The Chicago Bulls are reportedly interested to pair free-agent shooting guard Monta Ellis with returning point guard Derrick Rose next season, a source close to the situation reported on Sunday.
The Bulls are one of several teams interested to sign the explosive guard, who averaged 19.2 points, 6.0 assist and 3.9 rebounds last season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bulls front office is reportedly intrigued with the possibility of Ellis becoming their second scoring option. Ellis' ability to create his own shot is reportedly valued by the Bulls as the team tries to give Rose a reliable off-guard help for the first time since he played with Ben Gordon during his rookie year.
On the downside of the potential deal, the Bulls will have to commit to at least a five-year, multimillion contract with Ellis, who could demand a max contract this free agency period.
The San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns have all contacted the 27-year old Ellis when the free agency officially started Monday midnight.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks began the free-agency period with a solid move by adding Israeli point guard Gal Mekel, according to ESPN's correspondent Marc Stein.
Mekel averaged 13.4 points and 4.8 assists in his lone season with Maccabi Bazan Haifa, earning him the Israeli League MVP.
The former Wichita State product drew interest from the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Mavericks' three-year offer came out as the most appealing to the 25-year-old Mekel, who's touted as the team's point guard of the future.
Mekel's signing came after the Mavs released last year's starting point guard Darren Collison. Collison averaged just 12.0 points and 5.1 assists in a disappointing lone season with the Mavs.
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