Paxson says Parker could get another chance to contribute
Bulls Executive Vice President John Paxson spoke to reporters before Friday's game to talk about the trade that sent Justin Holiday to Memphis.
But that was a relatively minor deal. Holiday, 29, wasn't seen as a piece for the future, so the Bulls traded him for a couple of second-round picks. Of the two players acquired from the Grizzlies, Wayne Selden was at the United Center but inactive for Friday's game, while MarShon Brooks will not join the Bulls. Paxson said the team is looking for a new spot for him.
"Getting the two second-round picks was important to us," Paxson said. "Letting Justin go is always hard. He's been such a model teammate for the players and has represented us so well. He's just a great person. But it speaks to the direction and accumulating draft assets."
There are more pressing issues for the Bulls right now, such as the state of the rebuild under new coach Jim Boylen and the early interruption of the Bulls' $20 million experiment with Jabari Parker.
Heading into Friday's action, Parker hadn't played in nine games, but Paxson insisted the door was open for Parker to become a contributor once again.
"The one thing Jim (Boylen) has been really consistent with is the accountability aspect," Paxson said. "I believe you can hold players to a certain standard of what you want as a coach. Jabari is a really good guy. … If we can acclimate him back into things, he's going to get a chance. This league is about getting chances, even for players who have been through what Jabari has been through."
Paxson didn't want to spend much time on the decision to sign Parker last summer, but insisted the basketball staff, including departed coach Fred Hoiberg, was on board with trying Parker at small forward, an idea that ended after two preseason games.
"Given where we were at and where we are at today, trying to roll the dice on a young talent is not a bad thing," Paxson said. "If something doesn't work, it's not going to be a long-term issue for us. We'll continue to operate that way."
The decision to waive guard Cameron Payne closed the door on another regrettable decision. Payne arrived in a trade from Oklahoma City after the Bulls gave up on 2014 first-round pick Doug McDermott, who was in the building with the Pacers.
"You make decisions and hope for the best," Paxson said. "The reality is both Arch (Ryan Arcidiacono) and Shaq (Harrison) have outplayed (Payne). They fit what we want to do. Cam had some struggles with his foot and trying to get him back. We wish him well."
Paxson supported Boylen's decision to focus on defense first, which is one reason the Bulls have been the worst offensive team in the league by a wide margin since the coaching change Dec. 3.
"We're a young team, it's going to be a work in progress for a while," Paxson said. "And Jim knows - we talk about it every day - we've got to find a way offensively to get some easier shots and get guys to find some comfort zone out there. That's what the rest of this season is.
"Hopefully, knock on wood, our guys will be healthy and we can see how this group, if they grow together, how they grow together, what our needs will be going down the road. That part is exciting."