Does Paxson really want to coach Bulls?

Every time you think it can't get worse for the Bulls, it gets much worse.

Now, the GM and the coach are disagreeing about their star player and conversing through the media, something that usually happens right before both get fired.

In this case, owner Jerry Reinsdorf has said GM John Paxson is going no place else, even as Paxson acts like a guy who'd rather be anywhere else.

That brings us to Vinny Del Negro, who was at best Paxson's third choice for coach.

Paxson doesn't like the way Del Negro's done a lot of things this year and is most disturbed that Del Negro sometimes doesn't play Derrick Rose late in games.

Del Negro doesn't like being told when and how to play anyone, and he shouldn't if he's really the coach.

But after this open discussion, if Del Negro goes against what he really believes and does what the GM says, the players will know the coach is irrelevant and his days here are numbered.

It makes you wonder why Paxson took this public. That was unfair even if their private chats could not encourage the coach to do it the GM's way.

Of course, the controversy with Paxson and Del Negro distracts from the fact that Del Negro's right about how poor a defensive player Rose is at times. Obviously, Del Negro thinks the only way to change Rose is to hold him accountable and take away his playing time.

That's absolutely his right as a coach, and it's also the correct approach.

As good a player as Rose is, and he has a chance to be a true superstar, he has no idea how to play defense when his man doesn't have the ball.

Of course, Del Negro has had him for five months and apparently hasn't taught him much of anything, which also shouldn't be shocking since Paxson hired a coach with no experience.

But that's Paxson's problem, and Del Negro - even though he appears to have no idea how to coach - should be allowed to handle it any way he sees fit.

Unless - Paxson wants to coach the team himself, and maybe that's the only answer now.

Paxson already has fired Bill Cartwright, hired Scott Skiles, fired Skiles and hired Del Negro after one of the most embarrassing coaching searches in Chicago sports history.

Can Paxson fire another coach and hire another new one, his fourth in six years?

Would Reinsdorf even let him do that? Would Reinsdorf ask him to coach, or maybe even insist?

That doesn't seem like Reinsdorf's style, but with Paxson knee-deep in players' minutes, this could deteriorate quickly.

So if Paxson wants to run the bench and call the plays, maybe it's time he just coached the team.

Or stayed out of it.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

Considering what they might have gotten for him in a deal, the Blackhawks now have no choice but to sign Martin Havlat to an extension, despite looming cap issues the summer after next.

Teams this young aren't normally up against the cap already unless they've made a bunch of mistakes, like trying to sign everyone.

Nevertheless they'd look like fools if they don't give Havlat a new deal after failing to cash in on a trade, so he's holding all the cards and has a chance to hold them up.

And then next year the Hawks run the risk of Havlat being Havlat again, taking it easy and waiting for his next contract year.

Just goaltending

The big fear among Hawks fans, at least in my e-mail box, was that the Hawks couldn't win a playoff series without Nikolai Khabibulin this year.

So what's the plan for next year? Who's going to baby-sit Cristobal Huet in April 2010 when Khabibulin's gone?

You've got Huet for three more years at $5.6 million a year, and you're telling me you're afraid to play him in the postseason in a year in which there's zero pressure?

What are you going to do when the Hawks are expected to go far next year and the year after that?

By keeping Khabibulin, you've not only shown Huet you don't trust him, but you get nothing for Khabibulin, who was a valuable, trade-worthy asset in December and January.

Meanwhile, rumor has it that Scotty Bowman much prefers Khabibulin, and who wouldn't? Problem is, tricking someone into taking Huet's contract is going to be virtually impossible.

Strange but true

Ex-Hawk Danny Richmond was traded from Pittsburgh to St. Louis on Wednesday in exchange for Andy Wozniewski. Both players are Buffalo Grove natives, defensemen and products of the Glenview Stars hockey program.

Due date

Congrats to former Rolling Meadows resident Mike Rizzo, who finally gets his chance to be a GM, albeit on something of a tryout basis in Washington.

This opportunity is long overdue for Rizzo, who built an incredible farm system in Arizona and has begun the same process in D.C.

Until further notice, Rizzo and team boss Stan Kasten will work together to replace GM Jim Bowden, who resigned a couple of days ago.

The transaction

Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, on Bud Selig's World Baseball Classic: "You won't see much criticism of the WBC on MLB.com or ESPN. On a related note, ESPN and MLB Network will televise all 39 games. They're leaving the money on Bud's night stand.''

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Tiger Woods rusty in return to parenting after two-day layoff.''

And finally -

Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press, on the Lions considering Wake Forest's Aaron Curry with the No. 1 pick: "For him, that would be like going from the Wake to the funeral.''

brozner@dailyherald.com