Big news for Bulls: Everyone practices Sunday

Following a day off, the Bulls were back in the gym Sunday and had great news to report: All their main players participated in the full practice. That probably hasn’t happened since Oct. 1, the day before Derrick Rose injured his right ankle in the preseason opener at Indiana.

“Practice today was kind of sloppy, little turnovers,” Rose said at the Berto Center. “I’ve just got to get used to playing. (I feel) way better. Right now, I’m feeling good, I just have to get back into condition.”

Asked if there’s any chance he can be 100 percent healthy by Thursday, when the Bulls open the season at the United Center against San Antonio, the answer was no.

“That’s far away still,” Rose said. “Out there, it’s still kind of stiff. I told Lindsey (Hunter) and them I know how they feel when they’ve got to stretch out. Usually I just go out there and run, but now I’ve really got to take stretching into consideration.”

For the record, by saying everyone practiced, I mean not Aaron Gray or Jerome James.

ROSE HAS SHOOTING TOUCH
Following Sunday’s practice, Rose looked good shooting the ball, especially from 3-point range.

In fact, it was an encouraging scene in the practice gym. On one basket, John Salmons worked on his lean-back, pull-up jumpers, which are an important part of his improved scoring. On another, Kirk Hinrich fired from long range. His hyperextended elbow is on his left arm, so it doesn’t affect his shot.

On a third basket, Rose and Jannero Pargo took turns hoisting shots with player development coach Randy Brown rebounding and the two players rarely missed.

“I told you I’ve been working on it,” Rose said. “My touch really hasn’t gone anywhere. Today I was kind of hesitant on shots (in practice), but that just comes with playing.”

STARTING LINEUP STILL UNSETTLED
Coach Vinny Del Negro figures to stick with the expected starting lineup of Rose, Salmons, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah against the Spurs. But asked Sunday if the starters are set in stone, Del Negro said no.

“I don’t think it’s set in stone,” he said. “I have an idea right now, but I want to see how healthy we are and how practices go the next few days and then we’ll decide.”

--Del Negro was planning to hold a vote on team captains after Sunday’s practice. I’ve always felt captains are an extremely minor issue, since leadership develops naturally in basketball. Hinrich should be a lock, but there are several conceivable candidates for other spots.

--Derrick Byars is still practicing, though it looks like the team is still mulling over whether or not to keep him on the final roster.

--Also, the Bulls haven't officially picked up Joakim Noah's fourth-year option, but no doubt that will happen later this week.