Paxson in no rush to hire new head coach
Bulls general manager John Paxson mentioned again Wednesday that he has no timetable for hiring a new head coach.
Asked if he plans to wait until the NBA Finals are over so that he will be able to interview any assistant coaches still working in the playoffs, Paxson suggested the coaching search is in sudden-death overtime.
"I think if I sit down with someone and feel good and my gut tells me that guy would be good for our team and the direction I want to go," Paxson said, "if I feel that way about anyone -- I'd probably have to get more than one meeting with them -- I don't feel like I have to wait."
This week figures to be important, with four interviews scheduled. Paxson plans to meet with Utah assistant Tyrone Corbin, former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, part-time Utah assistant Jeff Hornacek and Sacramento assistant Chuck Person.
Paxson also acknowledged that he has spoken to some candidates whose teams still are alive in the playoffs.
According to a league source, ex-Bulls coach Phil Jackson worked out a time for Paxson to visit Los Angeles in recent days, where he most likely spoke to Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis.
Among the teams playing in the conference finals, other candidates for the Bulls' job include Boston's Tom Thibodeau, Detroit's Michael Curry and Terry Porter, along with San Antonio's Mike Budenholzer.
"I want to listen to philosophies," Paxson said. "All the guys I have coming in, I've told them, 'I want to know what you're about basketball-wise, what you believe in, how you're going to teach.'
"I want to know how they're going to connect with people and players, all those things. I'm not in a hurry. I don't feel a timetable is necessary. When I know it's right, it will be right."
Paxson does not believe it's vital to have a head coach on board while the Bulls are evaluating whether to select Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley with the top pick of the draft.
"I don't think that's a be-all and end-all," Paxson said. "In a perfect world, I'd love to have a coach in place right now and a staff. That hasn't happened, but I don't think it affects anything that we're going to do over the next month."