Ex-Jazzman Donyell Marshall arrived in Chicago this week with a new spin on his decision to accept $2 million less per year from the Bulls: He did it because the Bulls seem more fun.
     
According to a story in the Daily Herald of suburban Arlington Heights, Marshall said at a press conference, "(Bulls GM) Jerry (Krause) has said being around the younger guys made him feel young again. I think those guys can give me energy, make me younger again. Make me want to run. Bring some excitement.
     
"After we score a big bucket or something, clap and yell and pump your fist or stuff like that. In Utah sometimes, there wasn't that oomph in there. We didn't get excited. We went out and played our game because that's what we did. It was a business."

Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks Michael Jordan should walk away. Between the injuries, the age and the demeaning role as a bench player, Mariotti thinks MJ?s story will not have a happy ending. Which is sad, given the exquisite climax he spun four years ago in Salt Lake City.

Mariotti claims, ?A midlife crisis isn't easy to mask, especially when it strikes the greatest basketball player ever. If MJ truly has reached a meeting place in his mind, why is he resuming elaborate workouts in hopes of returning for another season? Isn't the Big Four Oh staring quizzically at his forehead wrinkles? Hasn't his problematic right knee been surgically repaired; isn't the left one still worrying him a bit? And don't the suspect Washington Wizards have only a fair-to-small shot of making the playoffs, with the possibility they won't be as good as the incrementally improving Bulls?

It's his life, of course, his career. And my guess is, he'll pull off more astounding acts at 40 than any other big-ticket athlete, however sporadic. Yet just as I didn't want to watch Jordan get hurt last season, I don't want to watch him get old this season.?

Jay Williams believes he is well enough to stay with Team USA as they prepare to tackle the world in Indianapolis later this month, Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is reporting.  Williams, who was caught by the knee of teammate Andre Miller in the team's first practice, dismissed reports that he is contemplating leaving the team because of a hip flexor injury he had aggravated. It was the same injury that slowed him early in the Bulls' summer-league games in July.

"As long as it gets better each day, I'll continue to take it day by day," Williams said. "I broke a sweat, which was good because I hadn't broken a sweat in two days."

Donyell Marshall, the newest Bull, arrived at the Berto Center ready to answer the $6 million question.

Why did he turn down a $21 million offer from Utah, where he would have been the starting small forward, and then accept $14.85 million over three years to battle for a spot with the rebuilding Bulls?

Would you believe it's because playing for the Bulls seems like more fun?

Common thoughts around the NBA is that the marriage between the Chicago Bulls and Donyell Marshall came about after the Utah Jazz, Marshall's former team, and Matt Harpring reached and agreement which effectively left the former two parties out in the cold.  The Bulls were actively persuing Harpring and Marshall was pushing for more money from the Jazz, and when both were used and abused by their respective parties it was a natural fit that both parties, cold and lonely, would hook up to soften the blow.

But is this how it really happened?

Not according to some interesting comments in today's article by Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald.  McGraw reports that the Bulls and Marshall had reached an agreement when the two parties met at the Berto Center last Tuesday, the Bulls then giving the Jazz 24 hours to work out a sign and trade before the Bulls signed the forward outright.

The Jazz responded by signing Matt Harpring to a contract which left Marshall to sign the next day with Chicago.

So where does the truth lie, and is there any sign of a lie within the truth?  You decide.

Injuries continue to take their toll on Team USA, with the replacement for the injured Ray Allen now also injured.  Jay Willliams, the rookie guard from the Chicago Bulls, missed his second straight practive for Team USA yesterday and is now comtemplating withdrawing from the national squad ESPN.com is reporting.

Williams sprained his left hip flexor Saturday in a collision with teammate Andre Miller during the team's first hard practice.

''It was horrible yesterday. I woke up thinking I'd never play basketball again, whereas I woke up today and felt a lot better,'' Williams said Monday.

''We're kind of fatiguing some guys with only 12 bodies and no perimeter substitutions,'' said coach George Karl.

''It's very important for him to be on that team, for him and for us, but obviously his health is the most important concern,'' added Bulls GM Jerry Krause. ''Young kids, they want to play even if they're hurt. That kid, he'd play with a broken leg.''

Williams stated that he would take things day to day, but implied the most important thing to him is being healthy for the Bulls.

''The thing for me is I don't want to go into training camp favoring an injury already,'' Williams said. ''You've got to think about it as it should be an honor to play for your country, but in the same sense I know I have 82 games ahead of me, which I've never experienced in my life. I got tired after 40-something games in college.''

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune believe that the Bulls summer period has been a failure thanks to one person: Jerry Krause.  After a strong start with the drafting of Jay Williams, Lonny Baxter and Roger Mason the Bulls looked to be turning it around.  Their main need in free agency was a power forward/center type player to help out youngters Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, but after signing only Corie Blount and Donyell Marshall Smith only rates Krause's offseason manouvering as a 'D'.

Why is Smith being so critical?  The answer is Keon Clark.  Clark would have been a starter on the Bulls, would have filled their most glaring need, and most importantly he has only missed one game in the last three seasons.  He was a starter on the Toronto Raptors when the team made their push for playoff contention, replacing hall of famer Hakeem Olajuwon, and he showed interest in becoming a Bull.  But offseason trouble which saw him arrested on marijuana possession scared Krause out the idea of signing him to a contract according to team representatives, Krause instead opting for a player similar to Marcus Fizer who plays the same position as Eddie Robinson.  'The sin was refusing to interview Clark, apparently because he may be a sinner,' writes Smith.

The Sacramento Kings took a punt on Clark for a relatively cheap price, continuing the trend of teams who have been down taking a chance to get their team back up.  Thus far, Smith indicates, Krause has been unwilling to take such chances.  'Geoff Petrie did with Chris Webber and now Clark. Rod Thorn did with Jason Kidd after a spousal-abuse arrest and now Dikembe Mutombo, Rodney Rogers and Chris Childs. Chris Wallace did with Rogers and Tony Delk and now Vin Baker, and Joe Dumars did with Cliff Robinson after a marijuana arrest,' writes Smith, but not Krause.  'Perhaps Krause also fears the pressure now. With the team the Bulls have now, few can realistically expect them to make the playoffs. If they had signed Clark and then added a veteran such as Marshall, they could have been considered playoff contenders. But then what if they didn't make it? Who would be to blame? Perhaps Krause sees it safer to keep rebuilding, which the Bulls seem to be doing.'

Donyell Marshall is officially gone.
     
The Chicago Bulls signed the ex-Jazz forward on Friday to a three-year contract worth an estimated $15 million, according to the Associated Press and ESPN.com.
     
The team scheduled a news conference for Monday to make the formal announcement.
     
Marshall's departure from Utah was all but assured when the Jazz announced the signing of free agent Matt Harpring on Thursday. That signing came after negotiations between the Jazz and Marshall reached an impasse.

The Chicago Bulls signed free-agent forward Donyell Marshall on Friday to a three-year contract worth about $15 million.
   
The team scheduled a news conference for Monday to formally introduce him.
   
Marshall averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game with the Jazz the past two seasons.
   
The 6-foot-9 forward played 6 1/2 seasons for Golden State before he was traded to Utah. He was drafted fourth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1994, and then traded to the Warriors midway through his rookie season.
   
"He is an eight-year veteran with excellent skills and has the character we want in our players," Bulls vice president of basketball operations Jerry Krause said in a statement. "He can play either the three or the four position and was a starter at the three position with Utah the last two years."

Chad Ford of ESPN.com reports that the Bulls will sign Jazz free agent Donyell Marshall. Two league sources told ESPN.com that the Bulls and Marshall have come to terms on a three-year, $15 million contract. The Bulls used their full $4.5 mid-level exception to lure Marshall.

The Jazz reportedly had a 4-year, $27 million contract offer open to Marshall, but he refused. They pulled the offer and signed Harpring to a 4-year, $18.5 million contract on Thursday.

Marshall averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Jazz last season. His ability to play both forward positions appeals to the Bulls. Right now, the team has Eddie Robinson at small forward and Tyson Chandler at power forward, but both players are still very raw. Marshall's experience, rebounding and versatility were all considered good fits by the team.