The Chicago Bulls General Manager, John Paxson, believes that changes are on the way. He is unhappy with the Bulls disappointing season, and expects to get the Bulls back to “winning and competing.”
Paxson offered no excuses for the Bulls this year, and said he did not see this lackluster performance by the team coming. The Bulls were expected to go deep into the NBA Playoffs this year, and Paxson expected a further maturing of a young team, tweaking the roster, instead of making any wholesale changes.
Paxson said there is no definitive direction for the Chicago Bulls, but that “everyone is on notice, and we will analyze everything that we do. Expectations for this group were high, and we came nowhere close to those expectations.” Paxson is not sure if this is the beginning of a rebuilding scene for the Bulls, or if they are closer than it appears.
The Bulls Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was a move to compete this season, according to Paxson. Paxson stated that the move was also made to keep options open when trade talks are in session this off-season.
Paxson seems disappointed, but is realistic that the Bulls have several needs that must be filled. He claims that Bulls Head Coach Jim Boylan is the one coaching the team, and that he does not interfere with Boylan’s game planning or team management. However, Paxson gave no signal that Boylan would be back to coach the Chicago Bulls next year.
“Jim is the Coach, and he has to coach this basketball team, and this is his (Boylan’s) job interview,” according to Paxson. Paxson also stated that he has to “keep all his options open.” As for Tyrus Thomas, Paxson said he is “a supporter of Tyrus Thomas. I tried to explain to him that nothing is going to be handed to you (Thomas), and younger players get frustrated at times. Tyrus is not lost here at all. Tyrus has to make a commitment to the weight room, and play through contact.” Paxson feels that Thomas’ “future is a bright one,” although he did not specify if that future is with the Chicago Bulls.
