Bulls sign Blount

The Bulls continued their recent trend of re-aquiring players from their last today when they signed Corie Blount to a contract, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

Blount, a 6-foot-10-inch, 242-pound forward, was drafted by the Bulls in 1993 and then was traded to the Lakers in 1995 for cash after spending to years with the Bulls. He returns to the place where he started just like Will Perdue, B.J. Armstrong, and most recently Charles Oakley have done before him.

"I feel comfortable here," Blount said. "I've always enjoyed playing here."

Blount, who averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 19.8 minutes for Philadelphia last season, is in Chicago not only to give advice but to play his agent Mark Bartelstein said. He will earn $1.4M this season.

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Sixers' move gives Bulls chance to sign Harpring

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald reports that the Bulls are now free to sign Matt Harpring without restrictions. Yesterday the Sixers rescinded their qualifying offer for Harpring making him an unrestricted free agent. In doing so the Sixers lose their right to match other team’s offers for the forward.

While Sixers GM Billy King says the move does not mean they can’t resign Harpring, it clearly means they aren’t eager to bring him back. The Sixers are reportedly pursuing Celtic’s free agent Rodney Rogers to fill their front court. Rogers is now available since the Celtics traded for Vin Baker.

Harpring’s name has been listed on the Bulls wish list, but GM Jerry Krause did not admit having interest in Harpring. Krause has not denied that the Bulls are seeking a veteran big man. The question is whether they want to spend the money to pry Popeye Jones away from Washington or settle for a less expensive choice such as Danny Manning, Corie Blount or Brian Skinner, and thereby make a more substantial offer to a small forward.

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Bulls still have the jones for Magic's Miller

Jerry Krause, the GM of the Chicago Bulls, outlined two dire needs for his team as the offseason signing period started; a backup big man who can defend and rebound and a defensive-minded small forward. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that thus far Krause has brought in Danny Manning, Corie Blount and Brian Skinner - all of whom fit the bill for the first need - so what is happening with the second?

According to Johnson the Bulls are not trying to sign a small forward, instead they are trying to acquire one via trade. Even though both teams claim otherwise, Krause is trying to pry forward Mike Miller away from the Orlando Magic in exchange for power forward Marcus Fizer. The hang up at the moment is the Magic are also trying to include Jamal Crawford to which Krause will not budge.

Should a deal not be able to be made between the two teams Chicago still has interest in Philadelphia free agent Matt Harpring, but Harpring's restricted free agent status has prevented the team from making him an offer, especially while talks with Miller are still taking place. Philadelphia has said it plans to match any offer for Harpring which means a sign and trade might be necessary, Fizer's name again popping up.

Another option for the Bulls, albiet a long shot, might be Rashard Lewis of the Seattle Supersonics who is unhappy with the offer his current team has put to him. Lewis is the best prospect available this offseason.

So where does this leave Eddie Robinson, the high flying foward the Bulls signed to a $31.2 million deal last summer? According to Johnson some in management believe that starting Robinson alongside Jalen Rose, who will play shooting guard, will leave too many defensive deficiencies for the Bulls.

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