Bulls Trying to Trade Larry Hughes Chicago Tribune Article

BULLS BITS BY K.C. JOHNSON
Bulls trying to trade Larry Hughes

January 22, 2009

Calling his time with the Bulls "almost a non-experience," Larry Hughes continued Wednesday to answer questions calmly about his desire to play more — which won't happen with the Bulls — or be traded.

As he has maintained, Hughes said his biggest frustration is his lack of opportunity while pulling down a $12 million-plus paycheck.

Hughes was acquired from Cleveland in the Ben Wallace deal last Feb. 21.

"The opportunity wasn't there from the start of training camp, for whatever reason," he said. "I was brought here to contribute, and I haven't been able to like I want to. But it's a situation I have no control over, and I'm ready to move on from it."

General manager John Paxson has been trying to move the 6-foot-5-inch, 185-pound Hughes aggressively since a cordial face-to-face meeting Jan. 6 with agent Jeff Wechsler. Talks with the Nets for Bobby Simmons remain open-ended, but one source maintained the Bulls were pessimistic about a deal.

"We're trying to move him because we have to play our younger guys," Paxson said. "He has been very professional."

Hughes, who'll be 30 Friday, hasn't played by coach's decision for five games.

Perhaps not coincidentally, that string began Jan. 14 in Toronto after witnesses said Hughes wasn't paying much attention during the team's morning shootaround.

"The tough part for me is not playing," Hughes said. "But I know at the end of the day it's not my fault. I continue to work with my trainers and stay fit and ready."

Hughes has started 479 of 648 career games.

"Not playing by coach's decision at this point of my career is beyond my imagination," Hughes said. "I can't imagine it going past the deadline. I know that from my agent we have good things lined up. It's a matter of finalizing things."

Layups: Paxson called his decision to guarantee guard Lindsey Hunter's minimum contract for the rest of the season "very simple." Paxson also called him future coaching material. "We have such a lack of veteran leadership," Paxson said. "And he's really good with Derrick [Rose] and Tyrus [Thomas]." …

Two months after his oldest son, Ryan, finished basic training with the Marines, Paxson and the Bulls hosted a swearing-in ceremony for 30 Navy recruits at the Berto Center. The Bulls will sponsor the recruits' division, and players will make occasional appearances during its training.