NBA Notebook: Paxson pursuing Bulls’ GM job
Chicago ? John Paxson has been a player, an assistant coach and a broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls. Now he might get to run the team.
Paxson said Friday he will meet with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to interview for the team’s general manager opening. A date for the meeting hasn’t been set.
“It is exciting,” Paxson said. “I’m very comfortable with this organization and this group. That’s important. And I think the future is unbelievably bright with the young guys.”
The Bulls are looking for a replacement for Jerry Krause, who resigned Monday because of health problems.
Paxson played for the Bulls for nine years of his 11-year NBA career, and was a guard on the first three championship teams. He was a Bulls assistant for the 1995-96 season, and has been part of Chicago’s broadcast team for seven years.
His brother, Jim Paxson, is general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Jazz owner upset with Malone: Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller is upset with Karl Malone again, this time about a story suggesting he might play elsewhere next season.
Sports Illustrated reported this week that Malone’s wife, Kay, plans to go house hunting in San Antonio and Los Angeles this June in preparation for a possible move from the only NBA city Malone has ever played in.
Malone will be a free agent this summer.
Miller said this is no time for Malone’s future to be an issue because it could disrupt the team’s focus as the Jazz head into the playoffs for the 20th consecutive season.
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Wolves activate Strickland: Guard Rod Strickland was activated by Minnesota Friday after missing 29 of the past 30 games because of a strained left groin. The team put Igor Rakocevic on the injured list because of a right ankle injury.
Strickland was hurt Jan. 27 in a game against San Antonio and went on the injured list Feb. 12. He missed 24 games before being activated March 18, when he played five minutes against Memphis and aggravated the injury. Strickland went back on the injured list March 30 and missed the last five games.
He’s averaging 6.9 points and 4.4 assists this season.
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Odom out: Lamar Odom was a late scratch from the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup Friday night because of a sore left ankle. He’s averaging 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He is day-to-day.
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Stackhouse sidelined: Washington guard Jerry Stackhouse sat out Friday’s game against Miami because of tendinitis in his right knee. Stackhouse, the team’s leading scorer at 21.8 points a game, woke up with pain in his knee. He was wearing a brace when the Wizards arrived at the arena.
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Robinson out again: Atlanta Hawks forward Glenn Robinson missed Friday’s game against Cleveland because of inflammation in his left Achilles’ tendon.
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Chandler on injured list: Chicago forward Tyson Chandler will miss the rest of the season after being placed on the injured list Friday because of an inflamed esophagus. Chandler missed two games last week because of the illness, and sat out the second half Tuesday.

