Unless something unexpected happens and the Bulls are able to trade for a top-notch power forward, their roster for next season may already be set. There were 12 players under contract as of Aug. 6 and the team expects center Aaron Gray to eventually come on board as player No. 13.
"We're always exploring ways we can get better," general manager Gar Forman said. "At the same time, we like our young core. We like where we're at. We thought the rookies (forwards James Johnson and Taj Gibson) made nice progress in the summer league." The one significant transaction this summer remains a subtraction -- guard Ben Gordon left as a free agent for Detroit. The Bulls signed Chicago native Jannero Pargo to add some scoring punch to the backcourt. Essentially, though, they secured a replacement for Gordon back in February when John Salmons arrived in a trade from Sacramento.
So even though Gordon was the team's leading scorer the past four years, the Bulls remain optimistic they'll be able to build on last season's 41-41 record.
"The majority of our core is back from last season," Forman said. "I think Jannero is going to help. Really, John and (center) Brad (Miller) having been with us and going through a full training camp is going to help us. For the most part, I think we're pretty much done."
The most obvious cause for optimism around the Bulls is rookie of the year Derrick Rose, who should be even better in his second season. Forman watched Rose take part in practices at the Team USA Las Vegas minicamp in late July against some of the NBA's bright young stars.
"He really looked like he belonged," Forman said. "He was vocal getting his team into the offense and looked very, very confident and comfortable. In the practices and scrimmages, he shot it well. They went through some drill-work and I don't remember him missing but one or two shots."
Rose spent most of his summer in Santa Monica, Calif., working with personal trainer Rob McClanaghan.
