Chicago Bulls Wiretap

Three-Way Kobe Trade Involving Kings Falls Through

ESPN is reporting that a three-way trade involving the Lakers, Bulls and Kings is now dead but has been discussed.

The Lakers would acquire Ron Artest and Ben Wallace; the Kings would acquire Ben Gordon and P.J. Brown (acquired via sign-and-trade), while the Bulls would get Kobe Bryant.

Via ESPN


Magic Johnson: Kobe To Chicago Isn't Going To Happen

Lakers' vice president Magic Johnson said the deal between Chicago and the Lakers involving Kobe Bryant isn't going to happen, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

"A deal can't get done because they won't include [Luol] Deng," Johnson said Tuesday on TNT. "And without Deng, a deal can't get done."

Johnson also hinted that talks of bringing Indiana Pacers' All-Star Jermaine O'Neal to the Lakers to join Bryant have resurfaced.

Johnson said the Bulls and Lakers could not put together a trade that would satisfy the league's money requirement for such a deal. The total salaries of the players sent to Los Angeles for Bryant must be within 15 percent of the $19 million Bryant will make this season.

A source close to the Phoenix Suns shot down a rumored three-team deal that would've had the Bulls landing Bryant, Gordon and the Suns' Shawn Marion going to the Lakers and a package of Tyrus Thomas and other considerations heading to Phoenix.

The Suns' source said the team would be interested in discussing such a deal but that Phoenix last talked trade with the Lakers for Bryant some 10 days ago, and the conversation went nowhere.

Mark Bartelstein, the Chicago-based agent for P.J. Brown, said he had not been contacted by the Bulls or any other team to facilitate a sign-and-trade deal for the former Bulls' forward to help match money for a Bryant trade.

Via Chicago Sun-Times


Bulls' Wallace Leaning Towards Playing

Ben Wallace didn't practice again Tuesday because of his sprained left ankle, although coach Scott Skiles said Wallace warmed up and athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi "feels like Ben is going to go."

Wallace is leaning toward playing.

"I'm going to give it a shot before the game and see how it goes," he said. "Every day it feels a little better. But if I can't go out there and deliver, there's no need for me to be on the floor."

Joe Smith worked with the first unit during Tuesday's practice, suggesting he'd start regardless of whether Wallace is playing. Deng, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich are the other three starters.

Via Chicago Tribune


Bulls Oct 2007 Archive

  • Jackson Confirms Kobe To Bulls Discussions

    Lakers coach Phil Jackson, ever the sly individualist, went against the grain again Monday by publicly confirming to reporters in Los Angeles that his team was having trade talks with the Bulls surrounding Kobe Bryant.

  • Bulls' Gordon To Try To Become An Unrestricted Free Agent?

    Ben Gordon's camp had discussed signing the Bulls' one-year tender offer next summer and then playing out the 2008-09 season to become an unrestricted free agent if no extension is reached by Oct. 31, according to the Chicago Tribune.

  • Bulls Trying To Seal Deals

    There's hope that an extension can be reached with Bulls forward Luol Deng, but the Chicago Tribune writes that no such optimism exists with guard Ben Gordon.

  • Lakers And Bulls Talking Kobe Trade On Daily Basis

    The Lakers are asking the Bulls for a package built around Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, which is more than Chicago is willing to surrender for Kobe Bryant.

  • X-Rays On Noah, Wallace Come Back Negative

    Bulls' center Ben Wallace (left ankle sprain) and forward Joakim Noah (right ankle sprain), both injured in last night's preseason win over Milwaukee, had X-rays taken last evening, with both coming back negative.

  • Gordon And Deng Receive Offers From Bulls

    A source familiar with Luol Deng's negotiations indicated John Paxson offered Deng a five-year, $50 million deal.

  • Bulls' Wallace, Thomas, Noah Leave Game With Injuries

    Kirk Hinrich scored 20 points, and Ben Wallace scored eight points before leaving late in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle as the Bulls defeated the Bucks 97-81 on Thursday night.

  • Lakers High On Nocioni

    The Lakers are reportedly interested in Andres Nocioni, a former Argentine star, who averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Bulls last season.

  • Mavs' Howard Leaves Game With Wrist Injury, Will Have MRI Exam

    Josh Howard scored 19 points before leaving in the third quarter with a wrist injury, and the Mavericks completed their preseason schedule with a 96-88 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday night.

  • Aaron Gray May Start For Bulls

    Aaron Gray's strong play for the Bulls so far this preseason may see the second round pick in the starting lineup next to Ben Wallace on Tuesday night, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

  • Bulls Waive Barrett, Homan

    The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has waived guard Andre Barrett and forward/center Jared Homan.

  • Chicago Gives Deng A Surprisingly Low Contract Offer

    The Bulls' five-year, $50 million offer didn't impress Luol Deng.

  • Deng Suffers Wrist Injury In Bulls' Loss

    Luol Deng's right wrist has propelled so many true shots and slammed home so many authoritative dunks that any blemish on it is a big deal.

  • Bulls Exercise Options On Thomas And Sefolosha

    The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has picked up the options on the 2008-09 contracts of forward Tyrus Thomas and guard Thabo Sefolosha.

  • Frye Already On The Block?

    Portland tried moving Channing Frye to Chicago for Tyrus Thomas, according to a report in the New York Post.

  • Bulls' Gordon Doesn't Want To Be Traded

    The ongoing Kobe Bryant rumors affect Chicago's Ben Gordon because much of the speculation has the Lakers' high-scoring star headed to the Bulls and taking over Gordon's spot at shooting guard.

  • Rumors The Real Pain To Bulls' Gordon

    While Ben Gordon sits to rest a sprained ankle, conspiracies suggesting that he is deliberately sitting out in protest about extension discussions with the Bulls are wrong, according to the Chicago Tribune.

  • Kobe No Longer Interested In New York

    Kobe Bryant put out word through intermediaries last week that he’s taken the Knicks off his wish list because of all the turmoil at the Garden.

  • Bulls Not Believed To Be Offering Deng Or Gordon Deals In Max Range

    The Bulls have until October 31st to sign Luol Deng and Ben Gordon to extensions.

  • ESPN Writers: Chicago Most Likely Destination For Kobe

    With Kobe Bryant once again one of the hottest topics going around the NBA, ESPN did a feature where J.

  • Chicago Giving Deng Minutes At Shooting Guard

    Nagging injuries to shooting guards Ben Gordon (sprained left ankle) and Thabo Sefolosha (right hamstring) have sped up the experiment of Luol Deng at shooting guard.

  • Deng More Likely To Get Extension Than Gordon

    With only 16 days until the league deadline of Oct. 31 to complete contract extensions, Bulls' forward Luol Deng said he remains hopeful he and the Bulls will come to terms.

  • Skiles To Team: Figure It Out

    Bulls coach Scott Skiles wants his players to be more aware of what is happening on the court, and will let them play through situations where they might be struggling or looking disorganized, but rather than calling a timeout.

  • Bulls, Gordon No Closer To Extension

    Ben Gordon said there's nothing new to report on negotiations for a contract extension.

  • Bulls Waive Joseph Blair

    The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has waived forward/center Joseph Blair.

  • Pippen Settles Suit For $1.5 Million

    Former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen plans to end a long-running dispute with his former financial adviser with a $1.

  • Bulls Want Better Effort From Thomas

    For starters, coach Scott Skiles wanted to see a lot better effort from Tyrus Thomas in the Bulls' preseason-opening 93-88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

  • Despite Noah Outplaying Yi, Bucks Defeat Bulls In Exhibition Opener

    Yi Jianlian made his debut for the Bucks, but fellow rookie Joakim Noah looked more like a polished pro in Milwaukee's 93-88 victory over the Chicago Bulls in the exhibition opener on Tuesday night.

  • JamesOn Curry To See D-League Action

    General manager John Paxson will consider sending JamesOn Curry to the Bulls' D-League affiliate occasionally during the season to make sure the second-round pick gets playing experience.

  • Bulls' Gordon Denies Report About His Extension Demands

    Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon denied a New York Daily News report that claimed he was in the market for a five-year, $70 million contract extension.

  • Four Teams Offered Minnesota Better Deals For KG Than Boston?

    At least four teams, including the Bulls, were said to have offered superior deals to the one Boston made for Kevin Garnett.

  • Bulls' Gordon Wants $70M Extension

    The Bulls are looking to give Ben Gordon no more than Kirk Hinrich money, the New York Daily News reported on Sunday.

  • Skiles Skeptical Of Practice Claims Made By Thomas

    Scott Skiles seemed skeptical that second-year forward Tyrus Thomas worked on his jumper as much as he said in recent quotes.

  • Strong Summer Paying Off For Bulls' Gordon?

    Ben Gordon's hard work over the summer has already impressed his head coach, according to K.

  • Noah Running With Bulls' Starting Five

    The Chicago Bulls started training camp with a first unit of Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Ben Wallace and, surprisingly, Florida rookie Joakim Noah.

  • Bulls Will Alllow Wallace To Wear Headband

    Ben Wallace will be allowed to wear a headband this season with the Chicago Bulls.

  • Kobe Still Talking About Joining The Bulls?

    Those around Kobe Bryant say he continues to talk about the Bulls.