They say that losing breeds a losing mentality, so after crossing from a team which went to the NBA finals is it any wonder that the Bulls' Jalen Rose is frustrated with the losing he has experienced over the last 12 months since arriving in the Windy City?

"I hate losing, and it's starting to get to me a little,'' Rose said Saturday before the Bulls latest loss, this time to the Heat. "I'll never adjust to losing.''

Not even in the name of rebuilding asks Lacy Banks of the Chicago Sun-Times?

"Right,'' Rose said. "That's one epidemic I don't want to be involved in. Losing too many games breeds other losing situations and habits I really didn't know existed. This is something we have to fight through until we become winners. But sometimes you get sick and tired of being sick and tired.''

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune reports: Thursday's trading deadline is only a day away and several teams are working the phones trying to get a deal done.

League sources say the Bulls are talking to the Heat about guard Eddie Jones, who almost signed with Chicago nearly three years ago.

However, the Heat want 5 million expiring contracts, something the Bulls do not have.

Smith suggests a deal that would include forwards Eddie Robinson and Marcus Fizer for Jones. Either Jamal Crawford or Fred Hoiberg would likely be included to make the numbers work.

He also mentions that a deal could get held up by management's concern that Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, and Jay Williams could all command maximum contracts when they become free agents but that is unlikely.

Miami is also talking to teams about Jones and forward Brian Grant.

Now, on to some other teams.

The Atlanta Hawks are saying they'll deal Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff. Miami is said to be interested, along with Golden State, Philadelphia, Memphis, Orlando and the New York Knicks.

Then, it appears that Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban wants Gilbert Arenas in Denver.

With the Warriors desperate to acquire expiring contracts inorder to make a competitive offer to Arenas, One insider said  Cuban is trying to block the deal because he wants his friend, Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, to be able to acquire Arenas as a free agent this summer. If the Warriors are not below the salary cap by 6-8 million, they will likely lose Arenas to the Nuggets. Right now, all they can do is offer him the league average salary, which will be close to $5 million next season.

While, the Nuggets should have around $18-20 million to spend.

Still, it's going to be extremely difficult to get so many expiring deals.

Finally, Most executives expect the 76ers to start the dealing soon with Derrick Coleman possibily the first to go.

Marc Spears writes about last night's Denver loss to the Chicago Bulls.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports: Jamal Crawford's chances of getting out of Chicago are drying up by the day.

Now, the Bulls are making plans to get Crawford on an intensive weight-training schedule this summer so he can bulk up enough to occasionally play shooting guard alongside Jay Williams next season.

General manager Jerry Krause raised that possibility last June on the day the Bulls drafted Williams, but coach Bill Cartwright has steadfastly refused to play Crawford and Williams together.

"I'd like to see us try it," Crawford said.

A far as the deals go, Crawford said he has talked to Krause and his gut feeling tells him he is staying in Chicago.

Pat Rooney of the Rocky Mountain news writes about Marcus Camby and his latest setback.

Denver plays @ Chicago tonight @ 6:30.  The game is on Fox Sports and AM950.

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: Juwan Howard of the Denver Nuggets and Jalen Rose of the Chicago Bulls are considering becoming teammates again.

Howard and Rose played together at Michigan and remain close.

When Howard becomes a free agent this summer, Rose plans on recruiting him to come play for the Bulls.

"I'm going to try to, just like I would try to convince any (quality) free agent like I did with (Bulls forward Donyell) Marshall," Rose said. "But the reality of being a veteran is, you're going to go to a situation that not only fits you, but allows you to win games, feeds your family and not allow you to be in a no-win situation.

"I feel if we were able to couple him, an experienced big guy, with some inexperienced big guys we have now, it would give us a legitimate low-post threat and a guy that can bring leadership on and off the floor and good character. Basically, it would do wonders for our young team."

When told about Rose's comments, Howard said: "It's a very nice gesture on his part. It's special to see an all-star caliber player like himself want to see me become a teammate of his. I admire and respect that."

"I was fearful (previously) of playing in my hometown because I was young and immature," said Howard, who played at Chicago's Vocational High and still does charity work in the city. "There was so many distractions there. ... But as an older veteran, I don't think it would be a distraction."

If he did sign with the Bulls this summer, it would be for the Mid-Level Exception.

Howard has already privately expressed interest in playing for the Lakers next season and should have more suitors come this summer.

Roman Modrowski of the Chicago Sun-Times reports: Chicago GM Jerry Krause is never worried about players' feelings when negotiating trades and that won't come into play as the trade deadline nears (It's only a week away.).

Even as the battle between Crawford and rookie guard Jay Williams heats up, Krause isn't rushing to make a move as the Feb. 20th trade deadline nears.

''I will not be pressured into a situation,'' Krause said Wednesday.

''When you have a good player, which Jamal is--he's a very good player--you're not going to be pushed into moving a player just to move him. Jamal's the kind of guy where if you move him, he can come back to haunt you. Besides, he's a professional, and it won't be a problem.''

Since losing his starting job to Williams, Crawford has been mostly professional about being benched but is upset because he doesn't believe he was outplayed.

In the mean time, Aaron Goodwin, Crawford agent, has been in contact with Krause to discuss trading his client.

On the point guard controversy, Krause had an interesting take.

''I don't think we've committed to anybody for anything,'' Krause said. ''Nothing has been decided.

''We have two young guys who are both very good players. The story isn't told yet. It can work that way until something better comes along.''

Still, you have to wonder why Krause drafted Williams with the second overall pick in last June's draft if he was committed to Crawford.

While, Krause looks at possible deals for Crawford, the competition between him and Williams in practice remains strong.

''It's been like that all season,'' Crawford said. ''It wears on both of us.''

Asked whether their relationship is a problem, Crawford said, ''It goes both ways. Jay and I are cordial off the court, but we're young and want to establish ourselves.''

Krause said he enjoys the competition between teammates.

He also added that a deal is unlikely because of the impending luxury tax.

Quote from Chicago Tribune: "I'm not doing what's in their best interest," Krause said. "I'm doing what's in our best interest. I told him if I don't get an offer I like, nobody's getting traded. If I get an offer I like, anybody can get traded except No. 23. I have no problem staying with this group. I'm pretty content with these guys."

Jason Walker of hawks.realgm.com was on hand for the media conferences of those involved in the NBA's weekend for the fans and caught up with a bit of the gossip from around the NBA.

Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls and Isiah Thomas with the Detroit Pistons were vivid enemies back in the late eighties as both fought for NBA supremecy, so as Jordan now enters his final All-Star game in his career it is ironic that his head coach will be none other than Thomas, who is set to debut at the helm.

Their rivalry started back in Jordan's rookie season when Thomas alledgedly froze out a rookie MJ in his debut All-Star game.  Jordan, again it is alledged, got revenge in 1992 when he used his influence to keep Thomas off the Olympic Team which featured himself, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.  It was reported that Jordan refused to play for the team if Thomas was a member.

"I remember people started writing it, then people started talking about it, and all of a sudden it became the truth," Thomas said recently. "Now it's written in books and people just assume that it's fact."
"
I remember saying then, and I say now, if someone would get the tape and watch, I defy them to find spots where we as teammates deliberately decided not to give Michael Jordan the ball. You're talking about Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Moses Malone and myself all getting in a huddle someplace and saying, 'Let's not give this guy the ball."

"I mean, that's absurd."

Jordan was not available for comment to Jerry Dean of the Detroit News, but his agent David Falk weighed in with his thoughts.

"Anybody who knows the NBA knows the relationship between Michael and Isiah is frosty, at best," Falk said. "And the Olympic players will be in close quarters for 37 days.

"But I don't think Isiah Thomas is important enough to Michael Jordan to influence his decision."

Jay Williams was amongst his old friends as he visited with the Duke Blue Devils Wednesday, but the NCAA superstar had some explaining to do in terms of his NBA struggles, Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times writes, and explain Williams did.

"Coming from this system [at Duke], I'm so used to giving up self. You can give up self there, but people take advantage of you,'' Williams said of the Bulls. "You have to think about yourself first there.''

"Here, it's a family. It's so much different from up there,'' he said. "It's good to be back in this environment where everybody loves you and everybody's family.'' As opposed to the Bulls' family, which is often comparable to the Addams family."

Take advantage of you?  The Addams family?  We're sure Jalen Rose and Jerry Krause will be impressed to read this.