Derrick Rose has been doing all non-contact drills in practice but is "not anywhere close to playing" in his rehabilitation from a torn ACL, according to Tom Thibodeau.

"He's right where he's always been," Thibodeau said after Sunday's practice. "Each week he'll do a little bit more, he's doing more basketball stuff but still he's not anywhere close to playing. He's got a long way to go for that. He's doing all the non-contact stuff in practice, none of the contact stuff, but he's doing well overall."

"It's too early," Bulls guard Richard Hamilton said when asked about seeing flashes of Rose's old ability coming back in practice. "Derrick is an unbelievable talent. To see him do stuff that ... (as) a guy coming back that injury is incredible. He's able to move up and down on the floor and things like that, but no contact. Our job is to just hold the fort down and hopefully he'll get healthy soon."

Rip Hamilton is optimistic about returning to the Chicago Bulls' lineup on Saturday against the Washington Wizards after sitting out the past 12 games because of a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.

"It's looking pretty good," Hamilton said following Friday's practice. "It's looking real good. We want to see how my body responds in the morning time and me and (coach Tom Thibodeau) are going to talk."

Hamilton, whose biggest obstacle for now has been putting weight on his foot, admitted his minutes could be limited upon his return.

Richard Hamilton is getting closer to returning from tearing his plantar fascia in his left foot.

"We're just going to day-to-day," said Tom Thibodeau. "When he's ready to go, he'll go. He's doing a lot more." 

The Chicago Bulls may waive Nate Robinson and his non-guaranteed contract by Jan. 10 if Marquis Teague continues to play well in his extended minutes.

The development of Teague, presence of Kirk Hinrich and possible return of Derrick Rose could make Robinson expendable.

Sources said that Richard Hamilton has already been shopping in trade talks, which are expected to intensify before the February deadline.

The Bulls' current payroll of $73,548,450 stands $3,241,450 above the luxury tax threshold.

The Bulls have never paid the luxury tax despite being a high revenue team.

Joakim Noah’s post-shot “guns of glory’’ celebration has been retired in light of the mass killing last week in Connecticut.

“I started doing it in practice [a few years ago], did the guns and kept doing it,’’ Noah explained after the Tuesday 100-89 win over Boston. “It was a funny, comical thing, but we’re in a situation right now where it’s not funny. You can’t joke around with things like that. Too many people are dying because of guns. We have a problem here with guns, so I’m trying to be a little compassionate. It’s not a joking matter. We have a serious problem with it in Chicago. It’s crazy. I mean this summer, the movie theater, it’s happening all the time. This is unheard of. Every story is horrific. The gun thing in this country is no joke.’’

Marquis Teague returned to the Chicago Bulls' bench on Monday after two strong games with Kirk Hinrich injured. 

The Bulls responded by struggling on offense with just 71 points, with Hinrich posting just four points and five assists.

A segment of the fans were already calling for Teague to be reinserted into the lineup.

"He just has to stay ready," Tom Thibodeau said.

"That's why you can't get too high or too low," Teague said. "You just have to be prepared whenever your name is called."

"I didn't play very well," Hinrich said. "I just need to be aggressive and look for my shot."

Derrick Rose has been participating in segments of pre-practice walkthroughs when the Chicago Bulls review plays, but he's still far from returning fully to practice.

"He's still a ways away from the actual practice," Thibodeau said on Sunday. "He has to do a lot of things off the court still."

Rose tore the ACL in his left knee in late April and had surgery on May 12. The Bulls have repeatedly expressed caution in Rose's rehabilitation process and have maintained an eight- to 12-month timetable for him.

"Derrick is doing fine," Thibodeau said. "We just have to be patient and let him keep doing the things he's doing."

C.J. Watson never considered re-signing with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent in the offseason.

Watson's tenure with the Bulls ended controversially when he passed to 45-percent free throw shooter Omer Asik in the final seconds of their 79-78 Game 6 loss to the 76ers. Asik was fouled and missed both free throws.

“The season ended how it ended,” said Watson. “I wasn’t sorry about that. I knew I could do better. It was a critical mistake maybe at the time, but I didn’t think it was. I just thought I got mistreated.”

Watson returned to Chicago as a member of the Nets on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Lakers have paused their pursuit of Raja Bell with the point guard position being their short-term priority.

Bell is waiting to agree to a buyout with the Utah Jazz until he secures a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season.

The Chicago Bulls are offering Bell a non-guaranteed contract, according to sources.

Joakim Noah had a career high 30 points, career high 23 rebounds and six assists to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 108-104 win over the Pistons.

The Bulls were down 17 points at one point.

Noah joined Charles Barkley, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett as the only players in the last 25 seasons to post at least 30 points, 23 rebounds and six assists in a game.

"It's crazy to have numbers like that," Noah said. "It feels great to play well and win. But we have another one (Saturday), so we just have to move on."

"He's playing with that kind of effort every night," Kirk Hinrich said. "He goes to the board every time. It's amazing to watch that intensity."