HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jupiter socialite Filomena Tobias – aka the Miami Heat’s middle finger lady – came out of her self-imposed silence before tonight’s Heat-Bulls playoff game! Through Anthony Barbuto, her lawyer, Tobias acknowledged that her flipping the bird at former University of Florida star and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was indeed ill-mannered – but she maintains she didn’t deserve the media dredging up her past, especially her third husband’s mysterious death. gossipextra.com

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah, Filomena Tobias 

Hamilton will be bought out for $1 million this summer and hopes to play two more seasons to reach 15 in his decorated career. "Even though the last two weeks have been hard, my teammates have been great," Hamilton said. "They were so supportive of me and dumbfounded by the situation. They kept me going." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Richard Hamilton 

KC Johnson: Richard Hamilton: "I haven’t talked to them about (my future). Who knows what direction they’re going in?" One likely without Rip and Nate. Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Richard Hamilton 

Derrick Rose indeed sat out every game following surgery to repair his torn left anterior cruciate ligament on May 12, 2012. "We didn't know and he didn't know," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He heeded (Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf's) advice from the beginning to not rush it and make sure he's completely comfortable before getting out there. It's too important a decision for him to rush. Until he's completely comfortable, we don't want him out there. We knew this was a possibility and that's fine. You deal with it as best you can. We just want him to continue to work like he has been working. We want him completely healthy." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Jerry Reinsdorf, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Benny the Bull was named America's Most Popular Sports Mascot by a fan survey conducted by a marketing arm. "We all are amazed at his athleticism, creativity and energy," Bulls COO Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Mascots, Benny the Bull 

Joseph Goodman: FINAL: Heat 94, Bulls 91. Heat takes series 4-1. Onto the Eastern Conference finals. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat 

Jeff Zillgitt: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: "It’s a shame. I think everybody would have liked to have seen both teams healthy." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

Jeff Zillgitt: Thibodeau on Rose "If we were going to make a mistake we wanted to make a mistake on the side of caution. I think it was the smart decision" Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

KC Johnson: Thibodeau on DRose: "It’s too important a decision for him to rush. Until he's completely comfortable, we don’t want him out there." Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Tim Bontemps: Carlos Boozer on what the addition of Derrick Rose will mean for Chicago next season: "Everything." Twitter @TimBontemps

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Jeff Zillgitt: Noah on Rose: "It was hard. As a player, you want him to come back. At the same time, you understand you’ve got to look at the big picture." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Mascots are an important part of the NBA, serving as furry mirth-makers in a league that often becomes too self-serious for its own good. There's no joy a mascot can't bring, whether it involves choreographed dancing or simply forcing fans to consider the ridiculousness of an anthropomorphic blue blob's existence. However, the fact of the matter is that most mascots are very similar, both in their antics and looks. It's pretty much impossible to differentiate between the bear mascots of the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, for instance, and that's even before you see them jumping off trampolines and high-fiving children. So, when a mascot stands out as something special, you know that it's done some amazing work. Kudos to Benny the Bull of the Chicago Bulls, then, for being listed by Forbes as the most popular mascot in America (via TBJ). From Tom Van Riper: Yahoo! Sports

Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Mascots, Benny the Bull 

Ira Winderman: Thibodeau confirms Kirk Hinrich is out, as well as Deng and Rose. Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Chris Andersen said he told Joakim Noah that the reason he was signed was to counter him. Andersen told that to Noah in the hallway at the United Center on March 27, the night Noah’s Bulls snapped the 27-game winning streak of Andersen’s Heat. “He’s a big threat. I’ve always been going against him,’’ said Andersen, who was signed in January and has guarded Noah since Noah entered the NBA in 2007-08. “You got to match his energy and style of play.’ Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Chris Andersen, Joakim Noah 

Nick Friedell: Deng did not travel with the team. He and Rose are out. Hinrich is "most likely" out according to Thibs. Twitter @NickFriedell

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

KC Johnson: Thibodeau on Deng: "Obviously, he wants to be here. He has to get better first. He has to prioritize his health." #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries 

Kobe Bryant comes in at fourth on the SI list, thanks in part to his cap-destroying 27.8 million in salary last season (that jumps to $30 million next season, so expect him back on the list). He also still has $19 million in endorsements. He’s got a sweet Nike deal, too. Third among NBA players and seventh overall on the SI list is Derrick Rose. And the entire city of Chicago rolled its eyes at once. He made $16.4 million in salary and had $17 million in endorsements thanks to a massive Adidas deal. NBCSports.com

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose 

How big of a boss is Phil Jackson? A fan asked him to showcase all 13 of his NBA championship rings (11 as a coach, two as a player), and he pulled them out like it was nothing. The two rings in the front are from his time as a player in New York. The six in the middle are from his years in Chicago and the five at the top are from when he held it down with the Lakers. Dime

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Ira Winderman: NBA confirms East finals will not start earlier than Monday. If Heat-Bulls or Knicks-Pacers go six or more, East finals open next Wednesday. Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks 

Memo to Bulls: Wednesday's Game 5 tips at 6 p.m. Central. "We have a lot left in the tank," Joakim Noah said. After a season of so much adversity and injury, players unanimously rejected the fatigue angle, even if their performance at both ends suggested otherwise. "They put a lot of pressure on us with their defense and we didn't execute very well," Noah said. "It's tough. We're disappointed with the way we played, especially in a big game. There's no turning back. We just have to keep fighting." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Joakim Noah