Bulls at work, despite lockout

In a perfect world, Derrick Rose would begin his most valuable player defense on Tuesday in Dallas, the same day the Mavericks would stage their banner ceremony and begin their NBA championship defense.

In lieu of that raucous, Opening Night atmosphere, the NBA lockout will hit its 124th day. And Commissioner David Stern has said a full 82-game season is impossible.

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The Bulls will have 13 players under contract, counting the formality of signing first-round pick Jimmy Butler to his rookie deal. Fellow first-round pick Nikola Mirotic will remain overseas for at least a few seasons.

John Lucas III owns a fully non-guaranteed deal. The Bulls hold team options on Jannero Pargo and starting shooting guard Keith Bogans, scheduled to make $1,728,000.

Management had nine days to decide whether to exercise that option under teams of the old collective bargaining agreement. That deadline likely will be accelerated in a compressed free-agent period whenever the lockout ends.

The Bulls would be OK with bringing Bogans back. However, they will peruse the free-agent market and also see if a veteran-type scorer like Vince Carter or Richard Hamilton gets waived via an amnesty clause being collectively bargained.

Grant Hill, Caron Butler, Tayshaun Prince, Jamal Crawford and Jason Richardson are among the intriguing wing players who will be unrestricted free agents should they fit in the Bulls' salary structure.

Given that a maximum extension for Derrick Rose also is on tap, it's unlikely they'll be major players especially because they likely will be over the salary cap and only able to offer veteran's minimums.

Sources familiar with management's thinking said there are no plans to use the amnesty clause on any current Bull.