"The names of several Bulls players have been swirling in trade rumors for weeks, but it wasn't until Wednesday that the situation became real for everyone in the team's traveling party when John Salmons suddenly was gone.

A couple of hours before the Bulls' 115-109 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Salmons was told not to show up for the game.

According to a team source, the Bulls are working on a deal that will send Salmons to the Milwaukee Bucks for the expiring contracts of power forward Kurt Thomas and center Francisco Elson.

As of late Wednesday, the final details of the trade still were being worked out. It was expected to be finalized today."