Derrick Rose sat out Thursday morning's shootaround with a sore neck, but vowed to play in the Chicago Bulls' home opener against the New York Knicks.

"Oh hell yeah, for sure I know I’m going to play," Rose said. "It’s just that I have to get loose."

Rose revealed he sat out Wednesday's practice at the Berto Center, which just consisted of film, walkthrough and individual shooting.

Tom Thibodeau said everybody was "fine" when asked about the team's health after Wednesday's practice.

"It's definitely frustrating," Rose said of his latest soreness. "But I can’t get mad about it, can’t get sad about it. I know I’m doing all the things to get back on the court as quick as possible and working my butt off."

Guards Patrick Christopher and Kalin Lucas have reached deals to begin the season with the Chicago Bulls’ D-League affiliate, league sources told RealGM.

Christopher and Lucas had been released early in training camp with the Bulls this season, and the organization held their rights in order for both to play for the D-League’s Iowa Energy.

Christopher passed on several sizable offers from overseas teams.

Christopher, a 6-foot-5 two-guard, went undrafted in 2010 after averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in his senior season at the University of California.

Lucas had a standout career at Michigan State, spending his first two professional seasons in Turkey and Greece.

The Chicago Bulls have exercised its fourth-year option for the 2014-15 season for guard/forward Jimmy Butler, and its third-year option for the 2014-15 season for guard Marquis Teague. By exercising the respective player options, both players will be under contract with the Bulls for the 2014-15 season.

Butler (6-7, 220), appeared in all 82 games last season and posted averages of 8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.4 apg in 26.0 mpg. He also shot .467 from the floor, .381 from beyond the arc and .803 from the line. 

Teague (6-2, 190), saw action in 48 games last season and averaged 2.1 ppg, 1.3 apg and 0.9 rpg in 8.2 mpg.

Joakim Noah played just 19 minutes and 45 seconds during the preseason for the Chicago Bulls due to a groin injury.

Noah said that he has been pain-free for "four or five" days and there is a "100 percent" chance of him playing the first game of the regular season against the Miami Heat.

"Every time you play against Miami, it's always a statement," Noah said. "We're a hungry group. It's one of 82, but we know that every time you play against Miami it's important."

LeBron James will reach out to Derrick Rose to welcome him back to the NBA ahead of Tuesday's NBA regular season opener between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.

Rose sat out the entire 12-13 season recovering from a torn ACL.

"I'm happy and thrilled that he's back," James said. "I'm happy with what he did last year, to be able to stand strong throughout everything, throughout all of the adversity of everybody criticizing him about what he should do. He did what was best for him."

The Heat have taken notice of how impressive Rose has looked in the preseason.

"The game needs him," Dwyane Wade said. "You never want to see anyone get hurt, especially a player of D-Rose's caliber. Just because I'm a competitor doesn't mean I don't understand the importance of Derrick Rose to basketball. So it's good to see him back, and good to see him confident. He's going to make it tougher on everybody."

The Chicago Bulls will waive Dexter Pittman and D.J. White, according to sources.

Pittman was acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies from the Miami Heat at last year's deadline.

White spent part of last season in China and then with the Boston Celtics.

Nikola Mirotic of Real Madrid has been named Euroleague MVP for Regular Season Game 1.

Mirotic had 18 points on near-perfect shooting as Real Madrid defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 83-63.

Mirotic downed 3-of-4 three-pointers and also collected five rebounds, two steals and a block as part of his performance index rating of 27, which was the most among all players on winning teams in any of the week’s 12 games.

The Chicago Bulls own the draft rights to Mirotic.

Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah are expected to return to game action on Wednesday.

Rose sat out Wednesday's game with soreness in his surgically-repaired left knee.

"Derrick did everything. He’s fine," Tom Thibodeau said. "Jo did everything. He’s moving great. So that’s a big plus. We felt coming into this stretch where we had some days in between it would be good to give those guys some rest.

"I don’t want to get ahead of myself. But based on how they practiced, I’m assuming they’re both going to be ready to go."

The Utah Jazz have shown trade interest in Marquis Teague and could revisit discussions with the Chicago Bulls depending on the timetable of Trey Burke.

Burke suffered a fracture in his right index finger on Saturday.

The Bulls currently have Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich at point guard, as well as training camp invite Mike James.

Teague averaged 2.1 points in 48 games last season.

Derrick Rose sat Saturday's preseason game in Brazil with soreness in his left knee.

Rose is returning from a torn ACL in the knee and had been feeling surprisingly strong.

Rose missed the entire 12-13 NBA season rehabbing the injury.