CHICAGO -- Bulls executive vice president John Paxson said Wednesday that it's "unlikely" the Bulls will make a move before the Feb. 20 trade deadline.
"We've got the trade deadline a week from now," Paxson said. "You have to put yourself in the other team's position -- people don't just give up great players. So we obviously talk and keep our eyes and ears open, but to anticipate something's going to happen, I don't think that's likely, to be honest with you."
There has been plenty of speculation about a potential trade for the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, but neither Paxson nor general manager Gar Forman made it seem as if a deal for Anthony, or any other star player, is in the offing over the next week.
"I think it's still early," Forman said. "But this time of year we're in contact with all 29 teams. You're trying to get a feel of what's going on in the landscape, what's going on around the league, and see if there are opportunities with other teams where it could be a win-win situation for both teams.
"Obviously at this point nothing's presented itself, but we'll continue to look at things for the next week till the deadline comes."
Injured Bulls star Derrick Rose deflected talk of a major roster shakeup either by the trade deadline or this summer, when Anthony will be a free agent.
"That's the last thing [on my mind]," Rose said. "I work out six days a week so I don't got time to think about basketball like that."
Forman remains optimistic about the Bulls' position heading into the summer. If the final year of Carlos Boozer's contract is amnestied, the Bulls keep their first-round pick and the Charlotte Bobcats' first-round pick and if they make the playoffs, the Bulls would have about $11 million in cap space, according to ESPN capologist Larry Coon.
"With that said, we do think we're well-positioned going into the summer," Forman said. "We've got the possibility of a couple first-round picks. We've got the possibility of some flexibility. Like I've said all along, the core of guys that we have we like, so we think we're well situated going into the summer and into the future."
Forman said he is taking -- and making -- lots of calls this time of year.
"I think it's both," Forman said, when asked he was taking more calls or making them. "And I'm not trying to be evasive, but we'll make some calls to get a feel on some things that might be of interest to us and then we also receive a lot of calls on our players."