Bulls reportedly finalizing three-year deal with coach Jim Boylen
It seems as if the Chicago Bulls are sticking with coach Jim Boylen.
Boylen — who took over for Fred Hoiberg after he was fired in December — and the Bulls are currently finalizing a three-year deal, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Thursday afternoon.
“I envision Jim being our coach here and us committing to him,” vice president John Paxson said Thursday, via the Chicago Tribune. “In our estimation, he has done terrific things as far as establishing what we want in this building and with this organization, especially on the practice floor, how to carry yourself and how to work.
“I can tell you this: Jim had a meeting with our players (on Thursday), probably about a half-hour. It was spot-on about expectations. I’ve been sitting in on some player end-of-season meetings, and I can tell you that the thing that excites me about our direction with our head coach is his passion and his care level for our players and this organization. He wants our players to get better. He has a plan in place for all of them in order to do so this offseason, and that’s very encouraging.
“Given the summer and given the opportunity to go into training camp next year with his own beliefs and philosophy will be an advantage for us.”
Boylen led the Bulls to a 22-60 record this season, the third-worst in the Eastern Conference; 17 of those wins came under Boylen. It also marked the first 60-loss season for Chicago since 2001-02.
The 53-year-old served as an associated head coach in Chicago for four seasons before he was promoted to the head job. He worked as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets from 1992-2003, before working with the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.
Boylen’s time in Chicago has been far from perfect — especially early on in his tenure, when players held multiple private meetings and threatened to boycott his practices. He slowly appeared to win his players over, however, and Zach Lavine even offered to pay Boylen’s fines after he was ejected last month.
Now, Paxon said he’s pleased with the direction Boylen is leading the organization.
“In the 4½ months Jim has been the head coach, he and I have had more dialogue together about everything than I had with any of the other guys probably combined. There’s been a rhythm to it,” Paxson said, via the Chicago Tribune. “Nobody is perfect. I rub people the wrong way sometimes in this office. Jim is going to rub players the wrong way sometimes. Phil Jackson rubbed players the wrong way. The great ones do.
“We’re going to try to build something here with him as our coach, and I’m confident in that right now.”
Paxon keeping GM Gar Forman
Paxon also confirmed on Thursday that he plans to keep general manager Gar Forman in his current role for next season, a position he’s held since 2009.
“As for Gar, I’ll just keep reiterating he’s very good at what he does,’’ Paxson said, via the Sun-Times. “He’s out in Portland right now at the Nike Hoops Summit scouting. He and I work in tandem. But I assume the leadership of this organization in my role, and that’s how we’re set up. Our draft record, I think, is very good. And I’m going to be the one that’s out front and center. That’s how we’ve set it up.’’
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