Some reaction to, creative comments on and reports about Thursday's ESPN.com story suggesting that the Jazz, Chicago and Portland have spoken about a potential trade that would send Carlos Boozer from Utah to the Bulls, Kirk Hinrich from Chicago to the Trail Blazers and Tyrus Thomas from Chicago to Utah:

Longtime NBA writer Sam Smith on Bulls.com:

"Not true.

Made up.

Fabrication.

Prevarication.

Am I being too subtle here?

The report on ESPN said the teams 'discussed' a deal and 'two sources with knowledge of the three-team proposal confirmed there have been substantive talks . . . '

I'm not quite sure how you get that much wrong, but I think the editors may have left out the word, 'not.' As in the teams have 'not' discussed a deal, and there have "not" been substantive talks."

Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard, on Portland radio station KXTG-95.5 FM: "You know I can't talk to trade rumors.

What I will tell you is that we're active in every shape and form that we can."

Bulls GM Gar Foreman, according to the Chicago Sun-Times:

"There are always conversations going on, and we'll continue to talk to teams to see if we can make ourselves better."

The Sun-Times' John Jackson:

"The proposed deal was a hot topic as the Bulls opened practice for the summer-league team Thursday night at the Berto Center, but everyone seemed to downplay the possibility of anything materializing."

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, according to the Sun-Times:

"It's that time of year. Teams are looking at a lot of different things, but they're just rumors right now."

Thomas, via Twitter, according to Smith:

"Gone."

Thomas, via Facebook, according to Smith:

"Playing with Deron Williams would be sweet!"

More from Del Negro, according to the Sun-Times

"We have flexibility moving forward, and, hopefully, we make sound decisions going forward to improve our team in other ways."

More from Smith on Bulls.com: