"Point guard Derrick Rose agreed to a five-year, $94 million contract extension on the same night he took the floor with the new wingman the Bulls hope can help him get the only thing he hasn't earned in his first three seasons — an NBA championship.

''Tonight at times the game felt easy,'' Rose said.

Rose and shooting guard Rip Hamilton were as advertised in the exhibition finale Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center.

There are still kinks to work out, of course. Their timing wasn't always where it needs to be, but the way they get up and down the floor, they'll have plenty of chances to perfect that. There are still nuances of each other's games to be learned, spots on the floor where they want the ball the most."