Fans...As the Bulls get ready for tonight's NBA Draft Lottery, Sports Illustrated NBA Writer Marty Burns has a new name for GM John Paxson to consider for the team's next head coach, and it's another guy named Phil. Burns writes on SI.com that the Bulls should take a long, hard look at Phil Johnson, currently an assistant with former Bull and veteran Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan, as the Bulls' next head coach. Yeah, he's 66 years old, but Burns writes that Johnson is one of the very best X's and O's coaches in basketball. Younger Bulls' fans may not be aware of this, but Phil toiled with former head coach Dick Motta in the '70s on 2 occasions, and actually won NBA Coach of the Year honors when the Sacramento Kings were based in Kansas City, circa 1974, at age 33. Burns writes that the Bulls are a team that needs to play together, share the basketball, and work extremely hard on the defensive end. It's the kind of system that the Jazz have employed for years, and just like the Bulls, they don't have a true star on the roster, although Deron Williams is real close. It's not a sexy name, but I like Marty's idea, even if it's short term.

I dont want a 66 year old career assistant. 20 years from now thats Jim Boylan, one of the worst coaches in the league this season.

I dont know if its a longshot to hope for Thibodeau, but thats my guy for now.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I think GM John Paxson's options are really limited right now, given the fact the Detroit Pistons & Boston Celtics are tipping off the Eastern Conference Finals after the Draft Lottery tonight. The Bulls haven't seeked permission to talk with Tom Thibodeau, and Glenn "Doc" Rivers won't grant it at this time, especially because the Celts went to Game 7s in their first two series vs. the Atlanta Hawks & Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons have flat out refused to grant Pax permission to talk with assistant Michael Curry. Right now, the only other assistant on the Bulls' head coaching radar is Tyrone Corbin, also an assistant with Jerry Sloan & Phil Johnson in Utah. If the Bulls consider Johnson, the online article at SI.com Marty Burns wrote also suggested that Corbin could be packaged with Phil, and would eventually take over the Bulls' job if it became a reality. With player meetings & the NBA Draft itself fast approaching, Paxson & Jerry Reinsdorf can't wait much longer. GET IT DONE ALREADY!