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The Bulls were in Memphis last night getting spanked by the Grizzlies, which means the Chicago media predictably churned out an update regarding the Bulls' never-ending trade talks for Pau Gasol (and I'm serious about "neverending -- check out this post from exactly a year ago). Last year, the Bulls refused to part with Luol Deng or Ben Gordon. Who's are this year's untouchables? Brian Hanley tells us in today's Chicago Sun-Times:

Talks involving Gasol (19.3 points, 8.8 rebounds per game) going to the Bulls quieted in December but could be revived if the Bulls find themselves in a playoff race. Memphis reportedly wants to include Brian Cardinal, who's owed $13 million over the next two seasons, in any deal for Gasol. In return, the Grizzlies likely would want Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

The Bulls have balked at including Nocioni, whom Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace pursued as a restricted free agent last summer.

This deal isn't happening because Paxson wants to hold onto Andres freakin' Nocioni? I'm not sure John Paxson understands that actually giving up a player is not only customary but usually required when making a trade. For a deal involving an All-Star big man to fall apart because the other team actually wants to take back an overpaid reserve ($38 million over five years) is just plain ridiculous.

(Random sidenote: just in case you missed it, here's the awesomely hilarious explanation for how Cardinal got that ridiculously stupid contract in the first place.)