National Basketball Association

Bulls leave Salmons at hotel as deadline closes

Published Feb. 17, 2010 7:03 p.m. ET

foxsports

John Salmons missed the Bulls' game at New York on Wednesday night, with coach Vinny Del Negro saying he was told to leave the guard at the team hotel.

That would seem to indicate Chicago was close to trading Salmons, with the league's deadline coming Thursday afternoon.

The Knicks were without Nate Robinson, who they said has flulike symptoms. Media reports said New York was close to trading the backup guard to the Boston Celtics.

The team didn't expect any trade to become official Wednesday night.