A torn anterior cruciate ligament has officially put an end to the season for young Bulls guard Jamal Crawford before it even began, the Bulls will announce Tuesday.  Crawford will go under the knife in the next two to four weeks, reports the Chicago Tribune, then rehab will take anything from nine months to a year.  "I've had some down moments by myself, but I don't think this will really hit me until the preseason," Crawford said. "When I see people out there playing and I know I can't, it's really going to hurt."  Crawford plans to contact players who have returned from similar injuries, players such as Charlotte's Baron Davis and Derek Anderson.

Another rumor around the traps has the Bulls attempting to become the third team in a sign-and-trade scenario with San Antonio's Anderson and Portland's Steve Smith, who has requested a trade.  Ron Mercer and Ron Artest are players whose contract would fit such a scenario. But it's more likely, according to a league source, that Portland and San Antonio will engineer a sign-and-trade between themselves.  If that happens and Smith goes to San Antonio, free agent Bruce Bowen could re-enter the Bulls' plans.