The Chicago Daily Southtown is reporting that the Bulls are still an option for Illinios-native Tim Hardaway, with Dallas and Miami also possibilites.  While his annual basketball camp at the University of Illinois-Chicago came to a close last week, Hardaway chose to remain in the area this week.  However, it was Hardaway's agent Henry Thomas who suggested that this move had no meaning.  "I wouldn't say that any team has the inside track at this point," Thomas said. "There still are a number of variables involved."

Thomas said a decision by Hardaway on where he will be playing the upcoming season could be announced as early as today.  Hardaway could either be a starter for the Bulls, who seem to be divided on whether or not to acquire the guard, or take a reduced role off the bench for Miami or Dallas.

According to the Daily Southtown, Ron Artest believes that with Elton Brand now gone via trade, he may be next.  "If they trade Elton, then why not me?" Artest wondered. "He was our best player the last two seasons. If Elton goes, then none of us is safe, you know what I mean?"  Last year the Bulls brought in Marcus Fizer, who played Power Forward long with Brand, with their top pick.  12 months later Brand was gone.  This year they brought in Tyson Chandler, a 7 foot 1 inch small forward and via free agency the Bulls brought in Eddie Robinson, both of whom also play Small Forward, the same as Artest.  

While the article leads into the controversies surrounding Artest over the last 12 months, Artest's thoughts do fit logically.  However, the article also figures for Ron to act as a tutor for Chandler much like Brand did for Fizer before him.  Artest does not appear to be too upset with his name cropping up in rumors around the NBA.  "Players are traded all the time in this league," Artest said. "They're part of the business. If they trade me, I'll move on. I just want to play somewhere in this league."

The tug-of-war for the services of 5-time All-Star Tim Hardaway continues between Dallas and Chicago, with the Bulls not giving up hope of signing who would become their starting point guard.  While a published report states that Dallas had recent talks with Detroit and Miami about a three-team deal that would involve Hardaway and two other point guards, Chicago have discussed a sign-and-trade deal with the Miami Heat that would bring Hardaway to Chicago in return for center Brad Miller, who the Heat were chasing last year.

It will be interesting to see if the Mavs plans change now they have signed Celtics free agent Adrian Griffin (as reported in today's Wiretap).

The Bulls have only got around $2M left in cap room, but Hardaway's agent Henry Thomas said that might not be a problem.  Thomas indicated that Hardaway would consider the minimum $1 million base salary if it were part of an incentive-laden contract.  "Tim still has a number of options at this time," Thomas said. "It's just a matter of where he wants to play next season."

The NBA today released the schedule for the upcoming NBA season, and it was not without a little suprise.  On January 19, 2002, the Washington Wizards visit the Chicago Bulls, yet according to the Chicago Tribune the time for this game is set to 'TBD' (to be decided).  If Michael Jordan comes back as a Wizard NBC will pick up the game, if not it will be another game between two of the NBA's lower teams.

But as the Chicago Sun-Times reports, scheduling this game also adds a little twist to the who scenario, whether deliberate or not.  'It was Jan. 19, 2000 when Michael Jordan assumed the role of minority owner and president of basketball operations for the Wizards, shattering the spirit of Bulls fans who felt an exclusive bond with the greatest player in franchise history.' writes the Sun-Times.

As a member of Vancouver's team during its first two seasons of existence, Greg Anthony has been there before.  While concerned he would have to go through these hard times again, where his team went 15-67 then 14-68, he did have some positive things to say.  "Having looked at some of the personnel and the moves they've made here, they've got some young, quality talent. They've got some veteran guys who really know what it's about and have played in a lot of playoff games. That combination is stronger than what we had in Vancouver." said Anthony during his physical from the Berto Center.  With the Bulls future point out for the season Anthony will be playing much more than he anticipated, but as it has been mentioned for the last few weeks Krause is still trying to bring in more help, either via trade or free agency.  Tim Hardaway's name keeps popping up, and Hardaway said himself that it is 50/50 that he will join the Bulls.  Chicago, however, does not seem to be the frontrunner for his services, with that honor belonging to the Dallas Mavericks.  Tim Bug also said that there was about a 20% chance he will be back with the Heat next year.

According to Johnny Ludden of the San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs are looking for the best way they might still profit from Derek Anderson going to Portland.  The most likely sign-and-trade is for Steve Smith who wants to leave Portland if Anderson is coming in.  He would fit well and his contract would expire along with everyone else's (after '02-'03).  Less likely is a sign-and-trade for Gary Payton.  The Spurs would have to give up more young talent than just Anderson, probably including first rounder Tony Parker whom they have high hopes for.  The Spurs downplayed the possibility of a sign-and-trade that would bring in Mercer or Artest.

Hornets boss Bob Bass questioned Monday whether or not recently departed free agent Eddie Robinson truly wanted to stay with the team, while Robinson?s agent James Bryant claims that the offer made to Robinson was 'insulting'.    In the back and forth slugfest, Bass claimed the maximim offer for Robinson was on the table, while Bryant said he didn't know anything about it.  "I don?t believe that myself," Bass said. "He knew exactly. All he had to do was say, ?Yes, I?ll take it.? I had the commitment from both owners (George Shinn and Ray Wooldridge) to do it on July 2.  Bryant, however, said Robinson was shortchanged, the Hornets only offering him six years for $18 million - well short of the max they could offer of $36 million.  "Whatever question there was of him coming back got eliminated when they offered $18 million," Bryant said. "Any possibility of Eddie Robinson remaining a Charlotte Hornet was over that day. It was personally insulting to Eddie and myself."

It might only be the summer league, but after losing their first seven games by an average margin of 19 points the baby bulls have finally got a win.  Tyson Chandler, who went scorless in the previous game,  scored the Bulls' first 10 points and finished with 17, while hitting all 8 of his field-goal attempts in only 18 minutes.  Chicago defeated Dallas 91-89.

A torn anterior cruciate ligament has officially put an end to the season for young Bulls guard Jamal Crawford before it even began, the Bulls will announce Tuesday.  Crawford will go under the knife in the next two to four weeks, reports the Chicago Tribune, then rehab will take anything from nine months to a year.  "I've had some down moments by myself, but I don't think this will really hit me until the preseason," Crawford said. "When I see people out there playing and I know I can't, it's really going to hurt."  Crawford plans to contact players who have returned from similar injuries, players such as Charlotte's Baron Davis and Derek Anderson.

Another rumor around the traps has the Bulls attempting to become the third team in a sign-and-trade scenario with San Antonio's Anderson and Portland's Steve Smith, who has requested a trade.  Ron Mercer and Ron Artest are players whose contract would fit such a scenario. But it's more likely, according to a league source, that Portland and San Antonio will engineer a sign-and-trade between themselves.  If that happens and Smith goes to San Antonio, free agent Bruce Bowen could re-enter the Bulls' plans.

The Chicago Bulls announced Friday that they had acquired veteran point guard Greg Anthony from the Portland Trailblazers for the same second round pick they acquired in the Charles Oakley trade.  So now, in effect, the Bulls traded Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler, Charles Oakley and Greg Anthony, which looks like a much better deal for the young Bulls team.  Chicago is now looking to make another deal, rumors talking about a sign and traded Tim Hardaway from Miami for Brad Miller, whom the Heat showed strong interest in last season.