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Updated: April 14, 2010, 3:52 PM ET
Source: Not first incident with Del Negro
ESPNChicago.com
Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro initiated the physical contact with executive vice president John Paxson during an altercation on March 30 -- contrary to a report that painted Paxson as the aggressor -- a source close to the situation told ESPNChicago.com.
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Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday that Paxson grabbed Del Negro by the tie, jabbed him twice in the chest and seemingly challenged him to a fight because Del Negro exceeded the time limit management set for Joakim Noah, who has been recovering from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. In Yahoo Sports' report it was suggested that Del Negro didn't retaliate against Paxson during the altercation because he was worried the Bulls could void his contract.
However, a source close to the situation disputed who initiated that argument, and said that it wasn't the first altercation Del Negro has had with management. The source said that Del Negro and Bulls general manager Gar Forman had an altercation in Forman's office that was similar, but did not give details.
"So this was not the first time [Del Negro] exhibited this behavior," the source said.
A call placed to Del Negro on Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.
The relationship between Paxson and Del Negro has been deteriorating for some time and reached a head over the use of Noah, who has been hurting since mid-January. Del Negro, the source said, directly defied orders by Paxson and Forman in playing Noah seven minutes longer than ordered to against the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 26 when Noah was "clearly hurting," according to the source.
"[Del Negro] put his own interest ahead of the Bulls," the source said.
Noah missed the next 10 games, all Bulls losses.
The source said when Noah was brought back a second time after the injury, it was made even more clear to Del Negro what Noah's time limit was, but he was allowed to save a minute or two for close games or play Noah for one possession at the end if he had already reached his time limit and the game was close. Those were the only exceptions. And Del Negro looked for "loopholes," the source said.
Against the Phoenix Suns on March 30, Del Negro used Noah two minutes over the limit despite having seven chances to take him out in the last two minutes when there was a foul, dead ball or a timeout. The source said Paxson viewed that as Del Negro putting himself above the player and organization and found it inexcusable.
The most recent flap over Noah's playing time was Friday against the New Jersey Nets, and it proved costly to the Bulls as they chased the final playoff spot in the East. Del Negro sent assistant coach Lindsey Hunter to ask Forman if he could play Noah late in a close game with serious playoff implications. Forman contacted Paxson, who green lighted Noah exceeding his minutes. But Del Negro didn't get his answer until the first of two overtimes. Meanwhile, the Nets' Brook Lopez converted an offensive rebound in the final seconds of regulation and the Nets won in double overtime.
The Bulls will try to clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Asked about the Yahoo report on Tuesday night after the Bulls' victory over the Boston Celtics, Del Negro declined to go into detail.
"All those things are internal, I have no comment on that," Del Negro said. "Whatever happens is between the organization and myself, and the people involved."
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