Sources: Bulls targeting Hamilton

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Updated: 11:26 p.m.

Sources with knowledge of the Bulls free-agency plans confirmed to CSNChicago.com Friday evening that the Bulls are targeting recently waived veteran shooting guard Rip Hamilton. The organization's pursuit of the longtime Piston was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.

What appears to be an increasingly imminent addition to the roster coincides with Friday's decision to hold incumbent starter Keith Bogans out of the team's first practice on the opening day of training camp. Bogans was apparently upset with the decision, but in a statement released by the Bulls, general manager Gar Forman didn't rule out the return of Bogans, for whom the team holds a 1.73 million option for the season.

Hamilton was bought out by the Pistons earlier Friday and with other options headed elsewhere -- Caron Butler, who visited the Berto Center this week, signed with the Clippers, and Vince Carter, waived by the Suns, reportedly signed with Dallas -- the veteran might be Chicago's most realistic candidate to upgrade the team's perimeter firepower.

Players such as Jamal Crawford and Jason Richardson could command more money on the free-agent market than the mid-level exception the Bulls would be poised to offer.

Meanwhile, another free agent, Kurt Thomas, also remains in limbo. According to a source, the oldest player in the league is seeking the veteran minimum, which would be 1.35 million for a player with 10 years or more service in the NBA.

While Thomas would prefer to return to Chicago, other teams -- such as the size-deficient Trail Blazers, his hometown Mavericks and the Heat, the team which drafted him out of college -- are interested in acquiring him.

Outside of veteran journeyman Brian Scalabrine (who was invited to camp under a non-guaranteed contract; Chicago native Luther Head, another non-guaranteed invite, was apparently a no-show Friday), the Bulls don't have another big man behind starters Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, and young reserves Taj Gibson and Omer Asik.

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