Birmingham Bulls owner John F. Bassett wanted to confront the NHL by signing as many young and promising superstars as possible and saw Gretzky as the most promising young prospect, but it was Racers owner Nelson Skalbania who signed 17-year-old Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth $ 1. 75 million US.

After a summer in which the Bulls witnessed most major and minor free agents Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Eddie Jones and even Tim Thomas choose to stay with their teams ( or go elsewhere ) rather than sign with them, Krause signed free agent center Brad Miller and shooting guard Ron Mercer, and drafted power forward Marcus Fizer and traded draft pick Chris Mihm to Cleveland for the rights of guard Jamal Crawford.

Later that summer, four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace signed with the Bulls for a reported four-year, $ 60 million contract.

During the off season, the Bulls signed forward Joe Smith and guard Adrian Griffin, and drafted center Joakim Noah.

In the 2009 NBA off-season the Bulls lost their leading scorer, Ben Gordon, when he signed with their divisional rival, the Detroit Pistons.

The Bulls also signed former 76er and Jazz sharpshooter Kyle Korver to a 3 year, $ 15 million contract.

The same day that the Chicago Bulls signed Kyle Korver, they signed Turkish All-Star Ömer Aşık.

He then signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls, who teamed him in the backcourt with Michael Jordan.

The Colonels draft picks were used on University of Kentucky standout Louie Dampier, who signed with the Colonels ; Western Kentucky University standout Clem Haskins, who signed with the NBA's Chicago Bulls ; Bob Verga, who signed with Dallas, and Randy Mahaffey, who signed with the Colonels.

On March 27, 2003, Hardaway signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers, and in his first game registered a season-high fourteen points and seven assists against the Chicago Bulls.

Barry signed with the Bulls on January 25, 1999 and signed a 6 year $ 27 million contract.

Julio was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays on June 9, 2009, and reported to their Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls.

In February 2010, he signed with the Guaynabo Mets along with former Chicago Bulls player Marcus Fizer.

* After contentious negotiations between Jackson and the Bulls in that same period, Jackson was signed for the 1997-98 season only.

On November 26, 2008, New York Red Bulls signed Petke on waivers, and agreed to terms on a new multi-year agreement.

Continuing recruitment for the 2009 season Castleford Tigers have also signed Chris Feather and James Evans-both on one year deals and both from Bradford Bulls.

On July 13, 2010, Korver signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls.

Curry had signed a letter of intent to play at DePaul University but declared himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft in which the Chicago Bulls made him the fourth overall pick.

Reiner went undrafted and signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2004-05.

At mid-season, the Bulls traded their top three scorers — Mercer, Artest, and Miller along with Kevin Ollie — to the Indiana Pacers for veteran guard Jalen Rose, Travis Best and Norman Richardson.

Following the signing of Wallace, the Bulls traded Tyson Chandler, the last remaining player of the Krause era, to the ( then ) New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets for veteran power forward P. J.

Afterwards, the Bulls traded veteran point guard Kirk Hinrich to the Washington Wizards to create more cap space.

" Crash " Davis, a veteran of 12 years in the minor leagues, is sent down to the single-A ( advanced ) Bulls for a specific purpose: to educate hotshot rookie pitcher Ebby LaLoosh | archivedate = 2007-09-23

Established in 1902 as the Durham Tobacconists and disbanded many times over the years, the Bulls became internationally famous in 1988 following the release of the movie Bull Durham, which starred the team, Kevin Costner as " Crash " Davis, a veteran catcher, Tim Robbins as Ebby Calvin " Nuke " LaLoosh, a talented young pitcher, and Susan Sarandon as Annie Savoy, their love interest.

The Rockets selected Hakeem Olajuwon, the Blazers jumped on Sam Bowie, and the Bulls grabbed shooting guard Michael Jordan.

In 1994, the Bulls lost Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, and Scott Williams to free agency, and John Paxson to retirement, but picked up shooting guard Ron Harper, the seeming heir-apparent to Michael Jordan in Assistant Coach Tex Winter's triple-post offense, and small-forward Jud Buechler.

Drafting third, the Chicago Bulls chose University of North Carolina shooting guard Michael Jordan.

In so doing, the theory went, Rodman's horrific foul shooting would result in the Mavericks actually giving up fewer total points during those Bulls possessions than they would give up by playing a standard defense against the Bulls ' efficient offense, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

During the season Crawford became the starting shooting guard for the Bulls.

As the Heat's sixth man, Posey was able to average 11. 8 points per game on 48. 8 % shooting against Miami's first-round opponent, the Chicago Bulls.

During the 1970s, the Bulls were known as a tough, defensive-minded team, built around hard-nosed defender Jerry Sloan, forwards Bob Love and Chet Walker, point guard Norm Van Lier, and centers Clifford Ray and Tom Boerwinkle.

Artis Gilmore, acquired in the ABA dispersal draft in 1976, led a Bulls squad which included guard Reggie Theus, forward David Greenwood, and forward Orlando Woolridge.

The Bulls also picked up rookie center Stacey King and rookie point guard B. J.

With a lineup of Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and Longley, and perhaps the league's best bench in Kerr, Kukoc, Wennington, Buechler, and guard Randy Brown the Bulls posted one of the best single-season improvements in league history and the best single-season record, moving from 47 – 35 to 72 – 10, which remains the best record in NBA history.

In a second draft-day trade, the Bulls selected Rodney Carney and traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for guard Thabo Sefolosha.

In the 2009 / 2010 offseason, Dumars reached an agreement with the former Bulls guard Ben Gordon on a 5 year /$ 55 million contract, as well as an agreement with former Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva on a 5 year contract worth $ 35 million.

Following the Bulls ' first-round loss to eventual champion, the Miami Heat, Paxson sought to improve the Bulls ' frontcourt and defensive guard play by trading for rookie forward Tyrus Thomas, drafting guard Thabo Sefolosha, and signing four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace.

Banks is the great-uncle of former Chicago Bulls point guard Acie Law IV.

With 18. 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Jazz leading 86 – 85, Bulls guard / forward Michael Jordan stole the ball just passed to Malone and with 5. 2 seconds left made a jump shot that gave the Bulls an 87 – 86 lead.

At the end of the season, Okafor beat out his friend and former college teammate and roommate, Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon, to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Grant Hill of the Los Angeles Clippers, Shawn Marion of the Dallas Mavericks, Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls, Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons and Trevor Ariza of the Washington Wizards, with their length and athleticism, are able to guard at many positions on the floor and are often called upon to do so.

Ray has made something of himself by owning a very ritzy hotel in Chicago, and Doug lets his guard down a little, but is disappointed yet again when his father offers to take him to a Chicago Bulls game and then stands him up.

The Chicago Bulls needed a point guard, as Jay Williams was severely injured in a motorcycle accident.