Bulls Notes: Taj Gibson, Draft, Derrick Rose

The Bulls seemed poised to make a playoff run this spring when they finished the regular season tied with the Spurs for the best record in the NBA. Derrick Rose, who had missed 27 games over the course of the season, was finally healthy when the team drew a Sixers team that had collapsed in the second half of the season. What ensued continues to give the entire city of Chicago nightmares as the Bulls faithful remains hopeful Rose can regain the form that netted him MVP during the 2010/2011 season. Let's catch up on the latest news and headlines out of Chicago as the franchise's future going forward remains unclear…

• There's no secret that the Bulls front office wants to retain Taj Gibson when he becomes a restricted free agent after next season and the feeling is mutual, reports Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Gibson, 26, realizes the team has other items on its to-do list before it can start working on an extension for him, but would like to remain in a Bulls uniform for the long haul. "I believe my future is here. Either mid-July or next year (for an extension), just have to be patient and just wait and see."
• K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune says the Bulls will look to use their lone draft pick on a combo guard who can shoot and handle the ball. Given Rose's injury and the likelihood that C.J. Watson won't be back with the team, the Bulls' lack of depth at guard will have them looking to bolster their backcourt. Former Oregon State star Jared Cunningham considers himself to be a good fit for the team as he explicitly stated so. "They said they're looking for athletic combo guards. I feel I can help them."
• The finish to the Bulls' season would have looked vastly different if Rose hadn't torn his ACL against the Sixers, writes Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times. Morrissey predicts the Bulls would have advanced to the NBA Finals to face the Thunder but would have lost in seven games. The Bulls could be without both Rose and Luol Deng for an extended period of time this fall as Deng is expected to undergo wrist surgery later this summer.

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