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Bulls want to talk to Avery

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The Bulls still intend to talk with Avery Johnson to gauge his interest in being their next coach. As of Monday, however, Johnson's representatives had yet to reschedule an interview with Bulls general manager John Paxson, who postponed their original meeting last week. Johnson may be leaning toward taking at least a season off and collecting the money owed him by the Dallas Mavericks. Johnson, who was fired from the Mavs on April 28, has three years and $12 million left on his Dallas contract. The Mavs are on the hook for that money until Johnson is hired by another team.

Chicago Sun Times

Avery Johnson , AP Avery Johnson , AP
May 13, 2008  07:17 AM ET

What kind of influence would he be on Kirk Hinrich?

May 13, 2008  07:28 AM ET

3 years and $12 million for doing nothing? I'd probably just retire and fade into "bolivian"

May 13, 2008  08:19 AM ET

Bigdog - do you mean "oblivion" ?
Wow, Avery can take a one-year vacation and pocket 4 million bucks.
He was lucky to be fired! Talk about turning a negative into a positive.
That's a good plan for him - relax for a year and then return as a head coach somewhere. Taking off more than a year would not be a good idea though - he would be too far removed from the game.
In a year, every coach in the league will be older than they are now. That means that some of them will be close to retirement. Teams like Golden State, Denver, and Seattle may have openings then.
Imagine what you could do with 4 million dollars to take a year vacation. Talk about kicking back in the Bahamas.
- JL

May 13, 2008  08:20 AM ET

Holy **** 4 million dollars a year for the next three years to do nothing?!?! I want to kill myself.

May 13, 2008  08:36 AM ET

Jay L...he put the "bolivian" there to quote Mike Tyson after he got beat up by I think Lewis. YouTube it, good ol' Mike videos are always good for a laugh!

May 13, 2008  08:37 AM ET

Notbychoice - why do you want to kill yourself?
Doesn't make sense.
A better response would be "I want to become a head coach in the NBA". :)
- JL

May 13, 2008  09:05 AM ET

John Paxon, Chicago: "Hey Avery, We didn't want to give big money to Mike D'Antoni, so how about we don't give big money to you too?"
Avery, Barbados: "What, sorry, I can't hear you over the waves from the caribbean. I love Mark Cuban."

May 13, 2008  09:27 AM ET

Avery will make a good coach somewhere. He didn't have the "tools" to do the job in Dallas. It isn't his fault that Cuban has a mancrush on Dampier. Dallas will never be any more than they are, until they shore up the middle.

May 13, 2008  09:51 AM ET

Enjoy life Avery,eat,drink and be merry...and have that ultra perm fixed!

May 13, 2008  10:05 AM ET

If I were Avery, I would look for a job as an NBA executive (close to coaching) with some team now just to take Cuban's money and live the life. Then, after cashing in on the 12 mills, I'll look around for a good young team who would appreciate my services.

Avery deserves the money. He will be a great coach one day. It just didn't work out with the Mavs.

May 13, 2008  10:15 AM ET

take a loooooonnnngggg vacation. why not you are getting paid four million a year to sit on the beach. sweet!!!!!

May 13, 2008  10:43 AM ET

Also has to hurt a little knowing that you were the second choice for the team after D'Antoni.

May 13, 2008  11:08 AM ET

avery should just chill... wow $4M/yr to do nothing for the next 3 years....

May 13, 2008  11:39 AM ET

Avery is a stand up guy and I believe he wants to coach. For that reason I don't think he will sit and take the money. I'm not saying I would think less of him if he did. I'm just saying that I don't believe it is in Avery's character to sit out a year or more simply to take Cuban's money. He's a coach. He loves the game and I think he wants to win a championship. You don't do that while on vacation.

May 13, 2008  11:41 AM ET

Guaranteed contract is beautiful thing. If he wants to coach next year, the Bulls would be a good fit. Make it happen Pax.

May 13, 2008  01:31 PM ET

Hllywood

Dampier is Avery's baby ever since they played together in Golden State. Every player decsision during his coaching days are Avery's decisions. He was given the key and Cuban just provided the financials and back Avery up w/ all the decisions.

Avery should not sit back and have a vacation. He is a very young coach and time is not what he needs. He needs to continue coaching and learn from the past. If he is serious about being a coach then he should continue coaching and build up that experience.

The Bulls made the right choice of not hiring D'Antoni. He has no balance. Avery might be a better choice anyways. Avery will maximize w/ what he has. He just needs to make a new gameplan where it is always about points in the paint or attacking the basket. No jump shots unless the player is wide open.

May 13, 2008  01:55 PM ET

Oh where, Oh where can Arejay be Oh where can he be hiding?

May 13, 2008  02:17 PM ET

"Avery will make a good coach somewhere. He didn't have the "tools" to do the job in Dallas. It isn't his fault that Cuban has a mancrush on Dampier. Dallas will never be any more than they are, until they shore up the middle."

Oh, how you can't help but love the misinformed... SMH...

Dampier was Avery's call. He told Cuban he knew what it took to motivate Dampier, having played with him at Golden State, and he could get the most out of him...

Avery had first and final say on every personnel move during his time in Dallas. Eddie Jones, Devean George, Dampier, dumping Marquis Daniels to bring in Austin Croshere, trading Harris and Diop... All Avery Johnson. He shopped for the groceries and prepared the meal. He wanted no part of playing and developing younger players.

May 13, 2008  02:30 PM ET

N41D

Man you know the truth. Avery is made out like it's not his fault. The team was his. All he needed to do is change the plays. Plays that attacks the basket or points in the paint. Avery did not learn how to adjust.

 
May 13, 2008  02:40 PM ET

AVERYY COACHING LEBRON AND BEN GORDON SOUNDS GOOD

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