Accountability only travels so far up the organizational ladder for the Bulls.
While the players and coaches spent the last week taking responsibility for the missteps in what was little more than a season full of failed expectations, the front office of general manager Gar Forman and VP of basketball operations John Paxson remained asbestos.
Fireproof in every way.
Sure, the duo tried to say the right things, after the regular-season finale win over Philadelphia on Wednesday, but the fact that the Bulls finished 42-40 and watched their playoff steak of seven consecutive seasons come to an end spoke volumes.
Not quite as loudly as both Paxson and Forman very confident in their job security, despite now several seasons of very questionable decisions.
Even the timing of the press conference reeked of arrogance, choosing to address the media on a night in which Chicago’s attention was focused on the start of the Blackhawks playoff run and the NBA’s attention was on the departure of Kobe Bryant, as well as Golden State’s chase of history.
Paxson said it was because he had to travel on Thursday.
Then again, the two needed all the misdirection they could grab.
“We haven’t discussed that at all,’’ Paxson said, when asked about either of the Reinsdorfs – chairman Jerry Reinsdorf or COO Michael Reinsdorf – letting the front office know that their butts were on the line with the current state of the organization.
Paxson was then asked if at any point this season that conversation took place, and responded, “No, no, and as far I’ve heard, someone told me tonight that there was a report that Gar’s job is in jeopardy. It’s not.’’
When asked why it wasn’t, the VP didn’t hesitate.
“We’ve had one bad year, but I can point to a lot of really good years where we built something from scratch and I also think we have confidence that we’re going to get it right,’’ Paxson said. “That’s the way it is. Jerry and Michael obviously have the ultimate decision, but we – and they’ll talk at the appropriate time I’m sure – but Gar and I are going into this believing that we’re going to get this thing done.’’
What they have to get done won’t come easy, either.
Joakim Noah is an unrestricted free agent, while Pau Gasol could be joining him if the veteran opts out of his contract like he said he would.
There’s also the idea of Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose never meshing on the court, and the possibility of one of them being moved.
Paxson was asked specifically about Rose’s future, and said despite the idea of building the roster around the hometown kid at one point, “Derrick’s under contract for another year. Like Gar said, everything’s on the table right now.’’
Paxson made it a point to say that not one player on the roster was untouchable.
“There’s one untouchable guy I’ve ever been around, Michael Jordan,’’ Paxson said. “So that’s how I’ve always looked at it.’’
Finally, the two addressed Fred Hoiberg, and admitted that the first-year coach needed to improve.
“Look it’s not about evaluating Fred or giving a grade or anything,’’ Paxson said. “We didn’t have our whole roster the entire year. That’s tough on a rookie coach. He battled through it and we’re all confident that he’s learned a lot.
“We’re in this together, we know that and we’ll help him grow and help this process move along the right way.’’
