The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has exercised its fourth-year option for the 2012-13 season for forward Taj Gibson.

In two seasons with Chicago, Gibson (6-9, 225) has appeared in 162 games (89 starts) and averaged 8.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 1.30 bpg in 24.4 mpg; he has shot .485 from the field and .659 from the line. The Bulls selected Gibson in the first round (26th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Chicago Bulls first-round draft pick Nikola Mirotic probably isn't going to be playing for the Bulls for a few seasons, but that doesn't mean the organization isn't excited about his potential fit with Derrick Rose.

"His skill set, I think, fits us well," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said on Monday. "It's not only the way he complements Derrick, but also the way he complements Carlos (Boozer). I think when you see big guys that can play out on the perimeter, it puts a lot more pressure on the defense. He's highly skilled, great touch, but more than just a spot-up shooter. He can put it on the floor. I like his frame. He's one of those guys that will continue to get better year after year, so we're excited about having him."

Armed with its star-studded NBA client list, Wasserman Media Group is proposing a basketball exhibition tournament in China as the agency explores moneymaking options for its players should there be an extended lockout.

In a “China Basketball Tour” proposal summary obtained by SportsBusiness Journal, a sister publication of Sporting News, Wasserman in April began floating a plan to bring 15 to 20 of its NBA clients to China for a two- or three-week tournament if there is a work stoppage.

The agency represents 45 NBA players, including this past season’s Most Valuable Player, Derrick Rose.

Jimmy Butler was in the Houston airport when the text message landed on his phone.

"Congratulations. Welcome. Maybe come by tonight and chill out for a bit and get to know each other."
 
The sender was none other than Derrick Rose, the reigning most valuable player in the NBA. So Butler landed and hung at Rose's house Sunday night.
 
Butler, the Chicago Bulls' first-round pick, revealed this anecdote at his introductory news conference at the Berto Center on Monday.

When talking to reporters, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau praised Marquette small forward Jimmy Butler, whom the Bulls took with the last pick of the first round, though he cautioned that Butler would be brought along slowly.

"He's a wing," Thibodeau said. "I think he has the ability to play both spots. Those two spots are very interchangeable with us. We're comfortable with that. And if there's a small range-shooting power forward, he can handle that. He did that a lot in college. We think he has great feet. He can guard big guys, small guys. The first step will be for him to contribute in practice."

The Bulls traded up to acquire Nikola Mirotic, fearful the Thunder would select him at No. 24.

League sources said Mirotic's buyout from Real Madrid stands at roughly 2 million Euros. That number obviously is negotiable, but the plan for now is to keep Mirotic overseas for at least two or three seasons of his five-year deal.

Scottie Pippen said Friday he believes Michael Jordan is the greatest player in NBA history, despite remarks he made last month regarding Miami Heat forward LeBron James on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike In The Morning."

"The comments that I made were basically giving LeBron some props as a player, not to dismantle any player like Michael," Pippen said after a youth camp session at the Bulls/Sox academy. "We all know that he's the greatest player that ever played the game.

"I think it was taken a little bit out of context. I felt like I was drawing more of a conclusion from the statistics more than the accolades."

Within the first few seconds of a teleconference with reporters on Thursday, Bulls first round pick Jimmy Butler talked about how defense will be his specialty and mentioned a couple of unpopular rivals without being prompted.

“I'm going to put in the work to be able to guard LeBron (James) and Dwyane Wade and all those guys so the Bulls can get to that championship,” Butler said from his home in Tomball, Tex.

“I'm working on my outside shot, so I'm going to be able to knock that down. But I think the biggest thing is defense. I'm going to be a pest. I'm going to take up everybody's space, make them work for every little thing.”

Despite the prevailing feeling amongst fans and media that the Bulls need to upgrade at the 2-guard position, general manager Gar Forman said the Bulls will most likely pick the proverbial "best player available" when it comes time to make a selection.

"I've always been a huge believer that you draft the best player available," Forman said. "Every team in the league has certain needs and when you look at needs in my mind, there's three ways to fill them -- it's not just the draft. You've got free agency, you've got trades and you've got the draft. And I think when you're higher up in the draft, which we've been at times in the past, that if you have guys that are tiered closely together that you may go for need. I think when you're drafting as late as we're drafting that we're not necessarily going to go for need. We'll go for two guys that we think fit the culture that we've created and that can be part of our rotation, if not immediately, and we would hope immediately, but if not immediately, then somewhere down the road and trying to build some depth."

Tex Winter's health and strength have stabilized to the point his family is making plans for the legendary former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach to attend his induction ceremonies into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in early August, according to a family friend.
 
When the Tribune first reported news of Winter's induction in early April, it didn't appear Winter would be able to attend the Aug. 12 ceremony in Springfield, Mass. Winter, 89, suffered a debilitating stroke in April 2009 and largely has been confined to care from family members since.
 
However, according to the family friend, Winter's family has begn to assemble a guest list for Winter's induction. That list will include Phil Jackson, who is expected to serve as Winter's presenter, a source said.