Cavaliers awarded first pick in 2013 NBA Draft

Source: CSN Chicago by jpaschall

On the 10th anniversary of the Cleveland Cavaliers selecting LeBron James first overall, the ball bounced Dan Gilbert's way again as the Cavs were awarded the first pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

A retrospective on the evolution of the Bulls' newcomers

Source: CSN Chicago by mstrotman

The Bulls' newcomers saw a transformation no one expected during the season, thanks to the camaraderie shared by the group of veterans playing for something bigger than themselves.

Cavaliers land No. 1 pick

Source: Chicago Tribune

For the second time in three years, the Cavaliers will have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

A retrospective on the evolution of the Bulls' newcomers (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Bulls' newcomers saw a transformation no one expected during the season, thanks to the camaraderie shared by the group of veterans playing for something bigger than themselves.

A retrospective on the evolution of the Bulls' newcomers

Source: CSN Chicago by mstrotman

The Bulls' newcomers saw a transformation no one expected during the season, thanks to the camaraderie shared by the group of veterans playing for something bigger than themselves.

Reinsdorf honored to receive lifetime achievement award

Source: CSN Chicago by vduber

The Bulls and White Sox chairman will be presented with the 2013 Sports Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday night in New York.

Jerry Reinsdorf evolves his role in NBA

Source: CSN Chicago by mstrotman

Jerry Reinsdorf has not always seen eye-to-eye with NBA commissioner David Stern, but the two have put their differences aside over the years to help the success of both the league and the Bulls.

NBA playoff preview: Eastern Conference finals

Source: Chicago Tribune

Heat vs. Pacers

2013 NBA Draft Lottery (and Spurs-Grizzlies Game Two) open thread

Source: Blog a Bull by your friendly BullsBlogger

Ah man, remember when the Bulls won the lottery? That was awesome.

The draft lottery is at 7:30 central tonight on ESPN.

For some fun reads, here's Tom Ziller explaining why your stupid conspiracy theory is definitely correct, and Hickory High breaks down the lotto percentages in terms of random player statistics.

And no, the Bobcats can't fall behind

NBA Roundup: Del Negro out as Clippers coach (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers dismissed coach Vinny Del Negro on Tuesday after the team's first-round exit in the playoffs, according to multiple reports.

Reinsdorf honored to receive lifetime achievement award (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Bulls and White Sox chairman will be presented with the 2013 Sports Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday night in New York.

Reinsdorf honored to receive lifetime achievement award

Source: CSN Chicago by vduber

The Bulls and White Sox chairman will be presented with the 2013 Sports Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday night in New York.

Clippers cut ties with head coach Del Negro (Reuters)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Clippers have decided to part ways with head coach Vinny Del Negro, announcing on Tuesday they will not offer him a new contract to lead the National Basketball Association team. Del Negro compiled a 128-102 record with the Clippers in three seasons, guiding them to the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. The Clippers finished the 2012-13 season with a franchise-high of 56 wins, including a 17-game winning streak, and were fourth-seeded in the Western Conference playoffs before falling 4-2 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. ...

Clippers won't offer Del Negro new deal as coach (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Vinny Del Negro is out as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers after a season in which the team won its first division title but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

NBA-Clippers cut ties with head coach Del Negro (Reuters)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

May 21 (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Clippers have decided to part ways with head coach Vinny Del Negro, announcing on Tuesday they will not offer him a new contract to lead the National Basketball Association team. Del Negro compiled a 128-102 record with the Clippers in three seasons, guiding them to the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. The Clippers finished the 2012-13 season with a franchise-high of 56 wins, including a 17-game winning streak, and were fourth-seeded in the Western Conference playoffs before falling 4-2 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. ...

Ball Don’t Lie’s 2012-13 Playoff Previews: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers (Ball Don't Lie)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The minds behind Ball Don’t Lie are going to preview each of the parings in the third round, with Kelly Dwyer going against character for a more genial take, Dan Devine bringing his inimitable mixture of both order and bedlam, along with Eric Freeman’s legendary look inside the reputations of some of the series’ key fixtures. We continue with the Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers.

Clippers parting ways with coach Vinny Del Negro

Source: Chicago Tribune

Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said “yes” in a text message when asked if he and the team had parted ways on Tuesday.

Report: Clippers dismiss Del Negro (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Los Angeles Clippers dismissed coach Vinny Del Negro Thursday following the team's first-round exit in the playoffs, according to Yahoo! Sports report.

Report: Del Negro out as Clippers coach

Source: Chicago Tribune

Yahoo Sports reports: Vinny Del Negro will not be offered a new contract to return as coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, a league source said.

Chicago Bulls: 3 Free Agents That the Bulls Should Chase After

Source: Bleacher Report

The Chicago Bulls' season is over, and it's hard to see the same handful of free agents returning to the roster.

Fortunately for the Bulls, this upcoming free-agent class is very deep and talented. They could potentially pick up a few key pieces to help the team contend for a championship in 2013-14, where they should have a healthy Derrick Rose to lead them.

The Bulls got eliminated in the second round of the playoffs after seemingly exceeding expectations, but they still cannot return next season with the same lineup and expect to win a championship.

Now it's time to hit the

Durant donating $1 million to tornado victims

Source: Chicago Tribune

Thunder star Kevin Durant is donating $1 million to the Red Cross tornado and disaster relief fund to aid the victims of massive storms that devastated the greater Oklahoma City region Monday.

Durant donates $1 million to tornado victims

Source: Chicago Tribune

Thunder star Kevin Durant donated $1 million to the Red Cross tornado and disaster relief fund to aid the victims of massive storms that devastated the greater Oklahoma City region Monday.

Chicago Bulls: Season in Review, Time to Make Tough Decisions (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

COMMENTARY | The Miami Heat eliminated the Chicago Bulls from the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, despite Chicago taking the first game of the series. The Bulls were eliminated in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2011-12. The Game 1 win gave fans hope, but we all knew it was simply delaying the inevitable.

Mourning: Pippen likes LeBron over MJ (video)

Source: Chicago Tribune

Here we go again with the LeBron James-Michael Jordan comparisons featuring Scottie Pippen's opinion on the subject -- only this time, Pippen's purported opinion comes courtesy of Alonzo Mourning.

Raptors' Colangelo sheds GM title

Source: Chicago Tribune

Bryan Colangelo still works for the Toronto Raptors, but is no longer the team's general manager.

Video: Would LeBron beat Jordan?

Source: ESPN Chicago

Chris Broussard and Skip Bayless react to Alonzo Mourning saying that Scottie Pippen said LeBron James would beat Michael Jordan.

Chicago Bulls: Players Whose Returns Are Doubtful for Next Season

Source: Bleacher Report

The Chicago Bulls' season came to a close almost a week ago with a 94-91 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

While most of us will look back at what could have been, it is time to begin looking ahead towards next season.

Based on that premise, here is a quick glance at some of the players who may not be back in the Windy City in 2013-14.

Begin Slideshow

Bulls player review: Taj Gibson

Source: ESPN Chicago

Nick Friedell looks at each player on the Chicago Bulls roster and how they fit in for the future. Taj Gibson 2012-13 salary: $2,155,811 | Age: 27 | Season stats: 8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg Season recap: Playing without Omer Asik for the first time in two seasons, Gibson struggled to replicate his success over the first couple months of the year. After signing an extension on opening night, the happy-go-lucky forward admitted that he was pressing a little while trying to live up to the new deal.

Alonzo Mourning sounds off on the LeBron versus MJ debate

Source: By The Horns by Matt McHale

Former Heat player Alonzo Mourning was speaking to group of people at the opening of a Microsoft store in Miami when he was asked to comment on the endlessly spinning LeBron James versus Michael Jordan debate. Instead of taking a pass — probably the smartest move he could have made — Mourning said:

“You know, Scottie Pippen and I, we were just at Michael’s 50th birthday party, hanging out for a week, and we were talking. I’m going to tell you what Scottie said. I’m going to tell you what Scottie said. Scottie said that LeBron would’ve kicked MJ’s ass.”

After the expected cheering and applause, Mourning

Rumor time: Did Derrick Rose "stretch" his ACL graft?

Source: Bulls Confidential by DougThonus

How much reliability do you put into a "friend of a friend" source? A high salt diet is recommended for the following, but the chain of a "friend of a friend said" game ends with someone in Dr. Cole's office saying Rose stretched his ACL graft during recovery which is why he didn't come back this season. According to the rumor, Rose needs to rebuild the scar tissue around his ACL graft in order to fully recover, but it shouldn't impact his long term prognosis. Presumably, no one within the organization wants a panic over Rose nor does Dr. Cole's office want to take the reputation hit if the news leaked that his star athlete had a setback. There are certainly plenty of reasons to disbelieve the rumor, first and foremost that no one else

Comparing Mock Drafts for Chicago Bulls from Around the Web

Source: Bleacher Report

It is time to take a look into the future of the Chicago Bulls after their second-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat. The Bulls have avoided the NBA draft lottery for five consecutive seasons.

The last time they were part of the lottery was 2008; they landed the No. 1 pick in the draft. With that pick, the Bulls chose former Simeon High School and

Analyzing the Chicago Bulls' 2013 NBA Draft Needs

Source: Bleacher Report

The Chicago Bulls are either an ideal landing spot for 2013 NBA draft prospects or a nightmarish destination to begin one's pro career.

On the one hand, joining Chicago means becoming a part of one of the league's most proud franchises and a club that's still just scratching the surface of its potential. The Bulls just won 45 regular-season games without Derrick Rose and should be clawing their way back to the league's elite ranks.

On the other hand, a playoff-proven rotation isn't always the easiest to crack for a rookie. And

Jerry Reinsdorf evolves his role in NBA (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Jerry Reinsdorf has not always seen eye-to-eye with NBA commissioner David Stern, but the two have put their differences aside over the years to help the success of both the league and the Bulls.

Jerry Reinsdorf evolves his role in NBA

Source: CSN Chicago by mstrotman

Jerry Reinsdorf has not always seen eye-to-eye with NBA commissioner David Stern, but the two have put their differences aside over the years to help the success of both the league and the Bulls.

Bulls draft position could be better than expected (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

While the Bulls don't hold a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, a slew of underrated prospects could put Chicago in a good position to improve their roster at the 20th and 49th overall selections in June's draft.

Injuries, free agency on Bulls mind as offseason looms (Comcast SportsNet Chicago)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Bulls will closely monitor the health of their 'star' players this offseason, but also will need to make decisions regarding their bench as the offseason looms.

Chicago Bulls Season In Review: Kirk Hinrich Gets a B

Source: Pippen Ain't Easy by Ashley Wijangco

October 1, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich (12) poses for photos during Chicago Bulls media day at the Berto Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

When Kirk Hinrich’s return to Chicago was first reported, there were a lot of mixed emotions. Some felt it was a great move, as Hinrich would be a great fit to fill in Derrick Rose’s shoes. Others questioned whether or not he would be able to handle that kind of workload nine years into his career, and it was for good reason.

Following his departure from the Bulls, Hinrich played for the Washington Wizards for half a season

Derrick Rose “mentally preparing” for 2013-2014 preseason schedule

Source: Yardbarker

After a 2012-2013 season full of rehabilitating and mentally preparing, Chicago Bulls’ point guard Derrick Rose is officially setting the timetable for his triumphant return to the floor. Rose hopes that by this fall, he will be mentally prepared to play in the preseason. Since being cleared in March by team doctors physically, Rose was forced to work on his mental issues for the last two months of the 2012-2013 season. He continually expressed his desire to get back on the court “at some point” during the season, but he failed to log a single minute, despite the Bulls playing their arch-nemesis Miami Heat. This summer, Rose will continue to exercise his mind and build the mental strength needed to compete at the highest level. The mental exercise programs he will go through is said to be similar to SAT preparation courses that high schoolers take. In an ironic twist, this will be the first time Rose will study in this manner, as he had his SAT taken for him while attending Simeon H...

Celtics' Williams arrested on gun charge

Source: Chicago Tribune

The Seattle Times reports: Boston Celtics guard Terrence Williams was arrested Sunday for making threats with a gun. The incident involved a woman who told police she is the mother of Williams' 10-year-old son, with whom he had a scheduled visit.

Why LeBron James and the Miami Heat Should Fear the Indiana Pacers (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

COMMENTARY | Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals kicks off May 22 at the American Airlines Arena, where the Miami Heat host the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James' team lost the regular season series to the Pacers (1-2). It's no secret the two rivals have little affection for the other. Will LBJ "choke" as Lance Stephenson suggested last season?

Former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo punched a Bulls fan during the 1993 NBA finals (Ball Don't Lie)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

While we hold out hope that the path charted by newly hired general manager Ryan McDonough will produce a winner sooner rather than later, there wasn't much to celebrate about the Phoenix Suns this season, we're sorry to say. In lottery-bound times like these, with the present a bummer and the future uncertain, it's understandable for fans (and the media who serve them) to harken back to more successful days gone by — like, for example, 1993, which was both the heyday of the Charles Barkley/Kevin Johnson/Paul Westphal crew and a nice, round 20 years ago, which makes for easy commemoratin'. With the members of that team reminiscing about how they came together and what they accomplished, it's only natural to check in with the man who signed the checks — Jerry Colangelo, who'd been with the Suns since its inception in 1967, put together a group that purchased the franchise in 1987 and, after years of fits and starts, built a winner in the desert. In a chat with Paola Boivin of azcentral.com , Colangelo recalled the Suns' path to the 1993 NBA finals against the Chicago Bulls, the franchise with which the Chicago Heights product had gotten his start in the NBA as a scout and marketing director and the juggernaut that had won back-to-back titles in the previous two seasons. In the midst of all that recollection, the former Suns owner (he sold to Robert Sarver in 2004) and current director of USA Basketball shared a surprising story from the Chicago Stadium stands:

Bulls player review: Jimmy Butler

Source: ESPN Chicago

Nick Friedell looks at each player on the Chicago Bulls roster and how they fit in for the future. Jimmy Butler 2012-13 salary: $1,066,920 | Age: 23 | Season stats: 8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg Season recap: After struggling to find a consistent place in Tom Thibodeau's rotation for the first couple months of his second season, Butler flourished toward the middle of January when Luol Deng went down with a hamstring injury. By the end of the season, Butler was being counted on to play 48 minutes a night and be a defensive presence for a Bulls team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Bulls Show podcast: Looking Back & Ahead

Source: Blog a Bull by your friendly BullsBlogger

From Mitch and Nillz:

We take a quick look back at the Miami series and the season as a whole with the disappointment offset by pride. Given the circumstances, the 2012/13 Bulls were incredibly entertaining and still managed to overachieve. We also dip into some offseason speculation and project next season's roster. Finally, we offer our bold (dumb?) predictions for the remainder of the playoffs. Thank you all for listening and a fun season!

You can listen directly at their site or using the embedded player below:

Subscribe to

Chicago Bulls 2012-13 Final Roster Appraisal: Part 1

Source: By The Horns by Matt McHale

Now that the season has passed, it’s time to start looking forward. Ironically, to begin doing that, we first need to look back at who did what last season.

Derrick Rose:
Rose missed the entire season due to recovery from knee surgery. And he lost a little good will along the way. Nonetheless, everybody from Jerry Reinsdorf to the most casual Bulls fan is hoping and praying that Rose returns — and returns to his old MVP form — next season. He is the foundation of this franchise.

Joakim Noah:
In many ways, Noah had his best season ever. He was selected as a reserve for the Eastern Conference All-Star team. He made the

D-Wade Deteriorating? Shame on You for Asking (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

COMMENTARY | D-Wade is not done.

Jerry Sloan aims to coach in NBA again

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Having interviewed the man hundreds of times and gone to his hometown in southern Illinois to trek down the dirt roads he walked as a kid, to talk with the people he’s known there for 60-plus years, to visit the rotting foundation of his boyhood home, to rummage through, among other old haunts, Don’s Liquor Hut on Route 242 into McLeansboro, I’ve come to this conclusion: Nobody can read Jerry Sloan’s mind.

Friedell: Should Bulls trade Deng?

Source: ESPN Chicago

CHICAGO -- Luol Deng has been such an integral part of the Chicago Bulls' success over the past three years under Tom Thibodeau that the idea of Deng playing somewhere else will make the veteran coach cringe. But it's a notion that Thibodeau should at least consider as the Bulls go about trying to upgrade their roster over the summer, and it's the single biggest non-Derrick Rose question hovering over the Bulls as they head into the offseason. Should Deng be dealt?

Bulls roster: Who’s in, who’s out at guard next season

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Goodbye, Nate Robinson. Arrivederci, Marco Belinelli. Good luck, Rip Hamilton. Hardly knew you, Daequan Cook. ‘‘We’ll see what the market calls for,’’ Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said repeatedly Thursday, one day after the Miami Heat sent the Bulls home for summer vacation by topping them 4-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. What the market calls for is some painful losses in the backcourt, with Robinson, Belinelli and Cook all free agents and the Bulls holding a $5 million option on Hamilton that they have no intention of picking up. So who’s in and who’s out when it comes to the …

Report: Howard mulling Rockets, other teams

Source: Chicago Tribune

CBSSports.com reports: Dwight Howard has given no indication that he will quickly re-sign with the Lakers and privately has indicated he plans to give strong consideration to multiple teams, league sources said.

Nate the Great: Bull no more?

Source: Yardbarker

via CSN Chicago Nate Robinson answered the call for the Chicago Bulls. Everyone was unanimous that he has exceeded all expectations, as did the entire team. Nate had the biggest shoes to fill, and he was a paradigm of the overwhelming odds they had to face. His brave, no-holds-barred attitude was applauded by all. Yet, the reality of Rose’s return will propel him to a different landing spot come November.   per CSN Chicago:   When the Bulls signed Nate Robinson as a free agent last summer, the prevailing sentiment was that the diminutive scorer would offer some offensive firepower off the bench in limited spurts behind Kirk Hinrich and eventually, Derrick Rose, which was reflected in his one-year contract, which was only partially guaranteed. Instead, Rose never played and Hinrich — more of a true floor general and no longer the same scoring threat he was in his initial Bulls stint — suffered multiple injuries during the season, putting Robinson in position to start frequently, as...