The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has acquired center/forward Brad Miller and guard/forward John Salmons (pronounced SAL-mons) from the Sacramento Kings for forward Andrés Nocioni, forward/center Drew Gooden, forward Cedric Simmons and forward/center Michael Ruffin (In a related transaction, Sacramento traded Michael Ruffin to the Portland Trail Blazers for forward Ike Diogu.). With this deal, Chicago’s roster now stands at 12.
“When we signed Andrés in 2004, he brought a toughness to our basketball team. He’s been a warrior, and a professional, since the day that he arrived. He has been one of my favorites to ever wear a Bulls uniform; and personally, it was difficult for me to move him,” said John Paxson, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “Drew played really well for us in the short time that he was here. It’s a tough part of the business when you are traded, and Drew has been traded a few times now, and that is never easy.”
“Brad Miller is a skilled big man, who we feel will fit into many of the things that we run offensively. He is a good shooter and passer, and has a natural feel for how to play the game. We feel that he will be a good complement to Joakim, Tyrus and Aaron on our front line,” added Paxson. “John Salmons will bring us tremendous versatility in the backcourt, and at the small forward position. He has good size and length, and has shown the ability to score this year. We feel he’s one of the most improved players in the league at this point of the season.”
Miller (7-0, 261) has averaged 11.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.4 apg, 31.5 mpg, and shot .465 from the floor and .801 from the line, in 43 games this season. He has started every game that he has appeared in and has posted 12 double-doubles on the year. This trade marks Miller’s second stint with the Bulls, as he appeared in 105 games with Chicago from 2000-01 to 2001-02. During his first tour with the Bulls, he averaged 10.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 26.9 mpg, .449 field-goal shooting, and .752 from the line. In his 11th season in the NBA, Miller has appeared in 684 regular-season games (555 starts) and holds career averages of 12.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 30.2 mpg and has shot .488 from the field and .799 from the line. He also has played in 38 playoff games (21 starts) over his career and has posted postseason averages of 9.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.5 apg in 27.6 mpg. Undrafted following his senior season at Purdue, the 32-year old Miller has also played for the Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers.
Salmons (6-6, 207), has appeared in 53 games (all starts) this year, and has averaged a career-high 18.3 ppg (29th in the NBA), 4.2 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.09 spg (43rd) in 37.4 mpg (21st). He has shot .472 from the floor, .418 from downtown (24th) and .823 from the line (48th). In his seventh season in the NBA, the 29-year old Salmons has played in 494 regular-season games (170 starts), and averaged 8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, 23.9 mpg, .446 from the field, .354 from behind the arc and .795 from the stripe. Selected by the San Antonio Spurs out of the University of Miami in the first round (26th overall) of NBA Draft 2002, Salmons was then sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in a draft-night deal. Prior to his stint with the Kings, he played four years with the 76ers and was a member of two playoff teams.
Nocioni (6-7, 225), in his fifth season in the NBA, has played in 53 games (two starts) this season, and averaged 10.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 24.1 mpg, .414 from the field, .378 from behind the arc and .806 from the line. Originally signed by the Bulls as a free agent on Aug. 11, 2004, he played in 351 regular-season contests (141 starts) with Chicago, and tallied averages of 11.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 apg and 25.2 mpg. During his time in a Bulls uniform, he shot .437 from the field, .367 from behind the arc and .813 from the free-throw line. Nocioni, 29, also appeared in 22 playoff games (12 starts) with the Bulls, and averaged 13.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 1.4 apg in 28.6 mpg.
Gooden (6-10, 250) has averaged13.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.4 apg and 29.6 mpg in 31 games (27 starts) this year. In his seventh season out of Kansas, he has appeared in 490 contests (395 starts) and owns career averages of 12.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 28.5 mpg and has shot .470 from the field and .730 from the line. He has also appeared in 40 career playoff games and has posted playoff averages of 10.8 ppg and 8.7 rpg in 28.0 mpg. Selected in the first round (fourth overall) of NBA Draft 2002 by the Memphis Grizzlies, the 27-year old Gooden has also played for the Grizzlies, the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gooden joined the Bulls on Feb. 21, 2008, in Chicago’s three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder).
Simmons (6-9, 235) also came to the Bulls, from the Cleveland Cavaliers, in last February’s three-team trade. In his third season in the NBA, he has played in 68 games (four starts) and posted averages of 2.4 ppg and 2.0 rpg in 10.0 mpg. Simmons, 23, was selected in the first round (15th overall) of NBA Draft 2006 by the New Orleans Hornets after playing two seasons at North Carolina State.
Ruffin (6-8, 248) did not make a regular-season appearance with the Bulls this season, after suffering a sprained left ankle in the preseason. In his ninth year out of Tulsa, Ruffin has played in 403 games (58 starts), and owns career averages of 1.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 14.7 mpg.
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As part of a three-way trade with Sacramento and Chicago, the Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forward Michael Ruffin from Chicago in exchange for forward Ike Diogu, who is sent to Sacramento, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.
The Chicago Sun-Times (John Jackson) reports: As the last player introduced at the United Center, Derrick Rose already is the focal point of the franchise and will be the cornerstone of the team for years to come. Expect to see him on television, to hear his voice on radio and to see his face plastered all over town before next season. ”We will most likely be more aggressive in the future in featuring him in the things we do,” Schanwald said. ”We walk a fine line in that regard because so much of the success a basketball team enjoys is related to five individuals playing as one. ”Derrick is a genuinely humble kid, which, given his athletic gifts, is a major part of his appeal and so refreshing in this day and age. He is always the first one to credit his teammates for his success. So we walk a fine line in regard to how much we put him out there. His play is so good, his skills so great and our coverage in the media so extensive that we don’t necessarily need to artificially try to hype him up.”