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Russell Westbrook replaces Derrick Rose in 2010 Skills Challenge

Russell Westbrook to replace Derrick Rose in 2010 Skills Challenge

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will not defend his Skills Challenge title Saturday night at 2010 NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas, Texas.

Rose has a bruised hip and has been considered “probable” for the weekend’s events. But Saturday afternoon, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was named as a replacement for the tonight’s competition.

Rose still hopes to participate in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game.

According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Breaking Sports News, “Bulls physician Brian Cole re-examined Rose’s bruised right hip and back following Saturday morning’s Eastern Conference All-Star practice, and Rose dropped out of the competition Saturday afternoon. The NBA announced that Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook would replace his close friend and summer workout partner in the competition. Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, Suns guard Steve Nash and Jazz guard Deron Williams also will compete.”

Dennis Rodman making coaching debut

Although the article mentions that he has no interest in really becoming a coach, Dennis Rodman is about to give it a shot in the very-minor leagues.

The Dallas Morning News reports:

Former Dallas Mavericks star Dennis Rodman will make his professional coaching debut tonight.

Rodman will coach the Elmira Bulldogs, a minor league team from Eastern Basketball Alliance for games on Friday and Saturday night.

“I want to show people that I am different than the character they see on TV. Everyone always sees me on TV, they see me doing crazy stuff,” Rodman told thedailyreview.com. “They see me on shows like rehab. I’m the sanest guy on that show.”

According to the-leader.com, Rodman is being paid to coach two games as a publicity stunt.

First Arena general manager Robbie Nichols thought it was a home run idea, but pre-order ticket sales have been a disappointment because he told the-leader.com that people weren’t sure Rodman would show up, given his freestyle nature.

Bulls suspend Tyrus Thomas

Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas has been suspended for one game by the team for conduct detrimental to the team. Thomas will serve his one-game suspension this evening, when the Bulls host the Miami Heat.

On the year, the fourth-year forward has appeared in 25 games (three starts) and averaged 8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.68 bpg, 1.28 spg and 1.0 apg in 22.5 mpg. He has shot .457 from the floor and .642 from the stripe.

On February 8, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported:

“You don’t lose your starting job to injury” is one of the older clichés in sports, which, sadly, “a Tyrus Thomas team-imposed suspension” is becoming too.

Following Thomas’ verbal tirade at coach Vinny Del Negro on Friday in Atlanta, that’s three disciplinary actions taken by management in four seasons for Thomas, the soon-to-be former Bull.

Whether the Bulls find a taker for the forward by the Feb. 18 trade deadline or simply renounce his rights this summer, Thomas either will or won’t reach his tantalizing potential elsewhere.

The Bulls will say the steady play of rookie Taj Gibson is why Thomas is no longer the starting power forward after missing seven weeks with a fractured radius in his left forearm.

It’s been a rocky road for the Bulls and Thomas. Maybe things will smooth out.

Bulls sign Chris Richard to 10-day contract

The Chicago Bulls today signed forward Chris Richard to a 10-day contract. Richard, a 6-9, 256-pound forward, will be in uniform tonight in Atlanta when the Bulls take on the Hawks at Philips Arena at 7:00 p.m. (CT).

Richard, 25, appeared in six preseason games with Chicago this year and averaged 3.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 19.7 mpg, before he was waived on Oct. 22, 2009. Richard joins the Bulls by way of the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. In nine games (all starts) with the 66ers, he averaged 10.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.22 spg, 1.11 bpg, 0.9 apg and 30.6 mpg. He shot .623 from the field and .600 from the line while in Tulsa.

A product of the University of Florida, Richard was originally selected in the second round (41st overall) of NBA Draft 2007 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. While with the T-Wolves, Richard played in 52 games (three starts) and recorded 1.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 10.7 mpg, and shot .471 from the field and .593 from the line.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.

Ben Gordon’s financial advisors ordered to repay loan

The AP reports:

A federal judge ordered Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon’s former financial advisors to pay him more than $1.3 million in a dispute over a loan but found there was no breach of their fiduciary duty.

Judge Charles Kocoras handed down the decision Wednesday in a suit Gordon, a former Chicago Bull, filed against California-based Larry Harmon & Associates.

Kocoras ordered Harmon to repay with interest and penalties a $1 million loan from Gordon in 2007 but threw out his claim that the loan and a change in how he paid them – from flat fee to 1 1/2 percent of earnings – represented a breach of the firm’s fiduciary duty to the NBA player.

Hornets trade Devin Brown to Bulls for Aaron Gray

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired center Aaron Gray from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Devin Brown.

“Aaron will help bolster our frontcourt and add depth to our team,” Head Coach and General Manager Jeff Bower said. “We continue to be pleased with the play of Marcus Thornton and feel he, along with our other backcourt players, can step up.”

“We’re excited to add Devin Brown to our team,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “His toughness, defensive versatility, and shooting will be excellent additions to our perimeter rotation.”

Gray, in his third year after being drafted 49th overall out of Pitt in the 2007 NBA Draft, is averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in eight games with the Bulls this season. The 7-foot, 270-pound center has career averages of 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, having played in 125 games (19 starts).

The Hornets signed Brown as a free agent on August 22, 2008. Brown holds career averages of 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in his 8-year career. In 160 games as a Hornet (91 starts), Brown averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists, playing for the club in the 2006-07 season and since signing back with New Orleans on August 22, 2008. This season, Brown has averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 39 games (37 starts).

Bulls improving with lineup changes, Tyrus Thomas return

Sam Smith of Bulls.com reports:

Slowly, though perhaps steadily, the Bulls are turning into a team. That’s 8-3 now since they moved Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson into the starting lineup, since Tyrus Thomas returned from injury, the team’s second four-game winning streak in that span with Friday’s 121-119 double overtime victory over the Washington Wizards thanks to Derrick Rose’s game winning 10 footer in the lane with 5.4 seconds left.

Not long ago a team that routinely was collapsing down the stretch, unable to find enough points and big game players, uncertain and uneven, the Bulls go into their final Western Conference trip of the season averaging 108 per game the last six games and with Rose officially a closer as he finished off Friday with a career high 37 points.

“Usually we were always a team that let it slip toward the end if we were in a close game,” said Rose, who rimmed out a potential game winner at the end of regulation. “It shows how much we’re improving and we’ll get better. These are the type of games you dream about when you are younger. I’m playing in my hometown, so everybody is standing up cheering. I’ve got the ball in my hand and everybody is looking at you and seeing what you are going to do. You hit the shot. It’s crazy. I really couldn’t believe it. I don’t show no emotion anyway, but I was happy. I think I missed like 20 something of these to lose games, too. To hit this one told me I’ve come a long way.”

Joakim Noah an All-Star candidate?

John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

If someone had told you in training camp that the Bulls player with the best chance of making the All-Star team this season was Joakim Noah, your most likely response would have been laughter.

How much of a long shot was Noah? He wasn’t even among the five Bulls listed on the official NBA ballot.

But two months into the season, no one is laughing when the subject of Noah possibly being an All-Star is brought up now. The 6-11 center has been one of the few bright spots for the Bulls, averaging 10.5 points and 12.4 rebounds (third-best in the NBA).

”He’s been strong,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ”He’s one of the top rebounders in the league with his energy and his length. He’s around that basket, and he’s been pretty consistent the whole year.”

Tyrus Thomas terrific in return

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:

The first day of the rest of the Bulls’ season transpired Saturday night at the United Center.

There was Tyrus Thomas, swatting shots and filling lanes. There was Kirk Hinrich, pushing the tempo and picking up fullcourt. There was Joakim Noah, stuffing the box score with another monster double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds with four blocks.

The Bulls have more double-digit collapses than double-digit victories, which is why their 96-85 triumph over the Hornets was as welcome as Thomas’ return.

Sidelined for seven weeks and 22 games following surgery to repair a fractured radius in his left forearm, Thomas was an athletic jolt, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Luol Deng playing with broken left thumb

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Before the game Monday against the Sacramento Kings, the Bulls revealed that forward Luol Deng has played with a fractured left thumb for about a week.

”He hurt it in practice, I think right before the Lakers game [on Dec. 15],” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ”It’s been bothering him a little bit, but he’s been able to fight through it.”

The injury is on Deng’s off hand, allowing him to play through it.

”It’s something that will heal on its own,” Del Negro said. ”It’s his left hand, so we just have to be cautious with it.”