 40 games (five starts) with the Warriors, he posted averages of 3.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg in 11.1 mpg. In four years at the University of Notre Dame, Kurz posted career averages of 9.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.13 bpg in 108 games.

Kurz will wear number 31.

InsideHoops.com Says: Center Jerome James got paid many millions of dollars to sit, be fat, tumble into planes, and roll around the nation. The man is a perfectionist and lived up to full expectations of his job. Being serious, though, I strongly encourage all 30 NBA teams show respect to fans by never, ever signing this guy again.

Heat plane diverted to Chicago

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

The Miami Heat’s three-game road trip added one more city to the itinerary early Sunday morning, when the team plane was diverted to Chicago after a member of the flight crew became ill.

Team trainers tended crew member who lapsed into what appeared to be a diabetic coma. He then was transported to a hospital there before the flight from Saturday night’s 97-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves resumed.

The team charter plane eventually landed in Miami at 5:04 a.m., roughly an hour behind schedule.

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Heat guard Dwyane Wade sent out a message through his Twitter account at 1:27 a.m., asking for his followers to pray for the mechanic.

“Hey everyone pray for our pilot,” Wade wrote on Twitter. “We just had a emergency landing in Chicago. He went into a coma. God bless this man and his family.”

A Heat spokesman confirmed that the team’s plane landed about 1:30 a.m., about 90 minutes after its 11 p.m. scheduled departure from Minnesota. The team was waiting at the O’Hare airport as the mechanic was taken to a hospital. The team resumed its flight to Miami at 2:27 am.

NBA suspends Kirk Hinrich, fines Alvin Gentry

Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls has been suspended one game without pay for making contact with a game official and, in a separate incident, Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry has been fined $25,000 for improper conduct towards a game official and for not leaving the court in a timely manner following his ejection, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident involving Hinrich occurred with 4:43 remaining in the fourth period of the Bulls’ 108-95 loss to the Miami Heat on Friday, March 12, at the American Airlines Arena. Hinrich will serve his suspension on Tuesday, March 16 when the Bulls face the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum.

The incident involving Gentry occurred with 5:06 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Suns’ 102-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, March 12 at the US Airways Center.

Chicago Bulls hire Lindsey Hunter as Player Development Assistant

The Chicago Bulls announced today that Lindsey Hunter has been hired as a Player Development Assistant.

“During his time with the Bulls, Lindsey has been very valuable to our team in a number of ways,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “With his experience and knowledge of the game, along with the relationships that he has built with our players, I have no doubt he will be an asset to the team.”

Hunter, 39, assumes his new role following a 17-year career in the NBA. Over his professional career, he played in 937 games (438 starts) and averaged 8.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.2 rpg and 1.20 spg in 24.8 mpg. During that time, he recorded career shooting averages of .388 from the field, .360 from downtown and .746 from the line. Hunter was also a member of 12 playoff teams, appearing in 129 NBA playoff games (13 starts), where he averaged 3.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.2 apg and 13.8 mpg en route to two NBA Championships (2002 Los Angeles Lakers and 2004 Detroit Pistons).

“This move is a natural progression for me. Not only will it help our team in the short term, but I hope that it will reap rewards over the long term as well,” said Hunter. “I am pleased to remain a member of the Bulls organization.”

Hunter signed with Chicago as a free agent on Nov. 13, 2008. During his one-plus seasons with the Bulls, he played in 41 games and posted 2.1 ppg and 1.1 apg in 9.4 mpg. The Utica, Miss. native also played with the Pistons (1993-2000, 2003-08), the Milwaukee Bucks (2000-01), the Lakers (2001-02) and the Toronto Raptors (2002-03). Originally selected by the Pistons in the first round (10th overall) of the 1993 NBA Draft out of Jackson State, Hunter earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 1994.

InsideHoops.com says: Nice move! And expected. Though, ideally it would have happened 2-3 years ago, instead of Hunter wasting an NBA roster spot. Anyway, he’ll be good at this.

Bulls sign Chris Richard for rest of season

The Chicago Bulls announced today that they have signed forward Chris Richard for the remainder of the season.

Richard, 25, appeared in five games with Chicago earlier this year and averaged 2.2 rpg, 4.6 rpg and 1.0 apg in 14.4 mpg, before he was waived on Feb. 18. The 6-9, 256 pound forward returns to the Bulls by way of the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. In 12 games (all starts) with Tulsa, he averaged 8.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.17 spg, 1.0 apg and 29.1 mpg. He shot .568 from the field and .577 from the line with the 66ers.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.

Bulls waive Lindsey Hunter

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Lindsey Hunter.

Hunter, 39, signed with Chicago as a free agent on Nov. 13, 2008. During his one-plus seasons with the Bulls, he played in 41 games and posted 2.1 ppg and 1.1 apg in 9.4 mpg.

InsideHoops.com Reaction: Hunter had a fine NBA career, though it should have ended several years ago. His career shooting average is 38.8%. He averaged 1ppg this season on 16.7% shooting. In 2008-09 he averaged 2.6 ppg on 32.9% shooting. In 2007-08 on Detroit he averaged 2.4 ppgon 34.5% shooting. His previous several seasons weren’t much better.

But he’s definitely got a future as an NBA assistant coach (and then on to a head coach, perhaps) if that’s the direction he wants to take.

We’re a fan of Hunter’s, but wish his career had wrapped up about four years ago!

Anyway, all the best.

Tulsa 66ers sign Chris Richard

The Tulsa 66ers announced today the re-acquisition of forward Chris Richard.

The 6-9 forward was called-up on a 10-day contract to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 6, averaging 2.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in five games.

The two-time national champion from the University of Florida started nine games earlier this season with the 66ers, averaging 10.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. The former number one selection for the 66ers in the 2008 NBA D-League Draft played 20 games during the 2008-09 season, averaging 12.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for Tulsa.

In order to make room on the roster for Richard, the 66ers released forward Rodney Webb. Richard will wear number 32 and is expected to be in uniform tonight at home against the Springfield Armor at 7 p.m.

Bulls trade Tyrus Thomas to Bobcats for Flip Murray, Acie Law

The Chicago Bulls traded Tyrus Thomas to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Ronald “Flip” Murray and Acie Law. Chicago also received a future first round draft pick from Charlotte.

In a related move, the Bulls have released forward Chris Richard. Richard, signed to a second 10-day contact on Feb. 15, appeared in five games with Chicago and averaged 2.2 rpg, 4.6 rpg and 1.0 apg in 14.4 mpg.

The 6-10 Thomas is in his fourth NBA season after being selected by Portland with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and traded to Chicago on draft night. In 254 career games with the Bulls, Thomas averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 0.9 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.4 minutes. Thomas posted career highs of 10.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.2 steals and 27.5 minutes in 79 games played last season.

This season, Thomas is averaging 8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.1 assists in 23.4 minutes in 29 games played. He missed 22 games from November 7-December 22 with a left radius fracture.

Thomas has also played in 17 career playoff games, averaging 6.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.0 steal and 0.7 assists. He started all seven postseason games for the Bulls last season, averaging 9.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 1.0 steal and 0.9 assists against Boston.

Murray (6-3, 200) is currently in his eighth season out of Shaw University. He appeared in 46 games (one start) for the Bobcats this season, and averaged 9.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.8 apg and 21.6 mpg. Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round (42nd overall) in 2002, he has also played for Seattle, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana and Atlanta. In 458 NBA games (91 starts), he has posted 9.9 ppg, 2.3 apg and 2.0 rpg in 22.7 mpg. The 30-year old Murray has been to the postseason four times, where he has averaged 6.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.7 apg and 23.4 mpg in 40 playoff games (five starts).

Law (6-3, 202), selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 11th overall pick in 2007, is in his third season by way of Texas A&M. In 14 games this year, he has averaged 3.4 ppg in 7.0 mpg. For his career, he has played in 125 games (seven starts) and averaged 3.6 ppg, 1.7 apg and 0.9 rpg in 13.2 mpg. He has also appeared in 13 career playoff games, and averaged 2.2 ppg and 1.1 apg in 6.8 mpg. Law, 25, began this season with Golden State before he was traded to Charlotte in a four-player deal on Nov. 16.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.

Bulls trade John Salmons to Bucks for Joe Alexander, Hakim Warrick

In a trade finalized on February 18, the Chicago Bulls traded John Salmons to the Milwaukee Bucks for Joe Alexander and Hakim Warrick (pronounced Ha-keem). In addition, Chicago traded the Bulls’ regular second round draft choices in 2011 and 2012. Also, Milwaukee has the option in NBA Draft 2010 of switching first round picks with Chicago, so long as Chicago’s first round pick is not a top 10 selection.

“We like the combination of our player talent, cap flexibility and our ability to improve our team this summer in the free agent market,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “This trade is another step in the process of building our team and getting better.”

Warrick (6-9, 219), in his fifth season out of Syracuse, signed with the Bucks as a free agent on July 31, 2009. On the season, he has played in 48 games (six starts) and averaged 10.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 21.3 mpg. The 27-year old Warrick spent his first four years in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies after being selected with the 19th overall pick in the first round of NBA Draft 2005. He holds career averages of 10.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 21.6 mpg in 355 games played (88 starts).

Alexander (6-8, 230), the eighth overall pick in NBA Draft 2008, is in his second season in the NBA. Drafted by Milwaukee via West Virginia, the 23-year old Alexander missed the first 41 games of this season due to a right hamstring strain. On Jan. 20, he was assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League, where he has averaged 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.8 apg and 26.8 mpg in six D-League games (three starts). He played in six contests his rookie season, and averaged 5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 1.2 apg in 18.0 mpg.

Currently in his eighth NBA season, Salmons, 30, has averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 51 games (28 starts) for the Bulls this season. Last year in 79 games with Sacramento and Chicago, Salmons enjoyed his best statistical NBA season when he averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steal per contest. He shot 47.2 percent from the field, and career-highs of 41.7 percent and 83.0 percent from the three-point arc and free throw line, respectively. In the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Salmons tallied 18.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in the seven-game series against the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics.

Originally drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 26th selection out of Miami (FL) in the 2002 NBA Draft, Salmons was dealt to Philadelphia where he played his first four NBA seasons. He signed as a free agent with Sacramento prior to the 2006-07 campaign and played two-plus seasons for the Kings before being traded to Chicago last year (February 18, 2009). In 571 career regular season games, Salmons has averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three-point distance and 79.8 percent from the free throw line.

Bulls sign Chris Richard to second 10-day contract

The Chicago Bulls announced today they have re-signed forward Chris Richard to a second 10-day contract. Richard, a 6-9, 256-pound forward, originally signed a 10-day contract with the Bulls on February 5, 2010.

In three appearances with Chicago, Richard has averaged 2.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg in 17.3 mpg.

The 25-26 Bulls are currently the no.8 seed in the Eastern conference, with the same record as the Miami Heat and just ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks.