The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Tim Thomas has struck a raw nerve with Bulls GM John Paxson.

Paxson took exception to recent comments by Thomas saying he could have helped the Bulls win 20 more games this season and advance to the playoffs.

On a morning radio show, Paxson responded by calling Thomas "delusional" and said the ninth-year forward reported to training camp out of shape in October.

Thomas, waived by the Bulls and now with the Suns, made the remark in a published report, and it wasn't the first time he has criticized the Bulls. He spent less than two months with the Bulls before Paxson asked him to stay home until he could be traded or waived.

Paxson didn't back off his comment when he spoke to reporters at the Berto Center after Bulls practice.

"I am not going to apologize for us having a certain standard," Paxson said. "That's what it comes down to. He didn't fit into that standard. He can say whatever he wants. He's entitled to that. But so can I."

"I'm not going to apologize for asking our players to work hard and be in shape and those types of things. It's really as simple as that. If he thinks we would have won 20 more games with him, then I used the right word this morning on the radio."

The talk among those on the outside looking in has been less about the Bulls reaching the playoffs than the likelihood they'll package those picks and players currently on the roster for a stud along the lines of Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce, or get younger still by taking two first-rounders.

A deal gets tougher to make the worse the Bulls' own draft pick is. The current Bulls, of course, would like to drop in the draft order by earning the privilege of being stomped on by Detroit in the first round of the playoffs.

Celtics rookie forward Ryan Gomes once served as an unofficial draft consultant to the Chicago Bulls.

Gomes had just completed his junior year at Providence when he flew to Chicago for a tryout and interview with the Bulls. Chicago general manager John Paxson used the occasion to tap Gomes? knowledge of the Big East.

?I watched him a lot and that year he came out and I knew he was going to be a good player in this league,? Gomes said after yesterday?s practice in Waltham. ?When I worked out for Chicago my junior year they asked me what player in the Big East that I thought was really good and I said Ben Gordon.

?I didn?t get any credit for them drafting him that early, but I?ll take it. I remember him (Paxson) asking me during my interview what guy do you think is the best player in the Big East not at my position and I said Ben Gordon.

?I talked to Paxson and I gave him my draft (choice). I don?t know if I deserve any credit. These guys know what they are doing. They have been doing it for a long time.?

Gomes never told Gordon that he had talked him up to the Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls today signed rookie Luke Schenscher for the remainder of the 2005-06 season.

Schenscher joined the Bulls from the D-League?s Fort Worth Flyers on March 5 when he signed his first 10-day contract with Chicago. He then signed his second 10-day on March 15.

The Chicago Bulls today signed guard Randy Livingston to a 10-day contract.

Livingston, 6-4, 209-pounds, joins the Bulls via the Idaho Stampede of the CBA, where he appeared in 13 games (all starts) and produced averages of 15.5 ppg, 12.7 apg and 5.5 rpg in 39.1 mpg; he shot .410 from the field and .788 from the line.

Over the span of nine seasons, the 30-year-old guard has played in 194 NBA games for eight different teams.  During that time, he has totaled 4.0 ppg, 2.1 apg and 1.4 rpg in 13.6 mpg.  As a member of the Phoenix Suns during the 1999-2000 campaign, Livingston played in 79 games (15 starts) for Bulls Head Coach Scott Skiles and averaged 4.8 ppg, 2.2 apg and 1.6 rpg in 13.7 mpg.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls are exploring the possibility of adding another guard to the roster prior to tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers.

Coach Scott Skiles said the team was looking to sign another guard after Chris Duhon was unable to practice Tuesday because of recurring pain in his lower back.

"We're talking about it right now,'' Skiles said.

Coach Scott Skiles was impressed that Luke Schenscher played against Washington on Sunday despite a sprained right ankle, which was black and blue.

"There's an awful lot of guys in the league who would be out half a season with the ankle sprain that he has," Skiles said. "And he's still playing hard. I like the way he's playing."

Kirk Hinrich is saying that his injured elbow, suffered in Sunday's loss at Washington, is minor, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

The elbow was X-rayed after the game, and the results were negative, according to Hinrich.  A doctor who examined him said he likely has a sprained ligament, Hinrich added.

"It's really just something minor," said Hinrich, who scored 17 points. But as he spoke to reporters Hinrich kept a firm grip on the elbow. It has bothered him for a week or so, he said.

With last night's loss to the Knicks, their 14th of the season, the Detroit Pistons drive for a 70 win season officially ended, leaving the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only team in NBA history to eclipse the mark.

The Bulls finished with a league record 72-10.

The Pistons, however, remain the sole team in the Eastern Conference to already secure a playoff berth, joining the Western Conference's San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

The Chicago Bulls today re-signed rookie Luke Schenscher to a second 10-day contract.

The 7-1, 265-pound center has appeared in five games since joining Chicago on March 5 from the D-League?s Fort Worth Flyers. With the Bulls he has averaged 2.8 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 8.6 mpg while shooting .778 from the field.