According to league sources, the Bulls have discussed sending rugged forward Andres Nocioni and second-year guard Thabo Sefolosha to the Nets for Bostjan Nachbar, Marcus Williams, Antoine Wright and Jamaal Magloire. There might be other parts in the proposed deal.
The Bulls have been talking to several teams. Their first choice would be to use Nocioni in a package for Memphis big man Pau Gasol, but they're keeping their options open.
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If the Bulls-Nets trade goes through, it will clear money for Chicago and put the Nets over the luxury-tax threshold. The Nets have tried to avoid that, but Nocioni, who signed a five-year $37.5 million deal over the summer, would give them a needed dimension.
The Argentine plays hard, harassing defense, can rebound and is a good three-point shooter. He's averaging 14.5 points, mostly as a sub, and hitting on 36.5 percent of his threes. The Nets, who were in Sacramento on Tuesday, began the day ranked 29th in scoring, 29th in three-point shooting and 27th in field goal percentage.
Sefolosha, a 6-foot-7 guard, would add athleticism and defense.
Nets president Rod Thorn, who would not comment on this possible trade, said he's not close to making any moves and added, "If something presents itself that makes us better, then we have to take a look at it."
The struggling Nets are considering the deal for the two Bulls, though, one source said. They feel it could improve them on both ends of the court, and they wouldn't be giving up any of their three best players.
But the Nets would be giving up three expiring contracts should they trade Nachbar, Wright and Magloire. They could be valuable around next month's trade deadline for teams looking to dump salary. Malik Allen and Darrell Armstrong are other Nets with expiring deals.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080127_On_the_NBA___A_Sixers_shopping_list.html
Thabo Sefolosha, Bulls
Sixers drafted him in 2006, but sent him to Chicago on draft night for Rodney Carney. Sefolosha, a 6-6 guard, is getting a little more run under new Bulls coach Jim Boylan than under Scott Skiles, and at 23, he's got a lot of upside. He is a hard-working kid who is the second-most famous athlete to come out of Switzerland, after Roger Federer.
Yes, the Sixers already have lots of 6-6 to 6-8 wings. But Sefolosha could be something special. And with Chris Duhon out indefinitely following a knee injury last week, the Bulls may be in the market for a point guard. (No, not Andre Miller - he makes way too much money. But Kevin Ollie is available. Throw Viktor Khryapa in the mix and you're in business.)
Contract status: Second year of three-year rookie contract, $1.8 million this season, $1.93 million in 2008-09, team option for 2009-10 ($2.75 million).
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