But NBA coaching sources told ESPN.com that one name already on the Bulls' radar is New Jersey's just-dismissed Lawrence Frank. Yet money is bound to be an issue, as it is everywhere in the NBA. Del Negro's contract is guaranteed through next season and Chicago's appetite for spending on a new coach when it's also still paying off some of Skiles' deal remains to be seen.

@dwadeofficial: @JayCutler6 we gotta get 2gether in chicago and do something big out there

And to his hometown, which he honors with a new tattoo on his left hand, a drawing of the city skyline with the words, "Sweet Home Chicago."

right now, the Bulls' offer of Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha and the expiring contracts of Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons appears to be the leader in the clubhouse as we approach Thursday's trade deadline.

The Bulls have been shopping Andres Nocioni's remaining four years and $28.5 million as hard as they've offered Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon and Larry Hughes.

The word I am getting is that the decision has been made and Amare will be gone sooner rather then later in a move that has been described as addition by subtraction (we've heard that one before haven't we?) and will seek to yeild a great player named Cap Space.

I've argued for patience with Amare but at this point have to agree that it's time for him to go. I just hope the Suns can get a little more then just cap space in return. He has real value to teams like the Bulls, Kings or Bucks and should at least bring back some combination of draft picks and young big men like Hawes or Tyrus Thomas.

Also, Bulls fans should just get used to the fact that Andres Nocioni will be playing center in the fourth quarter this season

"If you get traded, obviously another team wants you, so it's always a positive in that way," Hughes said. "I definitely want to play minutes and contribute. That's a focus of mine. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to do that in the near future."

Don't be surprised if the Bulls make at least two deals this season. I know they've talked with perhaps a dozen teams in recent weeks, though this is hardly news since that's what general managers do all the time. I think because media members actually hear so little of what is discussed, there are few rumors out there. I've often had general managers ask me to sit on some talk because it might cost a deal, which has happened. When word leaked out of the Bulls-Sonics Kemp-Pippen deal in 1994, the Sonics backed out because of negative fan reaction on talk radio. I know of one general manager who I'm told talked with 25 teams in the last week. Will he make 25 trades? Of course not. What these guys generally do is play fantasy league with their players and hope someone is desperate. So you can be sure every player on the Bulls but Rose has been mentioned in trade talk, and every one but Jordan was mentioned in the 1990's. Gordon is probably the most difficult to trade because the Bulls need his approval and Deng because of his base year status. If I were anyone else on the team, I would be renting. My guess is two players are traded this season, though I cannot figure out yet which two. And that doesn't count Hunter and Simmons.

Rumor: Bulls/Blazers trade in works?