http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-spt-0217-bulls-knicks-chicago-20100216-15,0,1290707.story
The Bulls and Knicks' competition stretched beyond the Bulls' 118-85 blowout victory Tuesday night, achieved without the services of Joakim Noah.
The teams also are in battle for Tracy McGrady's expiring $22 million contract.
League sources said the Bulls have offered Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas and either Kirk Hinrich or John Salmons to the Rockets for McGrady, who has been granted a leave and is training in Chicago.
The Rockets have shown little interest in either Hinrich or Salmons and thus, sources said, the Bulls have tried to recruit a third team to get involved.
Like the Knicks, the Bulls are offering a draft pick to the Rockets in an attempt to get them to take on a long-term deal.
Some league sources believe the Bulls' offer is emerging as the front-runner as the 2 p.m. Thursday trade deadline looms.
Separately, as reported, the Knicks, Spurs and Nuggets have made bids for Thomas.
Because trading Thomas alone does nothing to this summer's salary-cap situation, the Bulls are seeking at least a draft pick along with expiring contracts in return for the fourth-year forward in those smaller deals.
That's why, at least for now, they're sitting on the Knicks' offer of Al Harrington for Thomas and Jerome James.
Sources indicated the Bulls and Lakers also have discussed Hinrich, although the Lakers are insisting Sasha Vujacic be included in any deal. Because the Bulls are seeking draft picks and expiring salaries, they won't take Vujacic and the $5.5 million he is owed next season.
That, too, likely would need a third team to happen.
League sources also said the Bulls are trying to accommodate Jannero Pargo by finding him a team where he will receive playing time. Pargo's $2 million contract expires after this season.
The Knicks are said to have interest, and Pargo auditioned well with 12 points.
As for Noah, the Bulls sat their emotional leader down Feb. 4 at Atlanta in the hopes he would return after the All-Star break.
Instead, Noah missed his fifth straight game with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and won't accompany the team on its two-game trip to New York and Minnesota.
"I hate sitting," Noah said. "I want to be out there.
"But I also have to look at the big picture. I want to be ready when it really counts."
Andres Nocioni missed two months with plantar fasciitis in 2006-07, and it hasn't yet been two full weeks of rest for Noah. The Bulls have held internal discussions about sitting Noah beyond Saturday's home game against the 76ers.
"I don't want to put a specific date on it," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We're just going to take it day-by-day. He's feeling better.
"But the doctor and (trainer Fred Tedeschi) feel we need to rest him more to heal it up. Hopefully, he will continue to respond to the treatment."
Noah said he experienced soreness Tuesday morning after participating in about 20 minutes of Monday's practice.
"I'm still having trouble moving laterally," he said.
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Big number
9
Derrick Rose didn't miss until his 10th shot against the Knicks, making his first nine on a variety of drives and jumpers.
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2/17/2010 12:12 AM