During Friday's Chicago Bulls-Dallas Mavericks telecast, Jeff Van Gundy accused Bulls management of trying to undermine Tom Thibodeau by leaking disparaging stories, saying the practice dates to Phil Jackson's tenure as well as Scott Skiles' and Vinny Del Negro's.

"Tom Thibodeau isn't being undermined at all," John Paxson said. "What's being undermined is the entire Bulls organization by Van Gundy, who has an agenda against our organization for whatever reason and has for years. I guess he thinks he's trying to protect his friend, but he's doing just the opposite. It's pretty pathetic when you think about it, and truth be told he owes Jerry Reinsdorf an apology for his disparaging remarks."

Van Gundy declined to address Paxson's remarks and said he stood behind his Friday comments.

Thibodeau said he was aware of Van Gundy's comments but had not heard them.

"I'm fine," Thibodeau said. "I don't get wrapped up in that stuff. That's (Van Gundy's) opinion. He's paid to give opinions. He has to do his job. I try to do my job. I'm just trying to work here. ... My job is to coach the team. That's what I worry about. (Van Gundy) doesn't speak for me. I don't speak for him."

The Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls are among four NBA teams that have shown an interest in swingman D.J. Kennedy, a leading candidate for the Most Valuable Player award in the top German league, sources told RealGM.

Kennedy, a two-way player at 6-foot-6, played in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2011-12 season. He has since played overseas in Israel, France, Russia and now Germany.

The Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons have also reached out to Kennedy, a source said. With a deal for the remainder of the German season, Kennedy is a potential option for the summer and next season.

Kennedy started the year playing for Krasny in the Eurocup, averaging 19.2 points and six rebounds. Before Kennedy arrived to Riesen Ludwigsburg this season, the team ranked 11th place in the league. In averaging 21.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35 minutes a game, Kennedy has propelled the club into the playoff picture.

Kennedy, 25, went to training camp with Memphis and Dallas in 2012 and 2013. He played for Minnesota in the NBA Summer League last year.

Kennedy played his college basketball at St. John's, going unselected in the 2011 NBA draft.

Stephen Curry was the leading vote-getter for the NBA 2015 All-Star Game, beating LeBron James.

Western Conference Starters
Stephen Curry, Warriors
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Anthony Davis, Pelicans
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Blake Griffin, Clippers

Eastern Conference Starters
John Wall, Wizards
Kyle Lowry, Raptors
LeBron James, Cavaliers
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Pau Gasol, Bulls

Voting Results

Western Conference Frontcourt

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans, 1,369,911
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, 795,121
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, 700,615
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, 546,817
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, 545,226
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers, 498,131
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings, 465,334
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets, 348,275
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, 292,557
Rudy Gay, Sacramento Kings, 144,702
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, 132,150
DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers, 117,816
Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder, 107,223
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, 99,039
Tyson Chandler, Dallas Mavericks, 98,654

Western Conference Backcourt

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, 1,513,324
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, 1,152,402
James Harden, Houston Rockets, 1,069,368
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, 551,167
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, 365,417
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors, 314,254
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, 248,758
Rajon Rondo, Dallas Mavericks, 219,506
Jeremy Lin, Los Angeles Lakers, 216,246
Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies, 103,015

Eastern Conference Frontcourt

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, 1,470,483
Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls, 974,177
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, 647,005
Marcin Gortat, Washington Wizards, 570,005
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, 542,006
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, 386,208
Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors, 231,741
Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls, 203,718
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic, 129,293
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks, 121,938
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, 114,955
Al Jefferson, Charlotte Hornets, 110,980
Kevin Garnett, Brooklyn Nets, 106,820
Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, 103,645
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons, 86,717

Eastern Conference Backcourt

John Wall, Washington Wizards, 886,368
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors, 805,290
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, 789,839
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, 535,873
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, 455,756
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls, 379,994
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors, 159,123
Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks, 83,900
Lou Williams, Toronto Raptors, 82,135
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 55,014

Derrick Rose has been cleared by the Chicago Bulls to play extended minutes if needed.

Rose is averaging 32.8 minutes in 10 January games. That's up from 30 minutes in December and 25.9 in November.

"I feel great," Rose said recently of his health.

Initially, the Bulls' medical staff limited Rose because he was returning from back-to-back, season-ending knee surgeries and he had played just 10 NBA games in the last two seasons.

The average NBA franchise valuation is now a record $1.1 billion.

There are now 11 NBA teams worth at least $1 billion, compared to three a year ago.

The Los Angeles Lakers lead the way at $2.6 billion, up 93% over last year. 

The value of the New York Knicks shot up 79% to $2.5 billion, ranking the team second overall.

Rounding out the top five are the Chicago Bulls ($2 billion), Boston Celtics ($1.7 billion) and Los Angeles Clippers ($1.6 billion).

6. Brooklyn Nets: $1.5 billion
7. Golden State Warriors: $1.3 billion
8. Houston Rockets: $1.25 billion
9. Miami Heat: $1.175 billion
10. Dallas Mavericks: $1.15 billion
11. San Antonio Spurs: $1 billion
12. Portland Trail Blazers: $940 million
13. Oklahoma City Thunder: $930 million
14. Toronto Raptors: $920 million
15. Cleveland Cavaliers: $915 million
16. Phoenix Suns: $910 million
17. Washington Wizards: $900 million
18. Orlando Magic: $875 million
19. Denver Nuggets: $855 million
20. Utah Jazz: $850 million
21. Indiana Pacers: $830 million
22. Atlanta Hawks: $825 million
23. Detroit Pistons: $810 million
24. Sacramento Kings: $800 million
25. Memphis Grizzlies: $750 million
26. Charlotte Hornets: $725 million
27. Philadelphia 76ers: $700 million
28. New Orleans Pelicans: $650 million
29. Minnesota Timberwolves: $625 million
30. Milwaukee Bucks: $600 million

Derrick Rose expressed frustration after the Chicago Bulls suffered their sixth loss in eight games.

"Everybody has to be on the same page," Rose said. "Until then, we're going to continue to get our ass kicked."

Rose was asked who was not on the same page.

"It's just the whole team," he said.

The Bulls aren't playing with the same type of intensity they have typically shown under Tom Thibodeau.

"I think communication is huge," Rose said. "We're quiet when we're out there, and it's leading to them getting easy baskets. We got to give a better effort. It seems like we're not even competing, and it's f---ing irritating."

Increasing teams have emerged for the possible call up of veteran forward Damion James in the NBA D-League, including the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers, a league source told RealGM on Sunday.

James and his representatives have met with or spoken to each of the teams – which included a meeting with the Clippers on Thursday.

James, a six-foot-seven forward, has spent the entire season with the Texas Legends in the D-League, averaging 18.3 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He went to training camp with the Wizards in October and was a final cut.

James has played in 39 NBA games over parts of four seasons with New Jersey/Brooklyn and San Antonio.

Joakim Noah suffered a sprained ankle in the Chicago Bulls' loss on Wednesday to the Washington Wizards.

Noah left the United Center in a walking boot.

"It's going to be huge when you lose a player like Jo with his energy and just his size," Derrick Rose said. "Because we're a big team and we got a lot of big guys, but losing a seven footer on any team, a starting seven footer, I think it would hurt any team."

Noah hasn't appeared healthy all season after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last May.

Noah missed four games earlier in the year because of the same ankle and knee injuries.

The Chicago Bulls are prepared to sign Jimmy Butler to a max contract this offseason.

The Bulls began preparing for that possibility a year ago when they reset the clock on the NBA's repeater tax by trading Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Bulls appear to accept that the size of Butler's contract will put the Bulls in position to pay the luxury tax, which Jerry Reinsdorf says the franchise will do for a title contender.

Nikola Mirotic of the Chicago Bulls and Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves have been named the NBA Players of the Month for December, the league announced on Monday.