The Bulls and the Pacers continue to discuss a deal with would send 29 year old Jalen Rose to the Windy City, a move which should bolster the Bulls scoring consideratably.

But is the price too high?  Currently the deal in the works is Brad Miller, Ron Artest and Charles Oakley moving down the road for Rose, Travis Best and Bruno Sundov.  Best, Sundov and Oakley are in the last years of their deals, Rose is signed through to 2006-2007 at the league maximum.  Both Artest and Miller are having career years and both will be up for a raise over the next 16 months, something which could cost the Bulls more in the long run than Rose's maximum salary.  Artest, who currently leads the NBA in steals per contest (unofficially) at 2.84 per game over Allen Iverson at 2.69, has sparked the Bulls since coming off finger surgery earlier in the year, his defensive presence and improved offensive game pivitol in the Bulls sweep of the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

For those who are wondering the trade does work out under provisions of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

But Mark Montieth of the Indianapolis Star reports that Donnie Walsh is downplaying the speculation.

"This is the part of the year there's a lot of talking going on," Walsh said. "There's no trade on the line, it's that simple."