So much for Bulls' Paxson to think about

Just when the ruckus quiets over John Paxson's future as Bulls general manager, something occurs that makes you wonder again.

For me this time it was Boston general manager Danny Ainge's heart attack last week.

Paxson and Ainge are NBA contemporaries, ages 51 and 50 respectively.

Each is a former guard who won multiple championships. In fact Ainge played for Phoenix when Paxson's jump shot beat the Suns for the Bulls' third of six NBA titles.

Each was a complement to one of basketball's all-time greatest players, Ainge to Larry Bird and Paxson to Michael Jordan.

Each endured considerable criticism as a general manager when his team struggled to return to its glory days.

Each traded for players who made the game more enjoyable, Ainge adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen before last season and Paxson adding John Salmons and Brad Miller during this season.

Would Paxson like the similarities to continue?

Probably yes and no.

Yes, Paxson would love to experience winning an NBA title as a general manager the way Ainge did a year ago.

No, Paxson doesn't want the experience to take the toll that it can on a GM.

Who knows whether Ainge's heart attack was related to the stress any general manager in any pro sport endures? When Garnett was ruled out of the current playoffs with a knee injury last week, was it only coincidental to Ainge falling ill the same day?

Anyway, I still believe that Paxson seriously has considered for a couple of years now becoming the Bulls' ex-GM.

I didn't believe a New York columnist who reported in February that Paxson would resign after the all-star break.

What I did believe was Paxson would wait until after the season, take a personal inventory of himself and decide to move on to less demanding responsibilities within the Bulls' organization.

This GM job is just too consuming to endure very long all the grief that comes when the team is losing. If health issues are part of the package, is the reward worth the risk?

Ah, but the Bulls' circumstances changed dramatically the past couple of months.

The primary difference is Salmons and Miller arrived to elevate the Bulls from the draft lottery into the playoffs.

Paxson's team became fun again for fans, players and perhaps most significantly him.

Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf insisted all along that Paxson was doing a good job, and he certainly would reiterate that today.

The impression suddenly and generally became that Paxson would agree to remain the Bulls' general manager beyond this season with a few tweaks to the job structure.

Ah, but then came Ainge's so-called "mild" and "minor" heart attack. The news might have made every NBA general manager - heck, every general manager in every sport - rethink his career choice.

Generally managing has become a year-round commitment. Scouting trips have become more obligatory. The media scrutiny has become more intense.

With the Bulls and the Celtics competing against each other in the playoffs this week, Paxson and Ainge might cross paths and reminisce about the good old days.

Or possibly they'll commiserate about their futures.

The conversations just might be something else Paxson has to weigh after this season.