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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose did not participate in any scrimmage drills Monday as the Bulls held him out for what coach Tom Thibodeau called 'planned rest.'

"We cut him out today," Thibodeau said. "It was planned rest. He did some, the warm-up phase, but today was a planned rest day for him. ... We went shorter today. We had a teaching segment that of course he participated in and then the warm-up phase, but then the live stuff we were planning on giving him today off."

Rose, who has not played in an NBA game since tearing his ACL on April 28, 2012, is still rehabbing the knee injury and Thibodeau has spoken openly about the organization's desire to take the process day to day. The veteran coach acknowledged that they may have more planned rest days for Rose throughout camp.

"We'll just see," Thibodeau said. "With all our players, usually the third day, this is the fifth practice, so we're dealing with heavy legs. We just thought we'd give him today off. Mentally he's sharp, he did his conditioning off the floor and he'll be ready to go (Tuesday)."

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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Taj Gibson isn't hiding his excitement about having Derrick Rose back this season.

After spending the past year and a half dealing with the uncertainty surrounding Rose's status after knee surgery, the relief that players and coaches have knowing that the former MVP is going to play this season has permeated throughout the first few days of the Bulls training camp.

"It's great," Gibson said. "I'm getting the same good looks I used to get in the past. My corner jump shot has been fantastic these last two days. Just the whole outcome of how he's been finding guys, and how guys are finding each other, it's just magnificent. Having so much fun the last day and a half in training camp, even though I hate two-a-days, but it's been fun. I can't lie to you, it's been fun."

Rose's presence on the floor has that kind of impact on his team and his teammates are excited about all the possibilities with him on the floor.

"It's important because of who he is and what he does for our team," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of having Rose back. "I think the fact that he's hard-working, team-first, those are all things that are a big plus for us. He sets the tone for our team. He's our leader. And I think last year he had to make a tough decision. He did that. But as a leader he's never been afraid to make a tough decision. I think he's prepared himself for this and we're ready for the next step."

Rose has been working up to this moment for awhile. His reputation has taken a hit from some critics who believe he should have returned after being medically cleared by team doctors last season. But he is confident he has prepared himself the right way for this season.

"Don't tell Thibs," Rose said after Saturday's first practice, "I had workouts harder than this. For real, I worked out three times a day so for us to actually go through practice and have water breaks and all that, that's something I normally don't do in my workouts. So it's hard but I'm used to it."

Rose has played with the core group of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Gibson before, but even Thibodeau acknowledges that there will be some rust for everyone to take shake off working Rose back in.

"There's an adjustment, but he's been around," Thibodeau said. "Obviously, the core of the team has played with him before so that's to me a big plus. But you have to re-establish your chemistry. We always start from a zero base the next year and build from there but the fact that these guys have been together for a while is a plus."

The biggest plus for the Bulls is seeing Rose around the Berto Center and knowing that he is ready to go.

"First of all I think that Derrick really did the right thing in terms of sitting out last year," Noah said. "(He) got extra time to rest his knee and be ready. This is not an easy injury to overcome and for him to have that extra time really is going to help our chances of winning it. We know that we need everybody healthy at the end of this (season) for us to make a run -- him more than anybody -- so it's very, very exciting. Couldn't be more ready."

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Taj Gibson doesn't have to explain what he focused on most during his offseason conditioning -- the evidence is etched into his bulked up 240-pound frame. The veteran forward said that he added 15 pounds of muscle over the last few months and feels like a different player on the floor.

"I think I bulked up a little bit more," Gibson said after Sunday's first practice. "Being in the playoffs the last couple years, it gets more and more physical. I put on a ton of weight. Mostly I went out (to California) and just lifted, worked out with Derrick (Rose). I'm 240 (pounds) now. Just trying to build confidence -- it's coming. I know the plays, I know the offense, I know players' strong suits. Once you get confidence in this league, you can take off. It's all about confidence."

Having confidence is a mantra that Gibson is focusing on. He wanted to add some more muscle to his lanky frame but he admitted that Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau was a little concerned at first about just how much mass the USC alum was adding.

"He was a little bit worried about my weight because he didn't want me to get kind of fat," Gibson said. "But he wanted me to be lean, more muscle, and it's been great."

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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau knows that star point guard Derrick Rose is going to have to shake off some rust as he makes his return to the floor after sitting out the last year and a half while rehabbing from knee surgery -- but the veteran coach is pleased by what he has seen up to this point from the former MVP.

"There's some ups, some downs," Thibodeau said after Sunday's first practice. "It's not just him; that whole unit has to get used to playing together. Playing to their strengths, covering up their weaknesses. Right now the big thing is it's not only his timing, but it's everybody's timing and spacing and execution and that's on both ends."

Thibodeau acknowledges that Rose's teammates will have to get used to playing with him again but he doesn't expect that to take very long. Thibodeau is happy to see all the open looks that Rose is creating from the outside for the rest of the group.

"Any time a player commands two (defenders) being put on him, what it does is now you're four on three away from them," Thibodeau said. "There are long closeouts, you're forcing the defense to collapse, you get rhythm 3s and it's a lot different. Like I think in transition any time you force the defense to collapse, you hit the paint and now you're kicking out and you're walking into those 3s, a much higher percentage."

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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Joakim Noah is hoping his foot problems are finally behind him.

After dealing with plantar fasciitis off and on for the last four seasons, Noah proclaimed himself ready to go as he starts the 2013-14 campaign.

"I feel great," Noah said confidently at Bulls media day Friday. "My feet feel great. I'm 100 percent healthy, and I'm so excited for this year. This is what it's all about. Just being in a position right now to have our team healthy at the start of camp. We've got a lot of work to do, but we feel like this is our time."

Noah believes he put in enough work over the summer to get past his physical ailments of the past few years.

"I kept doing my offseason training," he said. "I had a lot of time, a lot of time for myself to get myself in order, get my body feeling right. I feel strong, I feel healthy, and I feel like I've been really working on my game and I've been waiting for this for a long time, especially with Derrick (Rose) coming back and the team that we have, we feel like we can really, really do it."

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DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Luol Deng is trying to keep some perspective as he prepares to begin the final year of the $71 million dollar deal he signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2008. The veteran forward knows he will be asked about the deal throughout the season but is trying not to focus on the fact that he doesn't have a new one in place.

"I'm going to try not to talk about it and I'm going to try and do it in a nice way, try not to be rude," Deng said Friday during Bulls media day. "But, honestly, I would rather not talk about it, I would rather just play."

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and GM Gar Forman have repeatedly praised Deng over the past few seasons, especially after the swingman made the All-Star team the last two years, but it doesn't appear as if the sides are close to a deal after talks reportedly broke down several weeks ago.

"That's the situation," Deng said. "You sign a contract and it ends. I'm at my last year, so I just got to go out there and do what I've been doing, just play basketball.

"We've got a great opportunity ahead of us. Derrick is back, everybody is healthy. We love the makeup of the team. The potential (is) great. So I think I just got to focus on us as a team and how good we can be. And I think everything will take care of itself. I know it's going to come up here and there, it's always individual stuff. But honestly I just want to put all my attention into the team and see what happens after that."

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With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Derrick Rose

Age: 24 | Pos.: G | Salary: $17,632,688

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: The star. Bulls fans have been waiting to see Rose on the floor for over a year -- now it's time to see how he looks. Rose will be expected to lead the Bulls offensively, but it is unclear how much he will be able to undertake early given that he hasn't played in so long.
Obviously, the Bulls are going to go out of their way to make sure their franchise star feels comfortable heading into the year, but it will be up to Rose to be open with his coaches and Bulls executives as to how his knee is feeling day to day.

What happened this summer?: Rose continues to spend time in the gym with his longtime trainer Rob McClanaghan as he gets his body in order for the grind of another NBA season. He has done two promotional tours for adidas, one in which he traveled through Europe and another in which he is traveling through Asia. During a stop on the first tour, the former MVP made headlines by telling CNN that he still feels as if he is the best player in the NBA. That confidence bodes well for the soon-to-be 25-year-old moving forward.

What does the future hold?: That's what everybody is waiting to find out. If Rose can return to the form he had before his injury then all the criticism he took last year will be a thing of the past. If he struggles early to find his game, many fans will wonder if he will ever get back to the level he was at before he hurt his knee. It was a personal decision not to play last season for Rose, but it seems as if a portion of the fan base has stopped giving him the benefit of the doubt. His play is the only thing that can win back that group's trust again.

Bottom line: Rose controls his own future -- and that of the Bulls. If he plays well, almost all fans will cheer for him again and he will lead his team back to prominence. If not, Rose's reputation will continue to be questioned by people who believe he should have come back at some point last year to take some of the rust off.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Kirk Hinrich

Age: 32 | Pos.: SG | Salary: $4,059,000

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: After an injury-plagued season that ended with him missing most of the Bulls' run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, Hinrich will head back to the bench this season, playing behind Derrick Rose. That should be a good move for the aging veteran, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to stay healthy regardless of how many minutes he plays.

What happened this summer?: Hinrich spent time getting his body back in order. He sounded optimistic about his health and the Bulls' chances during a golf outing last month.

"I'm very excited," Hinrich said. "We have most of our guys back. We had some great additions. The anticipation of Derrick coming back healthy -- and it sounds like he's motivated. We think we have a very good chance and it will be very good."

What does the future hold?: This is likely the last year Hinrich will make major money in the league. With his injury history, teams may not want to invest a lot of money in him given his inability to stay on the floor. In the short term, he is a solid backup behind Rose and is one of the most respected players in the Bulls' locker room.

Bottom line: Hinrich can still play at a high level in this league but he must find a comfort level as far as keeping his health intact.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Age: 33 | Pos.: SG | Salary: $3,183,000

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: Tom Thibodeau is hoping that Dunleavy can be the consistent long-range shooter the Bulls haven't had since Kyle Korver left last summer. Playing alongside Derrick Rose should give Dunleavy plenty of open looks and if he can knock them down the Bulls will be in good shape.

What happened this summer?: Dunleavy admitted that he had other offers over the summer to play for more money elsewhere but chose the Bulls in order to chase a championship. The Bulls feel as if they got a deal in Dunleavy, paying just about $6 million over two years.

"With [Rose] over the last two years, when healthy, they've had the best record in the league,” Dunleavy said. “It's kind of like the sky's the limit. I think it sounds like he's on pace to get back and be ready to go, and you add everybody else into the mix, I think we've got a good, deep team and we have high expectations for this season."

What does the future hold?: Dunleavy isn't the type of player who will be in the Bulls' long-term plans, he is a hired gun. His job is to knock down shots and provide a steady veteran presence off the bench. At 33, Dunleavy understands that this is the best chance he has ever had at contending for a championship.

Bottom line: Dunleavy was brought in here to knock down shots -- if he does that, all Bulls fans will be happy.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Joakim Noah

Age: 28 | Pos.: C | Salary: $11,100,000

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: The emotional leader. As usual, Noah will be looked upon to be the spiritual compass for his team. After becoming an All-Star for the first time, Noah spent a majority of the second half of last season in pain because of ongoing issues with plantar fasciitis. He has proven to be one of the best defenders on the roster and one of the best decision makers with the ball, but if he can't stay healthy none of it will matter.

What happened this summer?: Noah spent his time globetrotting -- traveling to China and Africa, amongst other places. He spent plenty of time working with his personal trainer and close friend, Alex Perris, trying to get his feet in order.

What does the future hold?: In a recent interview with Bulls.com, Noah said he was feeling fine, but even he wasn't sure how his body would hold up.

“Obviously I’ve dealt with those injuries in the past and I’m hoping it’s all behind me,” Noah told the team's website. “Only time will tell, of course. That’s the reality of it. I just want to be as prepared as possible. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. But with no regrets, because I’ll know that I put everything I have into it.

Bottom line: Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said during the summer that he would try to limit Noah's minutes this season.

"Jo's minutes will come down," Thibodeau said during the Las Vegas Summer League. "We got strung out there because Kirk [Hinrich] got hurt. We had to really run our offense through Jo. But the second half of the season we got his minutes down which was probably a good number for him."

The real issue for the Bulls is whether or not Noah can stay healthy no matter how many minutes he plays. If he can't, the Bulls' thoughts of winning a title this year go down with him.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Erik Murphy

Age: 22 | Pos.: F | Salary: $490,180

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: Like fellow rookie Tony Snell, Murphy will likely be experiencing a redshirt year in Tom Thibodeau's system. Murphy will be asked to learn the nuances of the NBA game while continuing to improve his own. The good news for him is that fellow University of Florida alum Joakim Noah will be there to answer any questions he has and help him learn about the league.

What happened this summer?: Murphy made his NBA debut in the Las Vegas Summer League. He knows in order to prove he belongs in the league he must show that he can help the Bulls in many areas.

"Obviously, I just have to continue to improve defensively, rebounding, getting stronger," Murphy said after being introduced to the media in July. "Every aspect of my game, I think I can improve. If I do that, whatever happens... But I think I'll be all right."

What does the future hold?: The most common term associated to Murphy's game is that of a “stretch four.” Interesting description given that it's the same moniker usually tagged on former Bulls' draft pick Nikola Mirotic. If Mirotic eventually comes to the Bulls next summer it will be interesting to see how Murphy fits in the team's long-term plans. In the time being, the Bulls can gamble on a cheap second-round pick who has the ability to knock down long-range shots.

Bottom line: Don't expect to see Murphy play much this season as he learns more about the league and his demanding new coach.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews the Bulls roster.

Marquis Teague

Age: 20 Pos.: PG Salary: $1,074,720

Role for Bulls in 2013-2014: There will be more pressure on Teague to produce this season, especially considering the Bulls opted not to bring back popular backup Nate Robinson. Teague will be behind Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich, but with Hinrich's injury woes and the uncertainty, at least initially, regarding Rose -- Teague could see himself playing some more minutes than usual early in the season.

What happened this summer?: Teague was back at the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 18.3 points and 4.8 assists a game. He spent plenty of time at the Berto Center with the Bulls coaching staff trying to improve his jump shot.

What does the future hold? Teague is still the third point guard on the depth chart, and at just 20 years old, he's still learning the game. He might play a little more this season but the safer bet is that this becomes another year for him to grow and learn under coach Tom Thibodeau. His jump shot must improve for him to take the next step as an NBA player. To become more of a well-rounded player, Teague must develop into a better offensive threat and continue to work defensively.

Bottom line: Teague has proven he has the speed and athleticism to succeed at the NBA level. Now he must show that teams must respect his shooting range. Until he does that, and raises his level defensively, it's unlikely he will find a consistent place in Thibodeau's rotation.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Nazr Mohammed

Age: 36 | Pos.: C | Salary: $884,293

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: Mohammed remains as an insurance policy for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. The veteran center saw some action towards the end of last season, especially when Taj Gibson went down with a knee injury, but he rarely played through the first few months of the year. Thibodeau appeared to gain more trust in Mohammed as the season progressed, but it's still most likely that Mohammed will only be used in case of an injury to Joakim Noah or Gibson. Either way, the Kentucky alum is proud to be back with the Bulls for another season. While some expected the Bulls to take a young big man in the NBA draft, Mohammed always envisioned himself coming back to the Bulls.

"I think we've got the players and I think if everybody just improves on the the things they do well, we've got enough to compete for a championship," Mohammed said in July. "At the same time, the biggest thing you need to compete for a championship is sacrifice. … It's going to be different guys on different nights and maybe some guys have to sacrifice minutes here or there because guys fill a role and do their job. But that's the big component as far as winning or competing for a championship. I think we have guys willing to do that. Talent only gets you so far. You need guys on the same page and sacrifice is the biggest thing."

What happened this summer?: Aside from working on his game, Mohammed spent a lot of time working to build up his foundation. Mohammed also tried to maintain a sense of calm in the midst of a fan base which is convinced the Bulls are headed to a championship this season.

"We're not going to talk about winning titles in the summer," Mohammed said. "I mean everybody thinks they can win titles in the summer. We're confident that we've got a pretty good team that plays playoff-style basketball all year long so it's not hard for us to turn it up another notch. We think that we can compete with the eight teams that have a legitimate shot at winning it. I think that there are a lot of teams that want to win it but only about 6-8 teams every year that have a legitimate shot and I think we'll be one of those teams."

What does the future hold?: This is likely Mohammed's last season with the Bulls, but if he produces in his limited role and wants to continue to play there's always a chance that he will return.

Bottom line: The Bulls hope that Mohammed will continue to provide a stabilizing veteran presence and can produce in short minutes.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Tony Snell

Age: 21 | Pos.: SG | Salary: $1,409,040

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: Like most rookies who come through the Bulls' system, Snell will face a steep learning curve under Tom Thibodeau. With Luol Deng, Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy, Jr. already in the fold, it's more than likely that this becomes a redshirt year for Snell. He will be expected to work hard in practice and continue to develop his shot from the outside.

What happened this summer?: Snell impressed coaches in the Las Vegas Summer League by using his long and athletic frame to make plays. Like fellow rookie Erik Murphy, Snell spent a lot of time at the Berto Center working on his game in anticipation of his first full year in the NBA.

What does the future hold?: The Bulls are confident they found another solid draft pick in Snell. While he probably won't play much this year, many within the organization are high on his game and his work ethic.

"The thing we really liked about Tony is, first of all, he's got the tools you look for in a 2-guard," Bulls GM Gar Forman said on ESPN 1000's draft show. "In that he's 6-7½, he's got a seven-foot wing span. He's got terrific foot speed. He's a good, long, live athlete but, along with that, he can shoot the basketball and he's got a nice, fluid stroke. He shot 39 percent, almost 40 percent from 3. And he's got a skill level handling the ball and passing the ball. He can be a secondary handler; I think he'll be able to play off as he progresses, so all those things kind of stood out to us."

Bottom line: Snell is going to be sitting on the bench much of this year but if he continues to improve like Butler did over his first couple years the Bulls will be in good shape.

With training camp almost here, Nick Friedell previews every player on the Bulls roster.

Jimmy Butler

Age: 23 | Pos.: SF | Salary: $1,112,880

Role for Bulls in 2013-14: Butler will be expected to build upon the strong foundation he laid for himself towards the end of last year. He comes into camp as the starting two guard and knows that he has to continue improving in order for the Bulls to keep winning. The Marquette alum may not be playing 48 minutes a game as he did during much of the playoffs last year, but if he can continue playing solid defense and hitting open jumpers he will be able to take the next step in his progression. It will be interesting to see how Butler performs alongside Derrick Rose, considering the pair didn't play much together in Butler's rookie season and didn't play at all together last year as Rose recovered from his knee injury.

What happened this summer?: Butler traveled through Asia and made an appearance at the ESPY awards as he enjoyed the perks that come with his rise to national attention in the playoffs. He spent plenty of time in the gym working on his game and knows that more pressure will be on him this year to produce. Butler also talked openly about the fact that he and his teammates aren't looking forward to seeing the Miami Heat get their rings on opening night. "I don't think anybody wants to watch that on our team so we won't pay too much attention to it," Butler said during an appearance on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000 in July. "They deserved it. They won a championship, definitely, but they got to deal with the Chicago Bulls for 48 minutes coming out right after that, they get their rings."

What does the future hold?: Aside from Rose and Joakim Noah, an easy argument could be made that Butler has become the third most popular Bull on the roster. Fans appreciate how hard he plays and they enjoy his outgoing personality. The key for Butler is to not lose the work ethic that got him to this point. He must continue to develop his game -- a fact that his coaches are confident he will be able to with Rose’s help.

Bottom line: Butler may eventually play more of the three position, especially if his close friend Luol Deng leaves next summer, but for now he has to concentrate on knocking down his shots. Butler has a chance to make even more of a name for himself this season and seems excited about the opportunity.