The Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats have each engaged in preliminary trade talks with the Chicago Bulls regarding Taj Gibson, according to a source.

The Bulls reportedly did not like the possible return from any of the teams.

The Bulls could be determined to move salary to create room and pair Derrick Rose with a second superstar.

“The way that works is this, when something gets close or they think there’s something there that makes sense they’ll come to me,’’ Tom Thibodeau said. “Every conversation that they’re having I don’t know about nor do I want to know about. I think it’s important for me to be focused on the guys we do have.

Tom Thibodeau is not ruling out the possibility of Derrick Rose joining the Chicago Bulls in practices later this season.

“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, just going step-by-step,’’ Thibodeau said, when asked if Rose’s return to the practice court was a reality. “When he handles the next phase then they’ll move him onto the next one. Just make sure he’s completely healthy, that’s all we’re thinking about.’’

When asked which rehab phase Rose is in, Thibodeau said: “He can shoot, he’s doing some jogging on a treadmill, he’s coming along. Still got to be patient, go step-by-step, nothing close to practicing.’’

Rose suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee in November and the Bulls released he would be out for the rest of the season.

Roy Hibbert, Joakim Noah, DeMar DeRozan, Joe Johnson, Paul Millsap and John Wall have been selected to the 2014 All-Star Game as Eastern Conference reserves.

Tony Parker, Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dirk Nowitzki, James Harden, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard were named as Western Conference reserves.

Lance Stephenson, Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Conley, Arron Afflalo and Tim Duncan were not voted to the game.

The official announcement is forthcoming.

The Chicago Bulls will not re-sign Cartier Martin, a league source told RealGM's Shams Charania.

Martin's second 10-day contract with the Bulls expired on Wednesday.

Martin had played limited minutes with the Bulls for most of his stay. Tom Thibodeau supported signing Martin for the remainder of the season.

Carmelo Anthony's wife, La La Anthony, expects her husband to re-sign with the New York Knicks.

"I definitely think he will stay," La La Anthony said in an interview with Bravo TV's "Watch What Happens Live." "I know that he wants to stay, and I support him wherever he wants to go.

"Listen, I used to live in Denver with him. If I can live in Denver, I can live anywhere. I just want him to be happy."

Anthony is expected to opt out of his contract to become a free agent this summer.

The Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are the most probable teams to sign Anthony should he decide to leave the Knicks.

Derrick Rose is planning to return in the summer from his second major knee surgery in two years and he expects to participate with Team USA ahead of the World Cup games.

"I'm looking forward to getting back on the court this summer and having the chance to represent our country," Rose said in a statement on his official Facebook page. "It's an honor to play for Team USA and Coach K."

Rose suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee in late November and will miss the remainder of the season.

With the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers experiencing difficult seasons, Carmelo Anthony's free agency options apparently now include the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls traded Luol Deng for draft picks and are leaning toward using its amnesty provision on Carlos Boozer. The Bulls could sign Anthony to a max contract to have him join a core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler.

"Chicago is much more in play for him than L.A.," the source said.

The Knicks are cap-strapped until 2015, but the Bulls have "shown themselves to be a big market franchise with small-market sensibilities," writes Wojnarowski.

Doc Rivers was adamant in his support of Tom Thibodeau on Friday and believes his former assistant coach will return as the Chicago Bulls' head coach next season.

Rivers also was adamant the Bulls would be "nuts" to part with Thibodeau, who served as Rivers' lead assistant on the Boston Celtics' championship team in 2008.

"He's under contract, so yeah," Rivers said. "I don't know why he wouldn't be. I think it would be nuts not to have him here. He's the best coach, one of the best coaches in this league. So if you have that, that's an asset.

"And I don't think any right minded organization would allow that asset to leave. Because with all this adversity they've had with injuries, if you allow that one to leave things will fall apart. And that would be pretty much a guarantee."

Thibodeau's status with the Bulls has been under heavy speculation, but he has led the team to a 21-20 record this season despite injury issues and trades.

The Chicago Bulls have re-signed Mike James.

James was added due to the expectation Kirk Hinrich will be out for an extended period with a hamstring injury.

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired Marquis Teague from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Tornike Shengelia.

Teague, selected by the Bulls in the first round (29th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, has played in 19 games this season, averaging 2.4 points, 1.5 assists and 1.0 rebound in 12.7 minutes per game. Over two seasons, the University of Kentucky product holds career averages of 2.1 points, 1.4 assists and 0.9 rebounds in 67 games played.

Over two seasons with Brooklyn, Shengelia posted career averages of 1.5 points and 1.0 rebound in 36 games.