SI.com's Marty Burns writes: "But win or lose this series with the Heat, Chicago is a team on the rise. Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Tyson Chandler and Andres Nocioni form a talented, hardworking core that has made the playoffs each of the past two seasons. It's a sign of their effort and coaching that they have been able to finish first in the league in field goal percentage defense each of the last two years without a dominant big man under the basket.
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"But what really has Chicago fans excited is that the Bulls have the assets needed to maneuver themselves into the league's elite this summer.

"GM John Paxson will have some $12 million to $15 million in salary cap room, which he says he intends to use on free agents. The Bulls also own their own first-round pick (No. 16) in the June draft, as well as New York's (courtesy of the Eddy Curry trade), which will fall somewhere between 1 and 5." . . . more