Richard Hamilton has missed 36 of Chicago's 52 games this season, but returned to the lineup on Friday against Detroit.

“He has done a great job with his rehab,” Tom Thibodeau said. “His lower body is completely healthy. He is moving great, which is critical for anybody, for his shooting and defense. And he has worked hard with his shoulder. We just have to be patient. When he’s completely healthy, he goes.”

Tom Thibodeau is openly upset with the lack of a competitive contract offer from the Bulls, according to sources.

Thibodeau signed a two-year contract in 2010 and was named 10-11 Coach of the Year.

Kirk Hinrich would be open to returning to the Bulls this offseason as a free agent.

"I wouldn't be opposed to it," Hinrich said. "It's still a ways away, and a lot can happen. We'll see. I have no preconceived thoughts on what will happen."

Chicago would be limited on what they can offer Hinrich as they are over the salary cap.

"I'm excited to have a choice instead of just going wherever the business sends me," Hinrich said. "But I haven't thought about it much. I've been so caught up in this whirlwind season. I was trying to get healthy and then working to get back to playing at a level I should be playing at. Now I'm thinking about the playoffs."

Derrick Rose's strained groin is "getting better every day", but he is is expected to miss his seventh consecutive game on Monday.

‘‘It’s day-by-day,’’ Rose said Monday after the Bulls’ shootaround at the Berto Center. ‘‘It’s getting better every day. I’m able to move a little bit more. I’m getting treatment twice a day. Hopefully I’ll be out there soon.’’

Rose has been getting massage treatment and running in a pool and on a treadmill, ‘‘where it takes your body weight off.’’

Chicago has a 5-1 record since Rose has been out.

Mike James came off his final 10-day contract with the Bulls on Friday. In order for the Bulls to keep James, they would need to sign him for the rest of the season.

Chicago plans to re-sign him sometime in April.

Sources say Jerry Reinsdorf was prepared to give the go-ahead for the Bulls to go deeper into the luxury tax if it meant acquiring Pau Gasol ahead of the deadline.

Chicago is also still interested in trading for Dwight Howard at a later date, according to sources.

The Bulls and Celtics are not interested in Drerek Fisher, according to sources.

Fisher is expected to hold conversations with the Heat, Thunder and Spurs to discuss "ideas and concepts."

Richard Hamilton has no target date for a return as he has only recently been able to above his right arm above his head.

Hamilton has only played in 16 games this season.

"I think even when I come back there’s going to be pain," Hamilton said. "I know time is not on my hands. The biggest thing is getting my range of motion so I’ll be able to shoot the ball with my right side."

Derrick Rose is not sure when he will be ready to return from his groin injury, which he is blaming himself for in terms of the severity.

‘‘In the New York [game], when I went to the hole, I took off kind of wrong and Jeremy [Lin] beat my shot,’’ Rose said. ‘‘I thought I was going to take off, but I couldn’t get up that high. I just felt the pull. I thought it was like a charley horse or something. When I went down, I tried to stretch out, but there was pain there. Usually, when you have a charley horse, it’s just tight. There was pain, but I wanted to play through it. I played through it, but I think it made it worse.”

The Heat and Thunder are the early candidates to sign Derek Fisher once he clears waivers, according to sources.

The Bulls and Spurs, two teams believed to be on Fisher's initial list, are unlikely to be interested in Fisher. Chicago is in need of an additional big man and San Antonio recently came to an agreement with Patty Mills.