The Bulls will try to acquire some size with their $15M of cap room as they go into the free agency negotiating period on Saturday, with Detroit bruiser Ben Wallace and Atlanta tweener Al Harrington the best bets to get the first calls, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

While Othella Harrington and Darius Songaila are unlikely to return, the Bulls may also look towards Portland big man Joel Przybilla, Nazr Mohommed from San Antonio and Cleveland restricted free agent Drew Gooden, all of whom the Bulls have a stronger chance of securing than they do for Wallace.

Denver forward Nene is also a possibility, according to the Tribune, but the Nuggets have made Nene and Carmelo Anthony their off season priorities.

The Chicago Bulls picked up their option on forward Malik Allen on Thursday, and general manager John Paxson will make a decision on forward Othella Harrington's option by mid-July.

"We have to see what we can do in free agency,'' Paxson said. "That may not allow us to keep him.''

As for second-year guard Eddie Basden, according to the Chicago Sun-Times the Bulls do not have to tell him their plans for him at this point.

"He has a contract that's make-good in October, so we don't have to make a decision on him yet,'' Paxson said. "He'll play in the summer league for us. Luke [Schenscher] is going to play in the summer league, too.''

Coming into draft night most experts labelled the draft as unpredictable, and in the end even this was an understatement.

As expected, Andrea Bargnani went first overall to the Toronto Raptors, and then the chaos started.  The Bulls took LaMarcus Aldridge with the second overall pick, but not for themselves, but rather for the Portland Trail Blazers - one of the six deals Portland made for the night - who then took fly flying forward Tyrus Thomas for the Bulls two picks later.

Michael Jordan got his guy in sharp shooter Adam Morrison with the third overall pick, while Rudy Gay fell to 8th to the Houston Rockets, who then traded the rights to Gay along with forward Stromile Swift back to Memphis for forward Shane Battier.  The trade will not become official until mid-July.

The night contained 11 deals, with Pacer second round selection (#45) Alexander Johnson having the honor of being dealt twice; from Indiana to Portland and then from Portland onto Memphis.  Portland were big winners, turning Sebastian Telfair and pick number four into Aldridge and Brandon Roy, who was one of the most coveted players heading into the draft.  Minnesota originally selected Roy but then later dealt his rights to the Blazers for guard Randy Foye.

Isiah Thomas once again drew the anger of Knicks fans on hand at Madison Square Garden when New York became the 20th team to pass on Connecticut guard Marcus Williams, who eventually was selected with the 22nd pick by New Jersey.  While Williams free fell after most expected him to be selected between picks 6 and 10, Thomas selected forward Reneldo Balkman.  Balkman, most believe, was a second rounder at best and could definitely have been selected later in the draft.

A full recap of picks, trades and rumors can be read on RealGM's Draft Night 2006 page.

The Sixers traded the rights to Thabo Sefolosha to the Bulls for the rights to Rodney Carney, a 2007 second round pick and cash considerations.

The Bulls traded the rights to LaMarcus Aldridge and a future second round pick to the Trail Blazers for the rights to Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa.

Is Kevin Garnett to Chicago being discussed once again?

According to the Daily Southtown, the outrageous athleticism of forward Tyrus Thomas, obtainable by the Bulls with the second overall pick in today's draft, has piqued the interest of the Timberwolves, among other teams.

One possibility has Thomas headed to the Bulls at the second overall pick. They then would send Thomas, center Tyson Chandler and forward Luol Deng to the Timberwolves in return for Garnett, the former Farragut Academy star. The deal could include other draft picks or lesser players.

Such a move would provide the Timberwolves with a young frontcourt to build around. In Garnett, the Bulls would have the superstar talent necessary to make a serious playoff run next spring, provided they're able to sign a free-agent center, such as Nene or Joel Przybilla, this summer.

Wolves coach Dwane Casey is not a fan of any deal involving Garnett, however.

"I don't even want to think about the scenario when Kevin's not here," Casey was quoted to have said earlier in the week. "Kevin being here is the most important thing and us building around him and getting things done in free agency to complement him. This guy's a superstar, and to even think about him not here. ... You'd have to put me in a straitjacket."

According to Chicago Tribune writer Sam Smith, the talk late Tuesday involved Golden State looking to unload some long-term contracts so it can resign Mickael Pietrus.

The Warriors are willing to deal former Notre Damer Troy Murphy and the No. 9 pick for the Bulls' No. 2 and 16 picks. Murphy would give the Bulls a perimeter big man who can shoot and open the floor for Chandler. The ninth pick would give them a shot at a big guard like 6-7 Ronnie Brewer of Arkansas or a big man like Connecticut's Hilton Armstrong.

Is Tyrus Thomas a lock to go second overall to the Bulls?

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a Bulls source is all but assured that general manager John Paxson will select the 6-8, 217-pound forward from LSU at No. 2. Paxson agreed last week that Thomas, 19, is the most athletic player available.

But another organization insider insists that, as of Monday, Paxson still was undecided on which prospect best fills the bill for the Bulls, who need more size in the post and at guard.

'I'm just [hoping] to go to the team where I'm best going to fit in,'' Thomas said. ''I don't want to be No. 1 and then not have a great career. I'd rather go down to 2, 3 or 4 and go somewhere where I can shine and play well.''

While the Raptors seemingly release smokescreen after smokescreen, the Bulls appear ready to select Tyrus Thomas, according to a source who spoke with Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times.  

Another source said that as of Monday, John Paxson was still undecided though.

''I'm just [hoping] to go to the team where I'm best going to fit in,'' Thomas said. ''I don't want to be No. 1 and then not have a great career. I'd rather go down to 2, 3 or 4 and go somewhere where I can shine and play well.''

Darius Songaila will decline his player option and become a free agent according to his agent, the Daily Herald is reporting.

When Songaila signed with the Bulls last year he was given a player option for next season worth $2.4 million. The 6-foot-9 forward will decline the option and shop his services beginning July 1.

?He would love to be back with the Bulls,? said Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein. ?I?ve talked to (GM) John (Paxson) about that. We?re going to work hard to make that happen. He loves it here.?

?The deal we did last year was a below-market deal,? Bartelstein said.

Technically, Songaila should be a restricted free agent, since he has been in the league just three years. It?s possible, though, that the Bulls agreed not to make a qualifying offer to Songaila, which would make him unrestricted.