Josh Howard has been working out in Charlotte this week, according to sources.

Howard is from Winston-Salem.

Howard is also drawing interest from the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks.

Howard played for the Utah Jazz last season.

Brian Scalabrine is a favorite to join the Bulls coaching staff for the upcoming season, according to a source.

Scalabrine would take the place of Rick Brunson, who left Chicago for a position with the Bobcats last month.

Paul Lukas of Uni Watch ranks the uniforms of all 30 NBA teams, with the Celtics coming in first.

"The Rolling Stones, "Goodfellas," a Hershey's with almonds -- the classics are classic for a reason," writes Lukas about the Celtics. "That definitely applies to the Celtics' set. No goofy side panels, no extraneous bells or whistles -- just a perfect, vertically arched wordmark and a simple green-and-white color scheme. They rank atop this list despite sometimes wearing that black-trimmed alternate."

The Spurs, Lakers, Warriors and Jazz comprise the remainder of the top-five.

"The Raiders aren't the only team that knows how to wear silver and black," writes Lukas in regards to the Spurs. "In addition to the killer colors, the Spurs are also among the few NBA teams that have successfully incorporated a graphic image into their chest typography -- a small element that goes a long way."

6. Wizards
7. Thunder
8. Heat
9. Knicks
10. Blazers
11. Pistons
12. Pacers
13. Bulls
14. 76ers
15. Hornets
16. Suns
17. Grizzlies
18. Nuggets
19. Rockets
20. Hawks
21. Raptors
22. Bucks
23. Cavaliers
24. Mavericks
25. Clippers
26. Bobcats
27. Magic 
28. Wolves
29. Nets (based on last year's set)
30. Kings 

Derrick Rose is progressing well in his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee.

Rose, according to a source, is expected to take part in some light on-court activity soon.

Derrick Rose is using skepticism about his recovery from a torn ACL as fuel to perform well this coming season.

"I know it's going to push me even harder. It seemed like I missed all last year -- played games here and there, but I still missed a lot of games -- and this year, I know a whole bunch of haters out there are saying so many things,” Rose said. “I think that's what's going to drive me, thinking about what people are saying -- 'Is he going to be back, is he going to have his speed,' or this and that -- I know that's going to push me as a player. I'm listening and watch everything, and if I don't hear it, best believe one of my friends hears it and they're telling me. That's why I love them to death because they know that motivates me and makes me want to do better as a player."

Asked about the Heat winning a title, Rose said, "With them winning a championship? Hopefully mine is next year and that's the way I'm looking at it. I've just got to believe in myself, believe in the team and really work my butt off."

Derrick Rose returned to the Berto Center this week from California and tweeted a picture of himself to his followers at the Berto Center. Rose was shooting by himself in the photograph.

Rose's best-case scenario is return in mid-January.

"I remember jumping in the air and coming back down, and just that popping sound," said Rose in an interview with CSN Chicago. "I felt it actually tear when I laid all the way out and it just let go."

Rose also considered the injury a blessing.

 "It could be worse. This injury could have stopped me from playing basketball."

The Chicago Bulls have hired Brian Hagen to be the team’s Assistant General Manager.

“Brian is someone I have thought for quite a while is one of the best young scouts and executives in the league," said Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.  "We are extremely pleased that he has decided to join the Chicago Bulls organization.”

Hagen spent the previous nine seasons with the New Orleans Hornets in a number of capacities with their Basketball Operations staff, most recently serving as the team’s Director of Player Personnel.  In that role, he coordinated the team’s amateur and professional scouting operations and assisted in the evaluation of free agents and prospective trade acquisitions.

While with the Hornets, he also spent time as the team’s video coordinator, Director of Basketball Operations, Director of Scouting and Assistant to the General Manager. 

Brian Scalabrine hopes to receive an NBA training camp invite.

“I’d be discouraged if I just quit,” said Scalabrine, who remains without an NBA team after being told by the Bulls he will not be invited to return. “Everyone keeps telling me it’s not quitting (taking an already offered TV job). But I want someone to tell me, ‘We don’t want you.’ I’ve always been a tough cut to make. I want someone to tell me I’m not good enough. I just want to see what happens.”

Scalabrine spent five seasons in Boston -- the last three under Tom Thibodeau, before signing with the Bulls in 2010.

“You don’t measure him in stats,” said Thibodeau, who added he is disappointed to lose Scalabrine. “He knows how to win; he helps you win. To me, he’s invaluable with what he brings to a team.”

Jerry Reinsdorf said Saturday that he will not be tempted into rushing Derrick Rose back from a torn ACL.

"I'm not going to let him back until the doctors tell me that it's absolutely safe for him to come back," Reinsdorf said. "I made that mistake with Michael Jordan years ago where I think we let him come back too soon. It worked out OK, but it might not have. This time I'm not going to make that mistake. Until the doctors say he's 100 percent and they put their reputations on the line, he's not coming back."

Rose tore his left ACL in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, and underwent surgery on May 12.

"The doctors told us that it would be eight to 12 months from the time of the surgery," Reinsdorf said. "Surgery was the middle of May. That means the earliest possible time he'll be back would be the middle of January. If it's 12 months, then he'll miss the whole season. We just don't know. The reports are very good. They say he's ahead of schedule. He's doing all the rehabbing he's got to do. We'll see. In the meantime, I think we're going to have a pretty decent club."

While Derrick Rose recovers from his knee surgery, there is a possibility of him vastly improving his shot.

‘‘He can only do three things,’’ said Tim Hardaway, who missed the 1993-94 season after suffering a similar injury. ‘‘He can dribble — not run and dribble, just dribble walking up and down the court; he can shoot a bunch of free throws; and he can shoot a bunch of set shots like he’s playing H-O-R-S-E every day, all day.

‘‘But that’s going to make him better. If you shoot 1,000 jump shots a day, 1,000 free throws a day, you’re going to get better. That made my shot better. It really made my jump shot and free-throw percentage better.’’

Hardaway's niece, Mieka Reese, is Rose's longtime girlfriend.