Derrick Rose took contact on his surgically repaired right knee for the first time on Monday and played one on one with Mike James.

Rose has not suffered a comeback since tearing his meniscus in November.

Rose is on track to return to the court for Team USA in the July minicamp and is expected to be at full strength for the Chicago Bulls next season.

CHICAGO – After revitalizing his career and competing for a deep playoff run, D.J. Augustin hugged most Bulls staff members on his walk out of the United Center on Tuesday night. The Toronto Raptors had deposed of him in December, but Augustin served as the Bulls’ season savior and averaged 14.9 points and five assists in 61 games for the organization.

Augustin will become an unrestricted free agent in July, almost assuredly worthy of commanding a multi-year deal.

The Bulls maintain strong interest in re-signing Augustin, and the 6-foot guard made clear that he’ll place substantial value in his ability to fit in Tom Thibodeau’s system and the Chicago locker room.

“I’m hoping everything works out and I’m back here,” Augustin told RealGM. “I’m excited. No matter what happened recently, we still have a lot to build on. People didn’t expect us to be where we were, so going into next season is exciting.

“It was big coming here and finding a home on a team full of great players. It’s like a family, and just having a chance to play and get an opportunity was big for me.”

The Chicago Bulls signed Lou Amundson, Ronnie Brewer and Mike James late in the season in what was perceived by many in the NBA as a signal of a possible trade this offseason.

The combined, non-guaranteed salary of those three players for next season gives the Bulls $4.07 million that could be used as a trade chip for a player like Carmelo Anthony.

The New York Knicks are considered the favorites to re-sign Anthony, but the Bulls are expected to pursue him and this could make a deal involving the two teams more viable.

The Chicago Bulls will do everything within their power to trade Carlos Boozer before they seriously consider using their amnesty provision on the final season of his contract.

The Bulls have until July 16 to amnesty Boozer this offseason.

Because the Bulls will have to pay Boozer's salary, the only incentive for amnestying him will be for cap space.

LaMarcus Aldridge has the top Player Efficiency Rating through the first four games of the 2014 NBA Playoffs with a mark of 34.0.

LeBron James, who has played three games, ranks second at 33.1.

Troy Daniels has played in just two games, but ranks third with a mark of 29.5.

Taj Gibson (28.6) and Dwight Howard (28.3) round out the top-five.

Blake Griffin ranks sixth at 26.9 followed by Tim Duncan (25.7), Chris Andersen (25.4), Paul George (25.3) and Andray Blache (23.7).

Mike Dunleavy Jr. suffered a bruised left thumb in the Chicago Bulls' Game 4 loss at the Washington Wizards.

Dunleavy's X-rays on the thumb were negative and he'll play in Game 5.

Nene has been suspended one game for his headbutt and neck grab of Jimmy Butler in an attempt to throw him down in Game 3 of the Chicago Bulls-Washington Wizards series, the NBA announced.

Nene will miss Game 4 without pay.

Joakim Noah and Wizards security manager Jackie Miles got into a back-and-forth exchange of expletives on Friday at the end of the Chicago Bulls' shootaround.

Noah told Miles, “Get the [bleep] out of here, I’m not done … get the [bleep] out of here."

Miles started firing back with, “Don’t [bleeping] talk to me that way,’’ and then again telling Noah to leave the court.

Miles and the Bulls had a similar confrontation back in January.

Ed Pinckney is one of leading candidates to soon get his first NBA head coaching job.

Pinckney has developed a reputation as a hard working assistant coach for Tom Thibodeau with the Chicago Bulls.

“Guys would love to play for him,” an assistant NBA coach says. “Anyone who has been around him knows how hard he works and how much he cares. His players would go through walls for him and have a good time doing it.” 

Pinckney was twice interviewed last season by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Joakim Noah has been named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

Noah's strong play on defense allowed the Bulls to remain a playoff team despite the season-ending injury to Derrick Rose and trade of Luol Deng.

Noah received 100 of 125 first place votes.

Roy Hibbert finished second, while DeAndre Jordan was third. Serge Ibaka, Andre Iguodala and LeBron James rounded out the top-6.