Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose: There is a 70-75 percent chance he will play in the NBA All-Star Game.

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images The only thing between Brook Lopez and Friday’s rookie game in Dallas is a blizzard.

Andrew D.

By Chris Sheridan In college at TCU, Kurt Thomas once led the nation in scoring and rebounding, making him one of only three players in NCAA history to do so. Two-and-a-half years ago, his expiring $8 million contract was deemed so unappealing by Suns owner Bob Sarver that Phoenix agreed to surrender two unprotected 1st-round draft picks to Seattle, getting back only a 2nd-rounder in return (the second of those unprotected 1st-round picks goes to the Thunder this June, which is why Phoenix is currently looking for at least one 1st-round pick in any Amare Stoudemire trade). Thomas is currently playing for his seventh NBA team as he works his way through his 15th NBA season, and he soon could end up with his eighth.

By J.A. Adande The true reflection of Phil Jackson’s stature in the NBA coaching hierarchy isn’t that he surpassed Pat Riley for most victories as coach of the Lakers. It’s that he no longer needs to be measured against Riley, the man who provided Jackson’s first target for coaching greatness.

The Chicago Bulls did something during their last road trip that no other team in league history has accomplished. When the Bulls hit the road again to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, they’ll look to achieve something the franchise hasn’t done in four seasons - win six straight as the visiting team.

Charles Barkley says Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro has done a good job.

Devin Brown saw the writing on the wall. It was scribbled there a month ago when the New Orleans Hornets asked him to take a pay cut to accommodate a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Marc Stein The NBA’s trade deadline is now only three Thursdays away. Which naturally calls for some fresh dribbles of trade chatter from various team executives and league insiders: The Blazers have indeed registered their interest in Washington center Brendan Haywood, given Haywood’s obvious appeal as a short-term replacement – with an expiring $6 million contract – for the fallen Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla.

The New Orleans Hornets, who unsuccessfully tried to deal shooting guard Devin Brown to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec.