view of the trade. It's important to remember that the Salmons trade wasn't for punitive or bad basketball reasons but strictly to ensure the Bulls had the ability to offer a max contract this summer. Salmons actually had recovered and was playing pretty well after his horrible start, albeit in a reserve role after losing his job to Hinrich. Nobody can explain that start. It was painful to watch as Salmons is competitive and cares deeply. I remember going up to him about six or seven times early in the season and asking, "What's going on?" He was gracious about it every time but nobody had an answer. That was one of the worst slumps I've covered.

If the Bulls make the playoffs, doesn't Del Negro deserve to keephis job? What else is he supposed to do? He would have taken the team to two playoff berths and done it with major injuries to his best players. The fact the team did not give up in the 10-game losing streak should say something about what the players think about him. Also, any talk of him not developing players is just stupid. Two years ago, you could have traded Noah for gym socks. Now he is bordering on an All-Star. Thomas got better under him. JJohnson is getting better. And Rose is among the best in the league. If people want to give Doug Collins credit for improving Jordan and Pippen in the late '80s, then VDN gets credit for Rose. For what he has had to