Bulls Rumors: Latest Free Agent Buzz and More

The Chicago Bulls may have been the ones lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy last June had MVP point guard Derrick Rose not torn his ACL in the team's first playoff game.

Now Chicago enters this summer's free agency period as a team that will likely lose more than it gains. With little money to spend, the Bulls may find a few of their puzzle pieces signing elsewhere this July. 

Here is the latest free-agent buzz on the Chicago Bulls. 

Derek Fisher Coming to the Windy City?

He may be turning 38 years old before the 2012-13 NBA season, but Derek Fisher is still a serviceable point guard.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:

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The Bulls have kept dialogue open with John Lucas III and also contacted Derek Fisher's representative.

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This is a smart move by the Bulls because Fisher if anything, has the proven success and experience to be an immediate contributor.

Chicago also has to strongly consider Fisher, as Derrick Rose is expected to be out for a significant amount of time. Last season, Fisher started 43 games for the Los Angeles Lakers and then played in 20 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He also participated in another NBA Finals series, so that only enhances Fisher's postseason legitimacy. Now yes, his production has taken a steep dive over the past couple of years, but Chicago needs a cerebral point guard that can take control of the offense.

C.J. Watson has yet to develop as that kind of point man, and with Rose out the Bulls have to get a guy who can hold up the fort for at least 25 minutes per game. The Windy City remains an elite Eastern Conference contender, but without a proven man to run the point the offense will take a step back in 2012-13.

Is Omer Asik Worth the Money for Chicago?

Update: Wednesday, July 4 at 6:44 p.m. EDT by Jesse Reed

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Rockets have made an offer to Omar Asik:

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Rockets have reached agreement with Omer Asik on a three-year, $25.1 million contract, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2012"

After the offer sheet is signed on July 11, the Bulls will have three days to either match the offer or allow Asik to leave for Houston.

--------End of Update--------

Chicago's backup center Asik will likely be headed to a new team this summer, considering that he is drawing a lot of interest from the Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. 

According to a tweet from HoopsHype, Asik is being offered a hefty amount:

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Omer Asik, who's reportedly getting an offer for around $8 million per year, averaged 3.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.0 ... sulia.com/c/basketball/f…

— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) July 1, 2012"

Yahoo! Sports NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski also reports via Twitter that Asik has planned to meet with the Portland Trail Blazers:

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After Houston tonight, Blazers GM Neil Olshey will meet with Chicago center Omer Asik and make him an offer, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2012"

Considering that Asik only averaged 3.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season while playing less than 15 minutes per night, the Bulls will likely wave goodbye to the soon-to-be 26-year-old this summer, knowing that they can't afford to pay a reserve that much. 

Will Kirk Hinrich Help Chicago Win a Title?

Update: Wednesday, July 4 at 6:49 p.m. EDT by Jesse Reed

Kirk Hinrich has emerged as the Chicago Bulls' top target this summer, according to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson:

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Hinrich drawing plenty of interest, emerging as Bulls' top target. Gonna take more than vet's minimum to get him and Bulls know it.

— K.C Johnson (@KCJHoop) July 3, 2012"

We'll have to keep waiting to see if the Bulls are willing to pull the trigger on a decent contract to secure their backcourt. 

--------End of Update--------

According to The Chicago Tribune's KC Johnson, the Bulls will attempt to land veteran guard and former Bull Kirk Hinrich this offseason.

Hinrich played seven seasons in Chicago from 2003 to 2010, and averaged a career high in points with the team in 2006-07, scoring more than 16 per game. 

The Bulls could use Hinrich's shooting as well as his defense next season. Although Hinrich isn't a blockbuster free agent, he would be a quality pickup.

The former Kansas Jayhawk will have several offers on the table this summer, but the Bulls can offer a familiar home and a shot at a championship. 

Will Any Key Role Players Return to Windy City?

According to The Chicago Tribune's KC Johnson, the Bulls are not expected to bring back role players Kyle Korver, CJ Watson or Ronnie Brewer next season.

Watson averaged 9.7 points per game during the regular season, while Korver averaged 8.1 PPG on 43.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Brewer averaged just under seven points per game last season but was a key defensive player off the bench for head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Although losing all three role players would take a toll on the Bulls, they have to cut costs for next season so spending simply isn't an option. 

Will Bulls and Tom Thibodeau Get a Deal Done?

Contract talks between the Chicago Bulls and head coach Tom Thibodeau have reportedly stalled, according to a report by The Chicago Tribune last week.

The Chicago Tribune's KC Johnson reported the following on draft day:

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"While one source warned the lack of a deal is typical for this stage of negotiations, it's impossible not to see parallels with the Scott Skiles' situation from June 2005. Thibodeau's option for 2012-13 has been picked up. However, after progress on an extension preceding last season, the two sides lately have stalled on contract length and value."

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Thibodeau has gone 112-36 in his first two seasons as head coach of the Bulls, which makes his current contract situation with the team a head-scratching one. 

There is no doubt the Bulls will get Thibodeau his money and eventually locked into a long-term deal, but it shouldn't be such a struggle. 

Luol Deng Set to Bounce Back Without Surgery

According to Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" last week, Chicago small forward Luol Deng will not need surgery this offseason on his troubled wrist:

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"He's feeling a lot better; his wrist is a lot stronger, I think it's going to work out well...the way it is right now, he's going to play in those (Olympic) Games, he's going to come back and continue his training. He said his wrist is feeling a lot better."

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Deng averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season for the Bulls, but was limited in productivity because of a wrist injury that plagued him for most of the year. 

Deng has two years left on his current contract, so he'll be a Bull through the 2013-14 season barring a trade or anything else. 

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