It looks like it is going to be another long year for the Chicago Bulls and their supporters, with the youthful team sporting even more youth this year with six rookies expected to be on the team's 15 man roster.

While most know about Ben Gordon, Leul Deng, and Argentinian Andres Nocioni, the likes of 2003 second-round pick Tommy Smith, 2004 second-round pick Chris Duhon and undrafted free agent Jared Reiner all have made the team with solid performances in training camp.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune the relationship between the Chicago Bulls and Eddie Robinson finally appears to be at an end.

According to two league sources, the Bulls and representatives for Eddie Robinson have reached an agreement on a buyout which will see the forgotten forward receive $10.2 million of the $14.05 million remaining on his five-year, $31.2 million contract that runs through 2005-06.

Neither Robinson, his agents nor Bulls general manager John Paxson would comment on the agreement, which will be announced Monday when final rosters are set.

A league source indicated Miami already has expressed interest in offering Robinson a non-guaranteed contract.

Maybe Eddie Robinson's time in Chicago is not up after all.

According to Paul Ladewski of the Daily SouthTown the Bulls and Robinson have been working on their relationship and Robinson could rejoin the team as early as this weekend, but only if he agrees to accept a lesser role off the bench and not create a distraction for the rest of the team.

"We've talked about a lot of things, but that's one of the options," Bulls general manager John Paxson said. "The situation has to be resolved soon."

Robinson's time in Chicago has been one of turmoil, with the latest having the Bulls advise Robinson not to attend games as the forward remained sidelined with a sore toe.

"We've asked the players to accept their roles, and Eddie is no different than the rest," Paxson said. "It's important that we have players who buy into the program."

The two sides discussed a buyout of the final two years of Robinson's deal, but an agreement could not be reached on the financial terms.

Jon Wertheim of SI.com suggests that the Indiana Pacers are under a curse similar to the one that the Red Sox have just come out from under.

It is called "The Curse of Tom Owens."

The Pacers' coach at the time, Jack McKinney, had just led the team to the NBA playoffs for the first time.

But he had just lost center James Edwards to free agency, so he traded a first-round draft pick in 1984 to Portland for Owens, a journeyman.

Owens played just one season for the Pacers, averaging 10.5 points. That draft pick, meanwhile, turned out to be the second overall selection in 1984. The Blazers used it to take Sam Bowie, but could have taken Michael Jordan, who went third to Chicago.

The history of the Pacers, and the NBA, would have been rewritten if they had kept the pick and drafted Jordan. Instead, they are still searching for their first NBA title.

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh, who took over the basketball operations in 1986, said he doesn't feel cursed. But he agrees he might feel differently had he made the trade.

"Then I don't know what I'd be doing," he said.

The Pacers have reached the playoffs in 13 of the past 15 seasons, and reached the Finals in 2000.

Hopes are high for the Pacers this season with the addition of Stephen Jackson to a talented core of Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, as they attempt to break the curse of squandering Michael Jordan.

The Chicago Bulls today waived forward Gary Trent and center Cezary Trybanski.

Trent signed with the Bulls on Oct. 5 as a free agent, but did not make a preseason appearance.

The 7-2, 240-pound Trybanski appeared in four games during the preseason and averaged 2.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 8.0 mpg.  He came to the Bulls on Aug. 5, in the six-player trade with New York, along with Othella Harrington, Dikembe Mutombo and Frank Williams, in exchange for Jamal Crawford and Jerome Williams.

The Bulls? roster now stands at 16 players.

Antonio Davis and Eddy Curry of the Bulls received two-game suspensions, Washington's Larry Hughes drew a one-game suspension and Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich was handed a $10,000 fine.

Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards was suspended for three games by the NBA on Wednesday for fighting during a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls.

The penalties were announced Wednesday by NBA vice president Stu Jackson, who found Haywood most at fault for the fight late in the third quarter of Chicago's 100-95 victory on Monday night.

Haywood, Davis and Curry were suspended for throwing punches, while Hughes was penalized for initiating the confrontation by head-butting Hinrich.

The suspensions take effect with the opening of the NBA regular season next week.

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald in Chicago is reporting that point guard Mike Wilks, waived by the Bulls last week, has agreed to terms with San Antonio. The Bulls are still on the hook for his $720,046 salary.

With the impending suspensions of Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis, it's possible that unheralded rookie Jared Reiner could be "the man in the middle" when the season-opening lineup is introduced Nov. 5.

"I have to make the team first," the self-deprecating Reiner said.

His Monday stint?six points and six rebounds in 16 minutes?likely sealed a roster spot. Coach Scott Skiles also could go small with a lineup featuring Tyson Chandler at center.

"I thought I played pretty well this camp," Reiner said. "I try to do the little things?rebound and play defense."

Like Chris Duhon, the 6-foot-11-inch, 255-pound Reiner has complicated management's plans to cut non-guaranteed contracts.

With 3 minutes 22 seconds left in the third quarter and the Wizards leading the Bulls by 16 points, Chicago forward Luol Deng made a behind-the-back dribble just inside the three-point line to get around Gilbert Arenas. Deng had a clear path to the hoop when Hughes came charging hard from the side.

Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich tried to cut off Hughes, but Hughes shoved Hinrich into Deng, causing Deng to land awkwardly on his backside. "I did give him a nice push," Hughes said.

Hinrich took exception and approached Hughes, then Haywood pushed Hinrich. Haywood later said: "Somebody pushed me. I think it was him, Antonio Davis." He then pushed Davis with both hands. "It was uncalled for," Davis said.

As Davis motioned toward Haywood, Hughes pushed Davis and shouted at him. Then, Haywood swung at Davis, punching him in the face. Haywood backpedaled for about 15 feet, losing his footing before Davis ran through official Bill Kennedy to wrestle Haywood to the floor.

Davis, who was at that point atop the 7-foot Haywood, threw a punch before players from both teams piled on top of each other. Michael Ruffin grabbed Davis to pull him from Haywood, and Bulls forward Eddy Curry swung at Haywood's midsection.

ESPN and ESPN2 announced on Monday the hiring of Jason Williams as an analyst for its college basketball coverage this season. In an interview last summer, Williams said he wanted to try announcing as he continues to rehabilitate from likely career-ending injuries suffered in a June 2003 motorcycle accident on the Northwest Side.

Williams, bought out by the Bulls earlier this year, will get that chance, calling select Saturday games with play-by-play man Dave O'Brien. Williams, who writes an Internet diary at NBA.com, said he's happy that ex-Duke star Chris Duhon is playing well for the Bulls.