Eight games remain until an offseason in which general manager John Paxson hopes to make major changes.

Meanwhile, Eddie Robinson is rooted to the bench, Tyson Chandler's role is diminished and Jamal Crawford rarely plays fourth-quarter minutes anymore.

These playing-time issues could hurt whatever trade value these players have. But if that's the case, management isn't letting on.

From Day 1 of his tenure, coach Scott Skiles has been resolute in giving playing time to those he believes work and play the hardest. In the fourth quarter of Monday's loss in Miami, that meant 12 minutes for Ronald Dupree, 11 for Jannero Pargo and eight for formerly forgotten man Marcus Fizer.

"I'm simply trying to find any group of guys who play with intensity," Skiles said.

Skiles also discounted the theory that even those who won't be back with the Bulls have nothing for which to play.

"It's foolish if guys are thinking that," he said. "Common sense would dictate that the better year you have, even if you're going to go somewhere else, the more [money] you're going to get."