Bulls' forward Luol Deng will play for Great Britain in their European Championship qualifying games after the national associated bumped up the insurance to cover his NBA contract, according to Associated Press.

British Basketball had been struggling to pay the insurance for the 23-year-old Sudanese-born player, who moved to London as a child.

"We see no medical reason why the NBA insurers have demanded this new element to Luol's insurance," director Chris Spice said. "Their demand came so late and out of the blue, we have had no choice."

Deng is Britain's biggest basketball star.

"We are convinced that this is the best outcome for British Basketball, is the best use of our funds in the circumstances, and highlights our commitment to make Great Britain one of the top basketball nations in the world by 2012," Spice said.

Australian point guard Patrick Mills says he hasn't been approached by an NBA teams, but if he could he'd pick the Chicago Bulls, according to ABC News.

Mills was impressive for the national team in Beijing, finishing as the team's highest scorer. However, playing college basketball in the United States has limited his NBA opportunities.

"Me being at college kind of limits the contact you're allowed to have with NBA scouts, agents, managers that sort of thing so not yet," he said. "Any team in the NBA would be great but I would probably go with the Chicago Bulls."

In order for Luol Deng to play in the European Championships next week, Great Britain Basketball must find a ?272,000 premium.

"For us, this is a devastating blow," said Chris Spice, Gb basketball director.  "If Luol doesn't participate this season or any other season leading up to London, there is no question our involvement is in doubt."

"If we fall out of the A Division next year and cannot participate in the A Division for Eurobasket 2011, there is a possibility we will not play in London."

Andres Nocioni was diving for loose balls long after the bronze medal was already secure despite playing with a knee he twisted in Argentina's loss to the United States and the Bulls' forward thinks that his knee is fine.  Maybe.

"I do not feel my knee right now because I feel my bronze medal right here," said a jubilant Nocioni, putting his hand on his heart Sunday after Argentina had beaten Lithuania 87-75.

He said the bronze medal, "Is huge for us, man. We are not like the U.S. or China. We have few medals, so we need to enjoy."

Playing without star guard Manu Ginobili, Argentina led by as many as 24 before settling for the 12 point win over Lithuania in the bronze medal game, 87-75.

Carlos Delfino, who was fantastic against America, led the bronze medalists with high 20 points, while Houston Rocket Luis Scola had 16 and Chicago's Andres Nocioni had 14.

For Lithuania, Ramunas Siskauskas scored 15 and Rimantas Kaukenas 14.

The Chicago Bulls recently re-signed Demetris Nichols to a one-year, partially guaranteed contract, the Daily Herald is reporting.

Nichols was the team's second-leading scorer in the Orlando summer league in July, averaging 13.6 points.

After the first three quarter-finals resulted in blowouts, Greece and Argentina provided the best game of the Olympics.

With the game tight all night, both sides were able to come up with clutch play after clutch play, and it was ironic that this game would come down to the very last shot before deciding the winner.

Former Rocket Vasileios Spanoulis could not connect from distance with three seconds to go, giving Argentina the two point win and a showdown with the United States for a chance to play in the gold medal game.

Carlos Delfino showed NBA teams what they'll miss with an amazing array of clutch shots in pressure situations to finish with 23 points (5-8 3pt, 4-6 fg), while the Spurs' Manu Ginoboli was equally amazing, coming up big whenever his team needed a big play to end the game with 24 points (6-13 3pt, 2-4 fg).

A key block with 3:44 remaining in the game by Ginobili on what seemed to be a certain two points for Greece could have changed the result.  Argentina led by one point at the time.

Greece led by a single point at both quarter time and half time, Argentina led by a single point after three quarters, before taking the game by two points.

Both teams shot amazing from long distance, with Argentina finishing the game at 44% (14/32), while Greece finished at 42% (8/19).  The fact that most attempts were under pressure and at crucial times makes the percentages even more impressive.

Greece were led by Antonios Fotsis, who made some big three point baskets on his way to 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Even though Ben Gordon claims he has played his last game as a member of the Bulls, joining the Heat doesn't appear to be a possibilty, according to The South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Dwyane Wade plays a majority of his minutes at the shooting guard position, and Miami recently made a significant investment in James Jones.

Also, they'd likely have to sign-and-trade with Chicago to land Gordon, which means the Bulls might ask for someone like Shawn Marion in return.

Bulls' forward Andres Nocioni is hungry for another gold medal after taking home the top prize at the Olympics in Athens in 2004, according to The Chicago Tribune.

"I love to play for the Chicago Bulls because I'm the kind of guy that when I play somewhere for more than two years; it becomes my team to me emotionally," Nocioni said. "But with the national team, you are representing your home country. So I feel it in my heart; I feel it in my chest; I feel it in my national colors."

He wore his gold medal to his introductory press conference with the team back in October of 2004.

"The feeling is really nice. Everybody in the country is watching you on TV and calling you or sending you e-mails," Nocioni said. "Everybody is thinking about the game. Unless you're from my country, you can't understand how important it is."

Argentina is 3-1 in pool play in Beijing thus far, with a game coming against Russia on Monday.

Ben Gordon took a step towards closure with the Chicago Bulls over failed negotiations on Friday when he told Chris Broussard from ESPN the Magazine that he has played his last game representing the Windy City.

"I guess it's safe to say I've played my last game in a Bulls' uniform," Gordon said.

Gordon's agent Raymond Brothers said he has been speaking to other teams about sign and trade possibilities while Europe also remains an option for the Bulls' leading scorer.  Gordon said he will not accept the team's qualifying offer worth $6.4 million for one season, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2009-2010.

"I'm pretty optimistic it'll happen," said Gordon, who averaged 18.6 points last season. "It's very likely."