"Keith Bogans is a survivor, a big reason he started all 98 regular- and postseason games for last season's Bulls when nobody expected him to and also why he landed with the Nets after two months of unemployment.

This toughness manifested itself again Monday morning, when he talked emotionally about the Bulls releasing him and eloquently about the bond he formed with his former teammates.

"Those 15 guys I was in the locker room with were all my brothers," Bogans said. "I formed a bond with them that I probably haven't formed with another team that I've played on. That was like my family. All those guys were genuinely hurt when I got released. (Derrick) Rose, Joakim (Noah), Luol (Deng), all reached out and asked me what's going on. I didn't have an answer."