While Aldridge has been a starting forward for the Blazers the last two seasons, Thomas has been in and out of the starting lineup and was benched late in games in the Bulls' playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Aldridge's averages for his three-year career: 15.4 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 32 minutes.

Thomas: 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 19.9 minutes.

And Khryapa was an end-of-the-bench player before returning to Russia to play after the Bulls bought out his contract in February 2008.

But Bulls general manager Gar Forman, the team's director of player personnel for the '06 draft, doesn't agree with those who gave it a below-average grade.

''Maybe we'll give it an incomplete,'' Forman said Friday. ''We'll say it takes three to four years to grade a draft. Tyrus has really made some strides. He did last year. And maybe he's been our most committed guy this summer. He's been in the gym 6 a.m. shooting, 10 a.m. lifting. Then he comes back at night for more skill work. I think he's really motivated to come out and have a good year.''

Given that this will be Thomas' fourth year, Forman points to a make-or-break season for him.

NOAH NEWS

Forman said the Bulls were looking for draftees ''who would be ready sooner rather than later.''

The Bulls waited longer than anticipated on Joakim Noah, selected out of Florida with the ninth pick in the 2007 draft.

The team is encouraged after Noah notched playoff averages of 10.1 points, 13.1 rebounds and 38.7 minutes -- all well above his career numbers of 6.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 22.5 minutes.

''Obviously, [Noah] needs to get stronger, and he is,'' Forman said. ''He looks good in his training.''

Forman was asked if Noah could play summer-league games with the Bulls' new forwards.

''I don't think he's going to play with us, but he might practice with us a little bit,'' Forman said. ''The French national team has talked to him about spending some time with them this summer. They actually wanted him to spend a lot of time. I don't think he's going to do that because he's very committed to what he's doing right now, as far as his work in the weight room and with his skill development. But in July, he's going to spend seven to 10 days with them and getting involved in their program with an eye toward the Olympics in 2012.''

DENG REHABBING

Luol Deng also has been working at the Berto Center to rehabilitate a shin stress fracture that shortened his season to 49 games. Forman said he does not expect Deng, the captain of Great Britain's national team, to play overseas this summer.

''It's his decision what he wants to do,'' Forman said. ''But he's now into his offseason program and lifting on a consistent basis and getting on the floor as far as running and shooting. The last we talked to Luol, I don't think he's going to participate [with Great Britain] this summer. He may join the team to be around them because he is a leader for them. But I don't think he's going to play.''

Derrick Rose will take part in Team USA's Las Vegas camp at the end of July, and that should help his development for what Forman sees as a better Bulls season.

''We've got the core together and we still are a young team,'' he said. ''There's still a lot of growth left in them. And Derrick will make big strides from his first season. He's going to be part of the [Olympic] program this summer. It would be great if he had the opportunity to [be on the Olympic team].''