He would be the third point guard on the depth chart behind Derrick Rose and C.J. Watson. Lucas was a Houston Rocket when Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau was an assistant coach.

A contract hasn’t been signed but I think it would be wise for the Bulls to sign the 28 year old with a league minimum contract. He is a reliable shooter who adds needed depth to the Bull’s back court.

He won’t play on a regular basis, but he will give quality minutes when he does see playing time.

Rose has brought it to every country in the world championship games. He is making his shots and is getting others open for them to add their own points. Kevin Durant, who is the dominant scorer for the USA team, would not get any open looks if it wasn’t for Rose and his drive and dish mind set. The point guard is making defenses think he is going straight to the hoop, then gets frustrated when he dumps it off to an open cutter.

This is something Rondo can do, but Rose just does it better. Rose has better court vision. Rose has a better jump shot. Rose plays better defense. I’ve been saying it for a year, Rose is better than Rondo.

This is the official stamp of my statement. Obviously Coach K thinks Rose is his guy to start the USA team. He wasn’t even playing the Boston guard in exhibition games causing Rondo to drop from the team because he wasn’t going to play. After Kevin Durant, Rose is the best player on this team. He is by far the best point guard, besting Chauncey Billups and Russell Westbrook.If Rondo would have stayed on the team and made the final cut, Rose would continue to outplay him as well.

With this said, the Bulls should move up to the third best team in the eastern conference on every ones list. Some have Boston better than Chicago, moving them to fourth, no way. The Bulls have a better point guard, Rose over Rondo.  Also, a more productive power forward in Carlos Boozer over Kevin Garnett and a healthy athletic center in Joakim Noah compared to Kendrick Perkins or the extinct Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal.

Plus, the Bulls have one of the top five three point shooters in the NBA, Kyle Korver, to match up with Ray Allen and Ronnie Brewer is going to be a handful for Paul Pierce.

This is only the match up with the Boston Celtics, not the rest of the league.  There is no doubt in my mind the Bulls are in the top three eastern conference teams, Rose outplaying Rondo is a big reason why.

With 16.5 seconds left in the game, Rose hit two free throws to put USA ahead and eventually win the game. On an interview on ESPN, Rose spoke of his go ahead free throws.

“I thought, ‘I’ve got to hit them,’” Rose said. “Over here, people are going to remember me for this.”

The reason I viewed this game was to see the point guard match up. Rose did get the start, so, we were able to see Rubio and Rose go at it more than I initially thought.

Rose took it to Rubio at all times. Rubio seemed glued to the floor at times as Rose drove right around him to get to the basket or dish it to Lamar Odom or Durant around the basket. Rose scored only 13 points, but led the team with his determination on the court.

Durant is a beast and one of the best scorers in the world, not just the NBA. He showed his superior skills against Spain. He also showed his defensive skills as he blocked three point shot attempts from Rubio and Rudy Fernandez at the end of the game.

Team USA only has more exhibition game before the World Championship games begin Aug. 27.

This game against Spain was by far the hardest test during the practice games since they’re the defend champions. Both teams came to win and showed an elite level of basketball. USA coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim also displayed they will switch up defensive strategies or the lineup if they need to in order to win games.

There should be plenty of excitement around World Championship basketball with the young stars of the NBA playing at such a high level in the international circuit.

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The details of the situation have not been released except that their may have been a physical dispute between Mariotti and his girl friend in their Venice residence.

This is funny to me. Mariotti is a celebrated columnist who has made a name for himself by analyzing the lives of athletes in every sport including the troubles of: Michael Vick, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.

Now he is in the opposite seat. He will  now be the blunt of domestic battery and wife beater jokes. This is a case of classic irony and could be karma. Does it serve him right?

I think it does. As a reporter, he knows how the game goes. If you show signs of bad behavior you’re going to get hammered by the media. He knew this, so why act like the people you have shamelessly bashed in print and television?

Mariotti does good work for ESPN and I enjoyed his columns in the Sun-Times. He brings a unique perspective to the world of sports and is a great writer. Now, his work will be tarnished by this altercation.

It will be much harder for a columnist/ ESPN personality such as Mariotti to right his wrong than an athlete, especially because of his technique in discussing athletes and their lives.

He hasn’t been charged with anything, but our society has been taught to not forget. Mariotti is one of those people who has helped us remember the past. Is he going to remind us of his past 10 years down the road?

BullsHome.com took it up with the fans in a poll.

At the current time 32 of 32 voters say the Miami Heat will not do it.

It seems like LeBron is going to have to win 10 MVP trophies if he wants any kind of legacy at all.

I grew up on rap/hip hop and watch most celebrity games to see who has game, so, I liked their idea.

Here is their top five

• Master P
• Snoop Dogg
• Cam’ron
• Game
• Lil’ Romeo

There is one problem, they forgot the most talented and athletic rap artist.

Every time Nelly is in a celebrity basketball game he is an option for MVP, the man can hoop. He has speed, strength, can handle the ball and can shoot.

Plus, he is the most athletic rapper. Not only can he hoop, but he plays in baseball and football games as well. In 2009, he hit a home run in the MLB celebrity game at all-star weekend.

I like Unathletic’s list, but Nelly has to be on there. My suggestion would be to take off Cam’ron and add him. I like Killa but all the rest are better than him. On the other hand, if this was the starting lineup for a game tomorrow, I’d boot Snoop because of his age.

Which rappers would be in your starting five?

This brings a lot of speculation.

First, it is a well known fact Fernandez wasn’t happy with the amount of minutes he received last season as a Portland Trailblazer.

If Fernandez is a Bull, he will be behind Rose, Brewer, Watson and probably Kyle Korver. If he is fifth on the back court depth chart, he will get less minutes than he did in Portland when he was behind Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, Steve Blake and Martell Webster.

There is a possibility he would get around the same amount of minutes, is he going to be happy with that?

Jerry Reinsdorf doesn’t need to sign players who are going to make the transition from being a consistent eight seed to an elite team in the eastern conference harder than it already is. Fernandez has talent and would fit in well with the team on the court when he does get in. But, if he has a problem sitting on the bench when he isn’t needed in the game, then don’t sign him.

The talent Fernendez has is needed, I won’t understate it. He would be an additional three point shooter. After last years poor shooting performance, the Bulls can’t possibly have enough sharp shooters. Rudy can also take it to the lane. Having another guy, besides Derrick Rose, who can cause more than one defender to drop into the paint and leave his match up would be great for the Chicago playbook.

What would the Bulls have to give up to get Rudy Fernandez?

There have been talks of trading last year’s rookies, James Johnson and Taj Gibson. Also, there have been rumors the Bulls would throw in a first round draft pick with Johnson if the Blazers wanted more.

First of all, Gibson should not be traded unless your going to get a top five player in the NBA. They’re not going to get LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul or Kevin Durant, so he shouldn’t even be on the market. In his rookie year, he was fantastic. He adds depth in the front court who can take it to the hoop or keep the opposition away from it. The Bulls are not paying him top dollar but he is putting up top numbers for where they got him in the draft.This equals a great investment.

Johnson could be traded for Fernandez, I have no problem with the idea. The Trailblazers are not going to give him up for only Johnson though, at least they wouldn’t if they’re smart.  They want to throw a draft pick in the situation. A second round pick, okay, no problem. But, there is no way the Bulls should give up a first pick and Johnson for Fernandez.

Draft picks are a big reason why teams like the Spurs, Lakers and the Trailblazers have stayed relevant. Draft picks are how teams such as the Nuggets, Cavaliers, Bulls and the Kings have become relevant or are becoming relevant.

Rudy is a solid player, but he is not good enough to throw away an option on a future player who could help the Bulls get to or stay at an elite status. Fernandez could be the player to help instead of getting a draft pick, but if he is complaining about minutes, the better idea would to get a player out of college who just wants to show he belongs in the NBA.

Fernandez has been in the league for two years as a Portland Trailblazer. In those two seasons, he averages 9.4 points, 2.0 assists, 85% from the free throw line, 40% from the field and 39% from the three point line.

“I don’t want to say jealous — he was out of the game before me,” Pippen said. “He came first, but it would have been nice if I could have went in before him. … I’m happy to be there and get a chance to experience what it’s like to go into the Hall of Fame. It’s a great experience.”

I think it is comical Jordan and John Stockton went into the HOF together last year and this year Karl Malone and Pippen are going together. Stockton and Malone were on the Utah Jazz team the Bulls beat in back to back years in the NBA Finals. All four were members of the Dream Team.

The Dream Team also comprised of Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner.

Wright was last seen on July 18 and was reported missing by his family July 22. Officials have said they are putting their top investigators on the case.

If Wright was in a risque business deal or under the table crime outfit, I hope it doesn’t get released. Before this incident, he was known as a good man who liked to play basketball; we hope it stays this way. The Steve McNair experience doesn’t need to happen again.

Once again, Bullshome.com wishes the Wright family condolences through this trying time.