In a way that the ballyhooed hiring of former coach Tim Floyd, thesubsequent hiring of current coach Bill Cartwright and perhaps theadvent of kiddie twin towers Tyson Chandler and Eddie Curry couldn't,the Bulls' naming of John Paxson as general manager ushers in a newera for the team. It's a choice that's not about personality, as aMichael Jordan GM-ship certainly would have been. It's not abouthype, as the anointment of a name outsider would have been. It'sabout the nuts and bolts of making the Bulls better.
As a radio and TV analyst for the team, Paxson developed aheightened sense of what it needs--and what it doesn't need. As anaffable, straight-talking individual, he has the people skills thathis controversial predecessor, Jerry Krause, lacked. If free agentswere put off by the Krause rules, as speculated, they will be nomore. A mainstay during the Bulls' championship runs, Paxsonperformed with grace under pressure--a skill he will need if the timeshould come to fire people like Cartwright, his former teammate.
We're confident that Paxson will overcome his lack of experienceat the job. A good judge of talent, he's sure to upgrade the team'sperformances on draft day. He also will be able to work well withspecial assistant B.J. Armstrong, who was schooled as Krause'sreplacement. As Pax demonstrated when he and B.J. were Bulls pointguards, he knows what teamwork is about.
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