LIBlue

A very confusing situation indeed. I see a few issues:

1) It appears the 4 year/$16MM contract details are pretty accurate. It would have made him one of the top five paid coaches in the league. That was not good enough, or rather "money" was not the issue. Somehow, he felt disrespected. This disrespect is odd, as the team was the one to approach Skiles about an extension - somehow, that is a sign of respect in my book. And wasn't it Skiles camp who said they would not negiotiate during the season? That is setting a deadline.

2) Unfortunately, the issue is now Scott Skiles. Scott Sklies is done as the Bulls coach. The way he and his agent torched the franchise in the media leaves little room. Negiotiations can be testy, but to act like a petulant child in the media backed the Bulls into a corner. Hell, with Skiles background, I guess I should not be surprised he "quit" again.

3) Skiles and Glass say they repect Paxson, but the actions speak otherwise. Paxson is the GM, and Reinsdorf has stated that he is staying out of direct negiotiations. That is why owners hire GMs. To express anger that the GM, and not the owners, is doing the contract discussions, slams Paxson. Apparently, Paxson is not deemed wothy enough to negiotiate with on contracts. Glass wants to go around him and deal directly with Reinsdorf.

Find a new coach, because it is obvious Skiles does not want to be a part of the Bulls, and the Bulls have concerns with Skiles.

- Maybe it was concerns of a four year deal for a coach with a shaky past.
- Maybe it was the disrespect of the owner not dealing directly with the coach's agent.
- Maybe the GM felt pissed on by the agent/coach for trying to go around him in negiotiations, and Skiles greatest supporter lost interest in the coach.
- Maybe the Bulls feel Skiles did a great job this year, but is not the coach to take them into the future.
- Maybe the Buls were not sure, and did not want to pay guaranteed long-term, top five money for a one-year wonder.
- Maybe the Bulls thought $16MM was fair, while Skiles assumed to two parties would just meet in the middle. I offer you $16MM, but you want $20MM, so lets meet at $18MM.

Whatever the case, the Skiles team turned this into a ugly public incident. For all the "leaks" claimed by Skiles, none were even close to the hatchet job done by Glass. It is obvious he wants out, and feels he is one of the top two or three coaches in the league. Only time will tell. I would not be surprised to see the Bulls wait until June 30th to decline the option, leaving Skiles with few choices next year. When you piss on a man in public likes Skiles and Glass just did to Reinsdorf, one must remember pissing matches can go both ways.