DRAFT PICKS:
James Johnson, 6-8, F, Wake Forest (first round) -- He doesn't really fill a need, but the Bulls like his talent. An accomplished kickboxer, Johnson didn't get serious about basketball until eighth grade and showed a variety of skills during two seasons at Wake Forest. Taj Gibson, 6-10, F, USC (first round) -- Not a great athlete, but Gibson measured 6-feet-10 with an impressive 7-4 wingspan at the pre-draft camp. Bulls scouts were impressed by his commitment to defense in college.
FREE AGENT FOCUS: Most of the attention will be focused on G Ben Gordon, an unrestricted free agent. The team's leading scorer for four years running may have limited options, since few teams will have cap room this summer. The Bulls would like to re-sign him, but might have to exceed the luxury-tax threshold in order to do so. The other free agents on the roster are all reserves -- G Lindsey Hunter, C Aaron Gray, F Linton Johnson and G Anthony Roberson. The Bulls appreciated Hunter's leadership and would like to bring him back.
PLAYER NEWS:
--G Derrick Rose was one of 25 players who accepted invitations to a USA Basketball mini-camp from July 22-25 in Las Vegas. The session will be capped by an intrasquad game. One purpose of the mini-camp is to help select Team USA candidates for the 2010 world championships and 2012 Olympics.
--F Luol Deng has been at the Berto Center slowly increasing his activity. He missed the last 22 games of the regular season, plus the playoffs, due to a stress fracture in his right tibia. There is a good chance Deng will recover without surgery.
--C Joakim Noah was walking around shirtless at the Berto Center before the draft. Whether that means he's been working hard to add more strength to his thin frame remains to be seen.
