Collins Rejoining the Bulls?

There have been reports and rumors that former Chicago Bulls head coach and current TNT analyst Doug Collins has been negotiating with Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson in an effort to organize a return to his former position. Both sides claim no deal has been reached yet but word on the street is that Bulls officials are waiting for the Western Conference Finals, which Collins is covering for TNT, to come to an end. That could happen tonight if the Lakers clinch the series at home.

These reports come after team owner Jerry Reinsdorf complained in the media about being misled by new New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni who Reinsdorf said told him he wasn't interested in the Knicks job. Shortly thereafter D'Antoni accepted the Knicks job much to the chagrin of the ornery owner.

Collins seems to be one of the few people who is generally well liked by everyone within the Bulls organization. Collins was Michael Jordan's first NBA coach and led the team to the eastern conference finals before being fired in 1989 and replaced by his inexperienced assistant coach Phil Jackson.

Reinsdorf had a fallout with Jackson and Jordan. Despite this, Collins has retained a relationship with Reinsdorf and was so trusted by Jordan that he was hired to coach a young Washington Wizards team in hopes that he would develop their young talent the way he did Jordan's in their earlier days. During his seasons with the Wizards, Collins led the team to two seasons of 37-45. He was fired when Jordan was denied a return to the front office.