Is it a done deal, or are we just getting over-anxious.  With rumors swirling all week long over a potential deal between the Bulls and Pacers involving Jalen Rose, Ron Artest and Brad Miller the Bulls, who reports say have been the side holding up the deal, really gave people something to talk about Monday when they sat out both Artest and Miller from the game against the Miami Heat.

Charles Oakley, the third piece to the potential deal from the Bulls, remained in Chicago for the game, giving the already-undermanned Bulls only eight players available for the game which saw the Bulls' two high-schoolers Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry start out of necessity for the second time in three games.

The Chicago Sun-Times are playing the injury approach, saying that the Bulls trio may have missed the game to avoid risk of futher injury, which could hamper any potential deals.  Brad Miller, who missed the New Jersey game but played against Cleveland, said he was still sore and didn't want to miss two games in a row.  Artest said coach Bill Cartwright wanted Artest to play against the Cavs, and it was his own choice not to play.

"Bill [Cartwright] wanted me to play,'' Artest said. "But it was my decision. I know when I'm hurt, and I know when I can play. ... Now I need to sit out.''

There is no doubt that Indiana is certainly wanting to make the trade, and it seems even Jalen Rose himself seems a move is inevitable.

"As far as me being traded, we'll just watch the wires,'' Rose said.

One Pacer who seemingly is excited about having Artest and Miller as teammates is All-Star Jermaine O'Neal.

"Right now, we are not a very good team,'' O'Neal said. "The coaches are doing all they can do. But we players aren't doing a good job. You can score all the points you want, but if we can't stop anybody, we can't win. This league is filled with scorers.''

"It's a possibility it will happen (today), so we don't want to risk injuries," Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said of the absense of his starters.  He then told Chicago reporters before Monday's game that a trade would occur Tuesday or not at all.

Pacers president Donnie Welsh declared himself off-limits to the media.  Coach Isiah Thomas was also tight lipped on the trade front, but Walsh and Thomas did huddle twice within 30 minutes after practice according to the Indianapolis Star.

It seems that the two teams have discussed more versions of the trade than just the Artest-Miller-Oakley for Rose-Sundov-Best scenario, including players such us Ron Mercer or Kevin Ollie, but the big three always remain.

The Pacers president is also exporing other options at his disposal, including Nazr Mohammed of the Hawks, Bonzi Wells of the Blazers, Nuggets duo Nick Van Exel and Rael LaFrentz or Marc Jackson of the Warriors.

Early Morning Update:  Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is in fact reporting that a deal has been reached, and it does not include forward Charles Oakley.  NBA Sources stated that the Bulls will include their top three scorers; Ron Mercer, Ron Artest and Brad Miller, as well as Kevin Ollie to acquire the contracts of the Pacers' Jalen Rose and Travis Best.  dut86 on the Chicago message boards broke the 'real deal' late last night hours before any of the media had said a word, sparking messages to appear on boards all over the web of the actual deal that was in place.

The Bulls asked the Pacers not to take forward Charles Oakley in the trade, and will now hold onto the 17 year veteran to play the second half of the year at center.