The Bulls have between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31 to sign Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer to contract extensions, otherwise the players will become restricted free agents next summer.

In itself, that is no reason to panic. The Bulls could match any offer to their restricted free agents and would be in no danger of losing Crawford or Fizer against their will.

But then again, it's worth noting that three teams with a vast supply of cap room - Denver, Utah and Miami - are having trouble landing any free agents. That means their cap money will likely carry over to next summer, when those teams could be in position to make expensive offers hoping the Bulls won't match.

"I can't worry about that," Bulls general manager John Paxson said. "I can't let that force my hand. I still feel we can be patient."

In some ways, it would make sense to wait on extensions. The Bulls might want to see how Crawford fares with a full season as the starting point guard and will certainly wait until Fizer proves he has recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

On the other hand, the Bulls could end up spending more for both players if they wait until next year. That could prove costly down the road because the Bulls will be closing in on the luxury-tax threshold soon.

He may not be the final piece of the playoff puzzle, but the Bulls effectively completed their roster for the 2003-04 season Tuesday when veteran Corie Blount agreed to terms.

Blount is believed to have signed a two-year deal, with one year guaranteed, at about $1.7 million. He averaged three points and 4.1 rebounds for the Bulls last season in 50 games. He is expected to provide veteran backup help for Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler.

Blount, 34, began his career with the Bulls in 1993 and has played for the Lakers, Cavaliers, Suns, Warriors and 76ers. His career averages are 3.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. The Bulls were encouraged by Blount's finish last season when he averaged six points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 30.1 minutes over the last seven games, three of them starts. The Bulls were 4-3 in those games, beating the Nets, 76ers, Pacers and Bucks.

The Bulls now have 15 players on the roster: Curry, Chandler, Blount, Jamal Crawford, Jalen Rose, Dalibor Bagaric, Kirk Hinrich, Marcus Fizer, Jay Williams, Roger Mason Jr., Eddie Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Lonny Baxter, Donyell Marshall and Trenton Hassell. Williams is out for the season after his motorcycle accident, so two players from that group will have to go on the injured list for the season opener in October.

In other Bulls news, wayward forward Eddie Robinson has been working out with the team in Deerfield this week for the first time all summer. Robinson had been refusing to return calls from team officials, so the Bulls fined him $50,000. Robinson is expected to contest the fine.

The Bulls came to terms with Corie Blount on Monday night while saying goodbye to Fred Hoiberg, who agreed to terms with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Blount will sign a two-year, $3.4million deal, becoming the 15th and final player on the roster.

"We're real excited about it,'' said Mark Bartelstein, who represents Blount. "He really enjoys mentoring the young players and had a great sense of pride watching Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler develop.''

The 6-10 Blount, 34, averaged 3.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 16.7 minutes last season, but his defense and veteran leadership most impressed operations chief John Paxson.

Hoiberg, 30, played the last four seasons for the Bulls, giving him the most seniority on the team. He was a co-captain last season, and though he struggled with his shooting, his work ethic and professionalism made him a favorite of coach Bill Cartwright. Hoiberg averaged 2.3 points on .389 field-goal shooting last season.

Coming this fall to a basketball arena near you: Mad Dog and the Mayor.

Continuing their blistering offseason pace, the Timberwolves added two role players to their roster Monday. The first is Mark Madsen, a 6-9, 245-pound power forward nicknamed "Mad Dog" for the intensity he brings to the court. The other is Fred Hoiberg, a 6-5 shooting guard who was so popular at Iowa State it was said he could run for mayor.

The two signings -- Madsen for two years, Hoiberg for one -- continue the restructuring of the Wolves roster, one that will bear slight resemblance to last season's. It is possible that when the Wolves go to camp they'll have only three players -- Kevin Garnett, Wally Szczerbiak and Troy Hudson -- from last season.

The Wolves have traded for Sam Cassell, Ervin Johnson and, most recently, Latrell Sprewell. They have signed center Michael Olowakandi.

Monday's signings added grit and intangibles to that new collection of stars, especially in the case of Madsen.

He was a role player for the Lakers on two NBA title teams and established a reputation as a player willing to do a lot of the little things that don't appear in a boxscore.

"He has character and he has toughness," said Kevin McHale, Wolves vice president of basketball operations. In Madsen, McHale has added another player willing to take issue with anyone attempting to drive down the lane. "He'll put a body on you, be aggressive. He's a big, strong guy, which is something we wanted and needed."

Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Kevin McHale today announced the team has agreed to terms with free agent Fred Hoiberg. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Hoiberg, a 6-5, 210-pound guard from Iowa State University, averaged 2.3 points (.389 FG%, .820 FT%), 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 12.4 minutes per game in 63 contests for the Chicago Bulls in 2002-03. The eight-year NBA veteran missed 14 games due to illness or injury. Hoiberg tallied a season-high 11 points versus Orlando on March 3 and posted seven points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes at Washington on March 3. Additionally, he registered five-plus rebounds on 11 occasions.

"We felt that we needed another veteran player who will be able to hit some shots, and Fred fits the bill," said McHale. "He will be able to help us both in practice and in games."

Bulls coaches coached two Lonny Baxters last season, the effective, no-nonsense player they called "Lonny" and the lost-looking, shot-forcing rookie they called "Lenny."

Only Lonny showed up at the Rocky Mountain Revue.

Granted, it was only the summer league, but Baxter impressed management with his fundamental play, knack for offensive rebounds and strong post moves.

Baxter averaged 18.5 points on 62 percent shooting, helping the Bulls finish first in the league at 5-1.

"I've been working hard with [strength coaches] Erik Helland and Jeff Macy to get stronger," Baxter said. "That way, I can get to the offensive boards. Hopefully, during the season, I can take some of this with me and play more minutes."

Baxter, a quiet, unassuming type who is typically one of the last to leave practice, averaged 4.8 points in 12.4 minutes per game last season. The 6-foot-8-inch, 260-pound forward filled in admirably when coach Bill Cartwright benched Marcus Fizer at the start of last season.

His strong play here could entice management to put Fizer in a familiar place?the trading block. Fizer, a solid offensive force off the bench, is rehabilitating from knee surgery.

This is like 1995-96 all over again - except that it's the summer, the games don't count and most of the competitors won't play in the NBA this season.

But for a franchise that has spent five days above the .500 mark during the past five years, a perfect record at the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league would be worth celebrating.

It didn't quite happen. The Bulls' summer squad lost to New York 77-68 Friday in Salt Lake City to finish 5-1 at the event.

Rookie forward Michael Sweetney led the Knicks with 16 points, while Illinois' Frank Williams and UIC's Bryant Notree each scored 12.

Even though it is only summer, the Bulls' success in Utah might bode well for the team's depth next season.

Power forward Lonny Baxter was a strong candidate for MVP of the league, shooting guard Trenton Hassell flashed some offensive firepower, and first-round draft pick Kirk Hinrich had one night, anyway, where he shot the lights out.

Bulls forward Eddie Robinson is finding his truancy costly. Sources say operations chief John Paxson has fined the oft-injured Robinson $50,000 for refusing to respond to team communications or show up for any good-faith workouts at the Berto Center.

"I'm not going to talk about Eddie Robinson,'' Paxson said Friday when asked to confirm the report.

Robinson's agent, Paul Collier, did not want to discuss the matter. Robinson recently fought off an attempted robbery and the culprit was arrested shortly thereafter.

"I'll just say Eddie's healthy--he's all right, he didn't get hurt,'' Collier said. "He's been pretty busy and he's on his way to Las Vegas now for some personal business. We have no comment about the fine. We will comment later.''

Paxson said he is negotiating with Chicago agent Mark Bartelstein to re-sign free agent forward Corie Blount.

Bulls general manager John Paxson hasn't bothered to hide his growing frustration with forward Eddie Robinson this summer.

But when asked Thursday if the team tried to force the issue by fining Robinson, Paxson would not confirm or deny the story and was unsure if or when he would comment on the subject.

According to a source, the Bulls have fined - or at least threatened to fine - Robinson $50,000 for a lack of communication. A few weeks ago, Paxson said Robinson has not returned any of his phone calls.

Robinson's agent, James Bryant, also did not deny the story, but he tried to put a positive spin on Robinson's relationship with the Bulls.

"Those are management-player issues," Bryant said. "I try to stay out of that. There have been no formal proceedings."

Scottie Pippen is about to begin his second tour of duty with the Bulls.

Jerry Krause fondly remembers the first.

"Mid-February, 1987, Marty Blake [the NBA's director of scouting] calls me and says, 'Jerry, there is this guy playing at this little school, Central Arkansas,'" Krause recalled Monday. "You should go see him."

Krause sent scout Billy McKinney. He eventually watched tapes of Pippen and then saw him for the first time at an April draft camp in Portsmouth, Va.

"I was sitting way up in the stands with Billy," Krause said. "They came out to warm up and I said, 'That's Pip.' McKinney said, 'How do you know?' He only had the longest arms I'd ever seen. I got real excited."