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Derrick Rose participates in 5-on-5 drills for Bulls

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose participated in five-on-five drills Monday, the latest step in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters after practice that Rose “did what everyone else did.”

Rose has been sidelined since he was hurt in last season’s playoff-opening win over the 76ers. The top-seeded Bulls wound up losing that series.

Rose caused a stir last week when he said he was prepared to miss the whole season rather than return too soon.

— Reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer

Larry Sanders ready to return for Bucks from back injury

Larry Sanders has emerged as a dominant defensive player in his third pro season.

And it’s clear the Milwaukee Bucks missed their big man while he sat out four games with a bruised lower back.

So it was a relief for interim coach Jim Boylan to see Sanders running freely up and down the court during Monday’s practice as the team returned from the four-day NBA all-star break.

Sanders sported a wide smile after practice and termed his chances to return Tuesday night against Brooklyn at “70-30.”

“With this team I put the defense on my shoulders,” Sanders said. “I’m ready to return. I’m ready to lock that paint down and get this ball back rolling.”

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Could LeBron James someday return to Cleveland Cavaliers?

Considering the way James left Cleveland in 2010, the idea of him returning less than five years later once seemed preposterous. But while James has shot down every question regarding his future, he has never ruled out a return to Cleveland. In fact, James began attempting to smooth things over with Cleveland last year.

“It would be fun to play in front of these fans again,” James said in February of 2012 before a road game at Cleveland. “I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. … I’m here as a Miami Heat player, and I’m happy where I am now, but I don’t rule that out in no sense.

“And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.”

The Heat will be major contenders to keep James in the summer of 2014 when he can first opt out of his contract, but All-Star Weekend added yet another chapter to the ongoing narrative that James loves the young Cleveland guard’s game.

— Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald

Andrew Bynum still expected to play for 76ers this season

When [Coach Doug] Collins mentions getting healthy, he is referring to center Andrew Bynum, who has been sidelined all season. Bynum is expected to make his debut with the team in the final 31 games, 19 of which will be played away from the Wells Fargo Center.

Bynum, recovering from bone bruises and what he calls weakened cartilage in both knees, has said he would play for the team after the all-star break. On Monday, when reporters were permitted to watch the Sixers practice, Bynum was on the floor participating in non-contact drills with his teammates.

Still, Collins spoke cautiously about Bynum’s return.

“He’s s still where he’s been, so there’s nothing that’s changed with that,” Collins said of Bynum, whom all-star Jrue Holiday described as looking like “a beast.”

“The question is just going to be at some point and time with him getting out there,” Collins said, “and right now he’s not done anything with contact.”

— Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Rasheed Wallace ready to return to practice for Knicks

Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler return today from Houston, and Rasheed Wallace returns from oblivion.

The Knicks reconvene for the first time since the All-Star break, with their defensive power forward expected to participate in practice for the first time since suffering a stress reaction in his left foot in mid-December.

Wallace will not be ready to play tomorrow in Indiana, and how long he’s able to stay healthy is anyone’s guess. In the best-case scenario, he becomes the final piece to the Knicks’ championship push. If Wallace suffers a setback and breaks his foot, the Knicks could cut him and sign a free-agent forward, such as Kenyon Martin or Lou Amundson.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Deron Williams says he is limited by ankle injuries

Deron Williams admits his ankle injuries have hindered him and hurt him to the point he can’t even dunk. And after undergoing Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment and sitting out last week, the Nets’ star guard acknowledges he needs more time to fully recover — time he won’t take, insisting he’ll play tonight against the Bucks at Barclays Center.

“They said a week was sufficient, so I trust the doctors,” said Williams, who hasn’t played since Feb. 10 against the Spurs and had PRP injections the next day to reduce ankle joint lining inflammation. “I definitely need more rest than a week for it to get back to normal, but I don’t have time right now.

“Yeah, it’s definitely affected me a lot. I can’t jump. I haven’t dunked. I can’t dunk. Even if I tried off one leg, I can’t dunk. So it’s definitely affected me. You think about it, when I’m going into the lane and make a move, a hard jump-stop hurts. Any hard impact, or hard move, it hurts … It’s definitely been a concern, that’s a big reason I did the PRP.’’

— Reported by Brian Lewis of the New York Post

Celtics are signing Terrence Williams to a 10-day contract

An NBA source told the Globe that the Celtics have signed swingman Terrence Williams to a 10-day contract — and there’s a chance that Williams, who is heading here from China, could be in uniform when the Celtics face the Nuggets Tuesday.

Williams wasn’t with the team during its practice Monday. He is awaiting a clearance letter from the team he was playing for in China before he flies here, the source said.

Rivers said he wasn’t sure if Williams, who has played for three NBA teams, would be with the Celtics for their shootaround Tuesday morning. He did say that Williams worked out with the Celtics during the summer and that he “did a pretty good job.”

What impressed Rivers from that workout?

“He’s been in the league; that’s what impressed me,” said Rivers, who downplayed his comments on Williams because the signing isn’t official.

— Reported by Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe

Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies

Jerry Buss had been a chemist and a mathematician long before he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. The self-made millionaire with a head for business and an impresario’s heart assailed the NBA with every skill he acquired along the way.

With his personal alchemy and charisma, he blended two generations of marquee basketball stars and big-name coaches into 10 championship teams. His financial wizardry allowed him to pay top dollar to get the best players and keep them together without a huge personal fortune.

Buss built a glittering life for himself and the Lakers, playing a huge role in the NBA’s move from a second-tier pro sport into can’t-miss Hollywood entertainment while polishing his oddly nicknamed franchise into a glamorous global brand.

Magic, Kareem and Big Game James. Kobe, Shaq and Pau.

They were the stars, but Buss created Showtime.

The applause still hasn’t died down.

Buss, who shepherded the Lakers from their 1980s dynasty through the current Kobe Bryant era while becoming one of the most important and successful owners in pro sports, died Monday. He was 80.

”Jerry Buss was more than just an owner. He was one of the great innovators that any sport has ever encountered,” said Pat Riley, who coached four of Buss’ 10 title teams. ”He was a true visionary, and it was obvious with the Lakers in the ’80s that ‘Showtime’ was more than just Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It was really the vision of a man who saw something that connected with a community.”

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

Chris Paul becomes first Clippers player to win NBA All-Star Game MVP

Chris Paul became the first Clippers player to be NBA All-Star Game MVP, scoring 20 points and handing out 15 assists in the West’s 143-138 win over the East.

Paul is the third player to have at least 20 points and 15 assists in the league’s annual showcase, joining a couple Hall of Fame point guards, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.

Paul made 7-of-10 shots and went 4-for-5 from 3-point range. He sank two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the West build a double-digit lead.

“Pretty special,” Paul said. “It’s something I’ve never done and it’s something that I definitely, coming into the game, I wasn’t trying to achieve or thinking that it might be possible.”

Paul already had the best per-game assists average in All-Star history (12.4). He had nine assists and plenty of fancy dribbling the first half and his niftiest moves came right before one of his only mistakes.

— Reported by Chris Duncan of the Associated Press

Spoelstra says decision to start Bosh in All-Star game was easy call

Some fans questioned the decision to start Bosh, but his coach made no apologies.

“That’s an easy decision,” Spoelstra said. “My loyalties are with the Heat.”

Spoelstra’s players are ready to repay his loyalty once the scores really matter and the chase for another title picks up.

“We’re the best team in the league,” Bosh said. “We have to make our run to start our title (defense). We have everybody intact. Everybody’s comfortable. We just have to continue to work on our chemistry.”

James agrees. “We want to continue to play our game,” James said. “We want to continue to get better each and every game and not waste an opportunity when we get on the floor and play as a team. If we do that, we’ll be OK.”

— Reported by Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)