Khryapa looks like more than a throw-in to Skiles

[KirkHinrich12]

The Bulls obtained Viktor Khryapa in the draft-day deal with Portland that also brought Tyrus Thomas to the team last summer.

But the 6-9, 218-pound forward from Russia wasn't just a throw-in. The Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers held a joint predraft workout in 2004 for Khryapa, who eventually was taken by the New Jersey Nets in the first round (22nd overall) of that draft and immediately traded to Portland for Eddie Gill.

''We thought he should have [been] picked higher than he was,'' said Bulls coach Scott Skiles.

''We were high on him. He was really skinny but he's filled out. He's a very good all-around player; he's a very good post passer, he's a good ball-handler, he's an above-average shooter, he's a very good position defender. He's got length. He can block shots. He has steal potential. And he runs well.''

Khryapa averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and had 47 blocks and 70 steals in 101 games over two seasons with the Trail Blazers.

''He does a little bit of everything, and everything he does, he does well,'' Skiles said.

GUARDED OPTIMISM: Ben Gordon, who has been among the most impressive players in training camp, said he expects to start when the Bulls open at Miami on Oct. 31.

''With the makeup of this team and the way I played last year toward the end of the season, I think I play better as a starter,'' said Gordon, who started 47 of his 80 games last season, during which he averaged 16.9 points. ''We'll see what happens. I've been in both positions before.''

Skiles said, he also expects Gordon to start.

''There's no reason to doubt that," Skiles said. ''The [challenge] is keeping him on the court. In the past, he's committed a couple fouls when he's been tired and you have to take him out. Or he's kind of lost focus and given up a backdoor cut.

''He's spent a lot of time on getting himself right in regards to that. And, all of a sudden, he's one of our best defenders in camp right now. He's doing great.

''Ben has had a great summer. He's put a lot of time in on his in-between game. I don't think you can put in that kind of time and not have it pay dividends. Hard work pays off and the time he's put in on his game and his body, it is going to pay off.''

FIRST CUT: The Bulls requested waivers on Eric Chenowith Friday, which brought the training camp roster to 18 players, three more than the regular-season maximum.

Chenowith, a 7-1 and 270-pound center, led the CBA last season with 12.7 rebounds per game in 47 games with the Idaho Stampede.

TICKETS AVAILABLE: Tickets to all Bulls home games for the season go on sale today at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster, bulls.com, the United Center box office, or via 800-4NBA-TIX).[/b]

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