'Big' changes ahead for Bulls?
The latter part of Monday's practice at the Bulls' training center featured a 3-on-3 game pitting Adrian Griffin, Aaron Gray and Tyrus Thomas against Joakim Noah, Viktor Khryapa and Demetris Nichols.
The competition was fierce, but the baskets were infrequent.
The exercise helped illustrate a possible new direction for the Bulls' coaching staff. Noah, Thomas and Gray could play important roles in the team's future, yet the Bulls haven't had a dedicated big-man coach since Bill Cartwright was fired in November 2003.
Six-foot-10 Mike Brown, who played for the Bulls from 1986-88, was in town over the weekend interviewing for an assistant coaching job.
The Bulls are considering other candidates to fill the role, but Brown is considered the front-runner. General manager John Paxson expects to have a decision in the next few days.
Gray, for one, said he liked the idea of having a former NBA center working with the Bulls' big bodies.
"Sometimes, when you're 7-foot, it's hard to listen to 5-10 guys tell you how to go up against other 7-footers," Gray said Monday at the Berto Center. "Especially me, so young in my career, having as many people around like that as possible would be good for me."
The 7-foot rookie from Pittsburgh had an informal chat with Brown on Saturday and was surprised by the content of the conversation.
"He was sitting there telling me stuff from three, four weeks ago that I could do better," Gray said. "Having a guy like that around will help me.
"Having someone to work with every day, an hour before practice, an hour after practice, breaking down film with them -- like I said, he's lived through it."
The Bulls' young big men often bring helpful energy off the bench. But the room for improvement was apparent in Sunday's 88-77 loss to Phoenix.
Noah doesn't always finish well around the basket, while Thomas has too many of his dunk attempts blocked. Gray has the best offensive fundamentals, but he still makes plenty of mistakes.
Coach Jim Boylan suggested the Bulls could go in several different directions -- hire Brown, hire someone else, or leave the coaching staff the way it is with assistants Ron Adams, Pete Myers and Mike Wilhelm.
Brown, 44, and Boylan have some common geography. Brown grew up in Newark, N.J., and Boylan in Jersey City.
"I've known Mike for a while and he's a good man," Boylan said. "So we'll see what happens. The more quality people you have on your staff, the better off your team will be. The players will profit from it. I have a great staff right now."
Brown has worked as an assistant coach and head coach in the NBDL. He played in 626 NBA games for the Bulls, Utah, Minnesota, Philadelphia and Phoenix, and averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in his NBA career.
Tonight's tipoff
Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportNet
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: The Timberwolves, who own the NBA's worst record at 8-35, suddenly are red-hot. They have won three of their last four, and the loss was a 1-point heartbreaker in Boston.
Player to watch: Power forward Al Jefferson, acquired from Boston in the Kevin Garnett trade, has produced career-high games twice in the past week. He scored 39 against Phoenix on Wednesday, then piled up 40 points and 19 rebounds Sunday against New Jersey. For the season, the 6-foot-10 Jefferson is averaging 21.1 points and 12.1 boards.
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday
-- Mike McGraw