All Bull - Chicago Bulls

Travel days are usually quiet at the Berto Center and Monday was no exception.

Forward Luol Deng did not practice because of a sore shoulder, though he is expected to play Tuesday at Indiana.

Tyrus Thomas did practice after serving a team-imposed suspension during Saturday’s win over Miami. He did not speak to reporters, while coach Vinny Del Negro tried to stress that the incident is already in the rear-view mirror.

“We’ve got to focus in on Indiana and get ready for them,” Del Negro said. “I don’t have a lot of time to worry about all that stuff. What happened, happened -- it’s over with.

The Bulls probably could have traded Kirk Hinrich last year at the trade deadline or during the summer, but didn’t want to give away a valuable team leader without getting a good piece in return.

It’s tough to know for sure what deals could have been done, but it does seem clear that the Bulls are now anxious to swap Hinrich for expiring contracts before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.

Why the change of heart? Well, Tyrus Thomas might have something to do with it.

When Ben Gordon left for Detroit last summer, the Bulls knew they’d have enough cap space in 2010 to sign one significant free agent, with Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson at the top of the wish list.

The Bulls announced Saturday afternoon that forward Tyrus Thomas has been suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. He won't play against the Heat tonight at the United Center.

Maybe more details will follow, but this probably stems from unhappiness about his playing time. Even with Joakim Noah out, Thomas played just 16 minutes in Friday's loss at Atlanta -- his fifth straight game of 20 or fewer minutes.

Here's what coach Vinny Del Negro said about the suspension before Saturday's game: “It’s disappointing, but I feel it’s the right thing to do. In the short run, there’s a responsibility. No one player is bigger than the team. There’s a responsibility to do things right.

The Bulls announced plans Thursday to rest center Joakim Noah through the all-star break. Noah will head back to Chicago and receive treatment for plantar fascitis in his left foot.

This means Noah will miss at least four games. The Bulls are in Atlanta on Friday, then return to play Miami at home on Saturday. Next week, they have another back-to-back at Indiana and at home against Orlando.

Noah played limited minutes in the two recent losses to Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 7 points and 7 rebounds in those games, compared to 11.2 points and 12.0 rebounds for the season.

So far, Noah has missed just one game because the foot injury, on Jan. 24 at Houston. Veteran Brad Miller figures to start at center in Noah’s place.

Here’s some news heading into the Bulls’ triumphant return to the United Center on Tuesday against the L.A. Clippers:

--The NBA gave Derrick Rose a pass for the rookie-sophomore game, replacing him with Golden State’s Anthony Morrow. In the past, the league made players selected for the rookie challenge and main all-star game to play in both. Portland’s Brandon Roy was the last to do it in 2008.

But Rose may have earned his way out because he’s also participating in the skills challenge on all-star Saturday night. Speaking of which…

--The other competitors for the skills challenge were announced Tuesday: Phoenix’ Steve Nash, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings and Utah’s Deron Williams. Rose won the event last year as a rookie.

The Bulls haven’t gotten much quality practice time lately. Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Brad Miller skipped Sunday and Monday –- Noah and Gibson to rest plantar fascitis, while Miller has a sore knee.

Maybe it’s good news that coach Vinny Del Negro cancelled three practices during the recent seven-game road trip and the Bulls responded with wins each time.

All three players are expected to be available when the Bulls host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, their first game at the United Center in 18 days.

Here’s one way to put the Bulls’ stunning 5-2 road trip in perspective.

To this point in the season, the rest of the Eastern Conference has gone 10-34 on the road against Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and New Orleans. The Bulls just went 5-0.

The Spurs are 10-1 against other East teams, losing only to Boston. The Thunder is 8-2.

Keep in mind, though, that this trip was a step down in competition from what the Bulls faced in November. During the circus trip, they played the No. 1 (Lakers), 2 (Denver), 4 (Utah) and 6 (Portland) teams in the West, based on current standings. And that was when the Blazers had both Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla on the floor. Those two big men were since lost for the year.

The Bulls will find out tonight if their 12-year run without an all-star will end.

Yahoo.com reported Thursday afternoon that Derrick Rose has been selected as an Eastern Conference reserve, but the official announcement will come tonight on a TNT pregame show beginning at 6 p.m.

Rose’s numbers are soaring. He’s up to 19.8 points per game, 5.9 assists and shooting 47.7 percent from the field. During the current four-game road win streak, he’s averaging 26.3 points and shooting an incredible 59.3 percent.

Conference coaches were asked to vote for two guards, two forwards, one center and two wild cards. There’s been a growing trend in recent years to reward only players from winning teams.

By trading center Aaron Gray to New Orleans for veteran guard Devin Brown on Monday, the Bulls are clearly hoping to move John Salmons or Kirk Hinrich before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.

The idea is to trade one of those guards for an expiring contract and create even more cap room to pursue free agents this summer. Such a deal won't be easy, because few teams are willing to take on add salary to their payrolls right now, two sources confirmed.

The 7-foot Gray has barely played this season after recovering from a stress fracture in his leg. A second-round draft pick in 2007, he did have some strong moments in his first season and a half with the Bulls.

Derrick Rose appears to have the best shot of becoming the Bulls’ first all-star since 1998.

But on TNT’s studio show Thursday, Charles Barkley picked center Joakim Noah as one of the Eastern Conference reserves.

Barkley didn’t quite get the name right, though, saying, “My favorite player probably in the NBA now is Yannick Noah.”

Of course, Yannick Noah is Joakim’s dad and a former world-class tennis player. Joakim ranks second in the league in rebounds, averaging 11.1 points and 12.4 boards overall.

Noah has some tough competition for an all-star spot between New York’s David Lee (19.1 ppg, 11.2 rpg), Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut (15.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Washington’s Antawn Jamison (22.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and Atlanta’s Al Horford (13.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg).