All Bull - Chicago Bulls

There have been a some rumors lately involving Hornets center Tyson Chandler and here's why: New Orleans is looking at a luxury tax-triggering payroll of $76 million next season when Chris Paul's salary jumps to $13.8 million. If Jerry Reinsdorf hates the idea of paying the luxury tax, imagine how Hornets owner George Shinn feels, playing in a small market and trying to survive post-Katrina? New Orleans will keep all-stars Paul and David West. No team wants to take Peja Stojakovic's $14.2 million salary. So Chandler is the best option to trim payroll. We've heard suggestions of Chandler to Detroit for Rasheed Wallace and Chandler to Miami for Shawn Marion. But those players won't stay in New Orleans.

The NBA announced the participants for the 3-point shooting contest during all-star weekend and once again, it was snub city for Ben Gordon. The contestants are Toronto's Jason Kapono, Orlando's Rashard Lewis, Indiana's Danny Granger, Atlanta's Mike Bibby, San Antonio's Roger Mason Jr., and Miami's Daequan Cook. I have no problem with Lewis (2.9 3-pointers per game, .419 pct.), Bibby (2.4 per game, .409) or Mason (2.1 per game, .450). Granger is averaging 2.7 per game and shooting just above 40 percent, which makes him a viable candidate. Kapono is a two-time defending champion, so he has to get an invite, right? Craig Hodges must have set the precedent on that one. Too bad Kapono makes just 1.1 per game while shooting .419 this season.

No one seems sure when the 3-point contest participants will be released. But it should be any day now, since the event is less than two weeks away. Bulls guard Ben Gordon hit a slump in January, but he still deserves his first invitation to the all-star weekend event. Gordon ranks fifth in the league in 3-pointers made, trailing Orlando's Rashard Lewis, Boston's Ray Allen, Indiana's Danny Granger and Atlanta's Mike Bibby. In 3-pointers made per game, he's tied for eighth behind the same group, plus New Orleans' Peja Stojakovic, New York's Al Harrington and Miami's Daequan Cook.

PHOENIX -- The Bulls have had a good week. Three straight wins on the road following a 1-point overtime loss at Minnesota. The toughest opponents are yet to come, though, with Houston, New Orleans and Dallas on this week's itinerary. The Bulls are going to stay in Phoenix for a Super Bowl party and Monday practice before heading to Houston. --I'll write more about the coaches in Monday's column, but here's what Vinny Del Negro had to say when I asked if it took a while to blend well with assistants Del Harris and Bernie Bickerstaff: “Maybe a little bit,” Del Negro said. “I think that just goes with having a new system, a new staff, getting a feel for the players. The guys have had a very good effort. I think the mindset, the intensity's been better.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif., -- The biggest Bulls news on Friday wasn't their 21-point romp over the Kings, it was chairman Jerry Reinsdorf blasting his team. Reinsdorf called the Bulls season a disaster, embarrassing and said he's felt like standing up and booing his players along with the rest of the United Center fans. There have been some brutal moments this season, no doubt. But overall, I'm surprised Reinsdorf was so negative during an appearance on “Monsters In The Morning.” The Bulls showed plenty of life early this season and sported a 13-14 record after beating Utah on Dec. 20. That's when they hit a slump, right around the time all three captains – Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Drew Gooden – were out with injuries.

Sorry this is up later than intended. The Internet connection at the hotel wasn't quite right last night.. The Bulls had plenty of energy following their 20-point win over the Los Angeles Clippers. For their first practice of a nine-day road trip, they invaded the Sacramento Kings' facility on Thursday. After a noisy 90-minute workout, the team bus departed for the hotel and left about half the players behind -- intentionally. The younger guys hit the weight room, Lindsey Hunter ran some sprints and Larry Hughes performed a road ritual. Hughes has an assistant who often travels with him. When the court was empty, the guy led Hughes and Tyrus Thomas through a rigorous shooting workout, dragging garbage cans onto the floor to serve as screen-setters.

Before the all-star reserves are officially announced, I'll list my picks for the final seven spots on each side. First, here's a rundown of the starters as chosen by fan vote for the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix: Eastern Conference F Kevin Garnett, Boston F LeBron James, Cleveland C Dwight Howard, Orlando G Dwyane Wade, Miami G Allen Iverson, Detroit Western Conference F Tim Duncan, San Antonio F Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix C Yao Ming, Houston G Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers G Chris Paul, New Orleans As usual, there's tougher battle for reserve spots in the West, especially among big men. Here's who made my list: East Joe Johnson, Atlanta: Easy choice. Best player on one of the top five teams in the East.

One topic at Tuesday's Bulls practice was whether Derrick Rose should continue to get the ball in last-second shot situations. The Bulls have had several in the past three weeks. Rose helped win games against Toronto and Cleveland, but couldn't finish off drives to the basket late in losses to Minnesota, New York, San Antonio or Oklahoma City. I'd say the answer is no. Keep giving it to Rose every time. The rookie point guard is an amazing talent and without a doubt represents the future of the franchise. The more on-the-job training he gets, the better off the Bulls will be.

In 10 years of following the Bulls closely, I've seen plenty of player-coach spats during the heat of a game, but nothing quite like what happened after Thursday's practice at the Berto Center. I didn't have a great view of what happened, being on the opposite side of the media hoard that surrounded Vinny Del Negro. But shortly after Del Negro finished the interview session, an agitated Ben Gordon approached the Bulls coach holding a single piece of paper. The rest of the story came from witnesses. Gordon used some profanity while asking for an explanation of what was apparently a fine for violating a team rule. Del Negro offered to talk in a different location and the pair eventually retreated toward the locker room.

The biggest news out of New York on Monday was the Jets naming a new head coach. So this entry must begin with an enthusiastic congratulations to my high school classmate, Rex Ryan, for getting the job. Any long-time Bears fan who understands that a great defense is more fun to watch than a great offense should appreciate the Jets' hire. It's a travesty that one of the Ryan twins hasn't gotten a chance to liven up the Bears' defense, but that's a story for another blog.