NBA predraft camp breeds more rumors than draft
picks.
And so it was Wednesday, when two whoppers spread through the gym where
executives from all 30 teams gather.
The first: Avery Johnson is nearing a deal to coach the Bulls.
The second: Memphis forward Joey Dorsey claimed he had “inside” information the Bulls planned to draft Kansas State’s Michael Beasley instead of Dorsey’s college teammate, Derrick Rose.
An exasperated John Paxson angrily shot down the latter. Sources close to Johnson, while not ruling out an eventual marriage, denied anything is imminent on the former.
“It doesn’t do me any good to respond to this stuff,” Paxson said about Dorsey’s claim. “I’m tired of it already. Nobody has any idea. Anyone who speculates can do that. That’s fine. But nobody knows. We have one month, so let me do my work for a month, OK?”
There were many signs a coach would — finally — be in place long before the June 26 draft.
“I’d like to have a guy in place sooner rather than later, and I’m confident I will,” Paxson said. “I’m touching a base with a few people I’ve already spoken to. … And I probably will talk to one new person.”
Sources said Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin and former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey were scheduled to speak to Paxson again about the job while attending the predraft camp. As for the new candidate, speculation centered that an interview took place Wednesday with former Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik, who is here because one of his players at Colorado, Richard Roby, is participating in the camp.
Johnson, according to sources, had a phone conversation with Paxson last week regarding the Bulls’ coaching vacancy. No formal interview has been rescheduled since Paxson canceled one on May 7.
– – –
NOAH GETS PROBATION
Joakim Noah accepted a deferred prosecution agreement Wednesday for his Sunday arrest on misdemeanor drug and alcohol charges, according to the state’s attorney office in Gainesville, Fla.
Under the terms, the charges will be dropped if Noah pays $200 in fines and avoids additional incidents during a six-month probation.
“I spoke to him,” Bulls GM John Paxson said. “He knows he made a mistake. … I told him these are things you better learn from and better not happen again. He was very apologetic.”
Noah also must pay $206 in traffic fines after being pulled over later Sunday and issued citations for driving on a suspended license and not wearing a seat belt.
