PLAYER NEWS:
--G Derrick Rose didn't stand out during the USA Basketball Summer Showcase game in Las Vegas on July 25. He finished with six points and two assists, while his team lost 100-81. "I played hard," Rose said. "The only thing was I was out of condition a little bit." --C Joakim Noah played in two exhibition games with the French national team. During a two-day tournament in Strasbourg, he scored a combined 27 points in wins over Austria and the Czech Republic. France wanted Noah to play in some qualifying games for the European Championships in August, but it didn't look like the third-year center was planning to participate.
--G Demarcus Nelson and F Linton Johnson were waived on July 30. Both were signed late last season. Johnson saw some spot minutes during the playoffs, while Nelson never suited up for a game.
MEDICAL WATCH: None.
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 NBA Pre-Draft Combine. Bulls scouts were impressed by his commitment to defense in college.
