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.

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 Yesterday the Sixers rescinded their qualifying offer for Harpring making him an unrestricted free agent.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.

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.

Even Michael Jordan's career did not start any better than this.
   
Jay Williams, the former Duke point guard who was the No. 2 overall pick in the last month's NBA draft, got the ball in the open court after a Phoenix turnover and sped down the floor.

Looking every bit like Chicago's quarterback of the future, Williams charged to the top of the key and veered to his left. Taking the only two defenders with him, Williams seized the moment with Stockton-like precision.

Tom Enlund of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Bucks may solve their backup point guard problems. The Bucks were in dire need of a backup point guard until Greg Anthony was signed late last season. Anthony and guard Rafer Alston are both free agents and it's quite possible that both have played their last game in a Bucks uniform.

Nothing has been finalized, but the Bucks have been in contact with Best?s agent, Forrest King. "That's a distinct possibility," King said. "That would be a perfect fit for us. But Milwaukee still has some things they haven't quite settled." King didn?t elaborate, but he may have been referring to the trade rumors swirling around the Bucks.

Bucks? GM Ernie Grunfeld downplayed the conversations with King. "We've made a lot of calls to a lot of free agents," he said. "Travis is a good player with good experience and he is one of the players we have contacted."

According to King, Best likes the thought of joining the Bucks. "He's intrigued by the arrangement Milwaukee has," King said. "He'd be playing off and on with (Sam) Cassell. We're looking at how a team is laid out. That's our primary focal point, where he could contribute most."

The Bucks are close to the luxury tax limit and are strapped financially. They will probably not be able to sign a free agent like Best outright, but a sign-and-trade deal could be worked out.

The Bulls are reportedly in the market for a veteran big man like Corie Blount or Danny Manning. The Bucks have a plethora of big men on their roster: Anthony Mason, Darvin Ham, Jason Caffey, Greg Foster, Joel Przybilla, Ervin Johnson and Mark Pope along with rookies Marcus Haislip, Dan Gadzuric and Jamal Sampson.

King acknowledged it might take a sign-and-trade to find Best a new home. "We've looked at a lot of different possibilities but none have panned out so far," he said.

Ken Hornack of the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that the Magic are in no hurry to sign any free agents this summer. And a lot of teams are in the same boat.

"I know Chauncey Billups is going to go (from Minnesota) to Detroit. Other than that, anything can happen," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "The bottom line is with the luxury tax, I don't think anyone is moving real fast. A lot of players are going to get hurt financially because of that. It's a bad year."

The Magic free agents (Pat Garrity, Troy Hudson and Monty Williams) don?t appear to be getting as lot of interest around the league, so there is no urgency in signing them. Also, 1st round pick Ryan Humphrey remains unsigned as well. If the Magic pull off a trade for the Warriors? Danny Fortson or the Bulls? Marcus Fizer, Humphrey may be included in the package offered by the Magic.

The Magic may also wait for Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant to decide whether they want to continue their careers or not before making any moves. There are rumors swirling that Ewing is considering retirement and a move into coaching.

Stephen F. Holder of the Miami Herald reports that the Heat may be running out of options at point guard. They had Minnesota?s Chauncey Billups on their short list of potential free agent signings, but he has apparently agreed in principal to a contract with the Pistons. Now the Bulls? Travis Best has informed the Heat that he is close to signing with another team.

''Let's just say we have some things cooking that would take us off the market very soon,'' said Forrest King, Best's agent. ``We could have a deal by [July] 17th.''

King confirmed that talks with the Heat are ongoing but they haven?t discussed specifics. Negotiations with other teams have progressed beyond that point. Still, Best believes that the Heat could be a good fit for him. ''We think that, clearly, the best fit for [the Heat] is Travis,'' King said. ``He can run a halfcourt offense, and he can run the break. And he can also create his own shot.''

The Heat are still talking to free agent Rod Strickland who is looking for more than the $1 million veterans minimum. Best is looking for the entire middle-class exception, which is estimated to be about $4.6 million.

With Billups and Best possibly off the list, the Heat's top free agent options -- other than Strickland -- might be Chris Childs and Jeff McInnis. McInnis' agent said last week he planned to speak with the Heat about his client. Childs' agent has been unavailable for comment, and the Heat does not comment on free agency negotiations.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that Jay Williams is officially a Bull. He signed a rookie scale contract with Chicago yesterday. As the second pick in last month?s draft, Williams received a 3-year, $11.13 contract. The Bulls hold a 4th year option for $5.0 million.

He will make $3.45 million this season.

"It's a true honor to be part of an organization that every little kid once dreamed about," Williams said. Williams is in town for informal workouts. Next week the Bulls hold a summer mini-camp before beginning summer league play in Utah next Friday.

Roman Modrowski of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Bulls are talking to Danny Manning. Bulls operations chief Jerry Krause said he was looking for a veteran inside presence to help mentor Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, and the 14-year vet Manning would seem to be a good fit.

''One of the main reasons we're bringing some guys in for visits is to conduct physicals, because a lot of the guys we're looking at are far along in their careers,'' said Krause, who wouldn't confirm Manning's visit. ''But as far as visits, a lot of the guys we're looking at already know us.''

The Bulls have also reportedly talked to Matt Harpring's agent and are discussing bringing in Washington's Popeye Jones, Denver's Scott Williams and Houston's Kevin Willis. The Lakers Devean George is also a reported target of the Bulls.

The Orlando Sentinel reported the Bulls and Magic have discussed a trade involving Mike Miller, but Krause apparently doesn't want to part with Jamal Crawford. Marcus Fizer also has been discussed in trade talks.

It is no secret that the Orlando Magic have been trying to trade for a big man to bolster their front court, but today?s report in the Orlando Sentinel that these talks have been halted did come as a surprise.

The reason why the Magic have put on hold their discussions for players Danny Fortson from the Warriors, Nazr Mohammed from the Hawks and Marcus Fizer from the Bulls is the intrigue surrounding center Rashard Griffith, whom the Magic acquired the rights to from the Milwaukee Bucks on draft night.

Orlando is set to get a look at the 7-footer, who has played in Europe for the last six years, after Griffith agreed to be a participant in the Magic?s summer league team, joining the likes of second year center Steven Hunter and the Magic?s other rookies on the squad.  It is believed the impressions these players leave could dictate what moves the Magic do or do not make during the offseason.

"With both of them playing, it surely will paint a better picture for us what our needs really are," said Magic General Manager John Gabriel. "It will help us move forward with moves we need to make, whether it's signings or trades. We'll have a better idea after the summer league."

With players the caliber of Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Mike Miller and Darrell Armstrong occupying the first three positions and old warhorses Horace Grant and Patrick Ewing trying to hold the inside this is undoubtedly the top priority for the Magic.

Any trade to get a solid big man like the three which have been mentioned will undoubtedly cost the Magic young shooting guard Mike Miller, but with Grant Hill again healthy trading Miller for a bigger body would give the team more balance.

Fortson might be the most realistic of the possible trade scenario?s the Magic have at their disposal, mainly due to the acquisition of Mike Dunleavy and teammate Antawn Jamison, who will earn the maximum allowable under the CBA next season, also playing power forward.  But trading is not the only option the Magic have in their possession.  The team could also go out and find another veteran free agent such as Ewing or Grant which would come much cheaper to the team, with the Bulls Charles Oakley being an obvious target.