CHICAGO -- Lost in the daily intrigue regarding Derrick Rose's status, the lingering issues with Joakim Noah's knee and the high standards of Tom Thibodeau, is how the Chicago Bulls are trying to weave a former All-Star big man into their championship plans this season.

It's not that fans have forgotten about Pau Gasol; after all, he was the organization's big free-agent signing this summer. It's just that with so many other storylines spinning around in training camp, Gasol's presence -- and importance -- sometimes can be an afterthought.

He's been so solid for so long that fans know what to expect from his game. But how will his game weave into the Bulls' system?

That's another one of the questions Thibodeau is hoping to answer as the Bulls get set for their preseason tilt on Thursday night against the Atlanta Hawks.

So far, the early returns on Gasol have been good. He was back at practice Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday's practice because of back stiffness, and it's clear from listening to those around him that he has had a positive impact on his teammates and coaches thus far.

"He's been around, he's smart," Thibodeau said of Gasol. "I had the chance when I was in Boston to coach against him in the Finals there two times, and I learned a lot about him then just from preparation. And then, of course, watching him closely this summer.

“He's good, he's a really good pro and he plays to win. I think that's why he's such a good fit for us."

Gasol has spoken positively about his first few months as a Bull. He's still adjusting to Thibodeau's domineering style, as all players have to when they come to Chicago. But he appreciates that the Bulls prepare every day for a greater prize, other than just winning a game. Thibodeau wants them to prepare for a championship in everything that they do.

While Gasol is still working out the kinks that come with joining a new team and learning a new system, his easygoing demeanor seems to have fit right into the Bulls' serious-minded locker room.

"I think good veteran leadership is important," Thibodeau said. "What you get from that is what a guy does each and every day. I could tell this summer when we were talking to him how important winning was. And he was talking about preparing [to play for] Spain in the summer. You could tell he was the type of guy, when he commits to something it's special."

Noah hoping for more: Noah isn't sure if he will play more than 20 minutes against the Hawks, as has been the general limit in his first three preseason games. But he says his left knee is feeling better each day after having surgery on it early in the offseason.

“I feel a lot better today than I did two weeks ago," Noah said. "That's always a positive. Just making sure the swelling is down. It's just a lot of rehab and it's boring, boring stuff. But you just have to stay on top of it, be patient. I'm sure it will come back to where I want it to be."

The last word: Thibodeau, when asked if he would like to see rookie forward Doug McDermott get more time with starters and veteran forward Mike Dunleavy get more time with the second group.

"We're looking at everything. Right now, there's a lot of moving parts. I think the first part is [McDermott] just getting acclimated to the NBA and learning his teammates and stuff like that. But he's been terrific. And Mike has done both [started and come off the bench], so I'm comfortable with him in either role. We're learning more about Doug each and every day. So they're both really good players, they both fit well with either unit, so it's a plus."