Kirk Hinrich To The Suns?: Speculation out of Phoenix today suggests the Phoenix Suns might have interest in Kirk Hinrich, as do about 20 other NBA teams. Conversations with Bulls sources during Summer League revolved around the the ability of Derrick Rose to contribute right away, and after seeing him struggle running an offense, it's just downright silly to believe the Bulls would trade away their only proven point guard before training camp. Is Kirk Hinrich long-term in Chicago? Clearly not, but will Kirk Hinrich start on the opening day of the NBA season? If healthy, absolutely. Derrick Rose will grow into his role, but until he proves that on the floor, all the talk of the Bulls dealing Kirk is speculation. More than a half dozen Bulls personnel downplayed Kirk's eventual exit saying it was far too early to count Kirk out, reminding that two seasons ago he was one of the best guards in the Eastern Conference. Kirk has been spending his off-season in the gym. The Bulls are expecting a reborn Kirk Hinrich in training camp; if that does not happen then dealing him becomes more likely.

Setting Value: The Golden State Warriors announced yesterday that they had reached terms with Monta Ellis on a new six-year deal $67 million deal, that will not only lock up a key piece for the Warriors, it sets a real market value for the other restricted free agents still unsigned. While opinions differ on a true measurement of a players value, ESPN's PER rating, developed by John Hollinger is as close to a baseline as you can get, as his complex formula takes into account production by position and a lot of situational stuff, arriving at a reasonable value. Using that PER rating, you can then come to dollar valuations based on those numbers and here is where certain players' value falls:

**First restricted player signed sets the value

Oops, Pritchard May Be In Some Trouble: The Portland Trail Blazers have a lot riding on Darius Miles and his quest to return to playing basketball. Miles was bought out of his deal by the Blazers after two independent doctors ruled that Darius' knee was so bad he'd never be able to play professionally again. The settlement gets the Blazers about $9 million in relief – mainly luxury tax and insurance relief. If Darius plays more than 10 games, all that money goes back on the Blazers' books. Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard, one of the best executives in business, may have stepped on his own foot this week when he gave reporters at the Oregonian medical details about Darius. The Health Insurance Portability and Availability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) specifically prohibits providers of health coverage and employers from discussing medical information with anyone. Pritchard specifically said: "Two doctors said Darius had the worst microfracture injury they had ever seen… They would never have him play basketball and the odds of having knee replacement surgery is high. I hear that, and as a general manager, I didn't want it on my conscience – that I had a kid have to go through a knee replacement surgery. That's a pretty major surgery. They saw (two bones) and replace (the knee). It's a bad deal." – it's unclear how the Blazers' settlement contract reads. It may give certain protections for this kind of thing, but it's likely if Darius and his camp wanted to file a complaint they do have grounds. When you wonder why sports teams do not give out a lot of details – this is why.

The Best Big Man Not Under Contract?: If you did not get a chance to read Travis Heath's piece on "The Other Elton" you should. Elton Brown's story is such an interesting tale, much like Jamario Moon's story last year. Elton has been everywhere trying to prove he belongs, and after leading the D-League in rebounding and double-doubles and winning a championship in Europe, you'd think a NBA team would want to bring him in. He played strong in Vegas during summer league (13.4 points, 10 rebounds in 24 minutes per game), and it was shocking to us to hear that Denver passed on him after he played so well. Word is a half dozen NBA teams are looking at him, but it's not like Elton is an unproven guy. Elton could start on some lottery teams and could be that missing big for a playoff team, and it's not like he'll be expensive. League sources say Elton should be signed before training camp; I find it hard to believe he's not signed now.