Vinny Del Negro congratulates Tyrus Thomas on a good play.
Tyrus Thomas didn't attend the Bulls' 95-91 victory over the Heat on Saturday night at the United Center after drawing a one-game suspension and undisclosed fine for conduct detrimental to the team.
Team sources said Thomas directed a profanity-laced tirade at coach Vinny Del Negro in his office with players and coaches within earshot after Friday night's loss in Atlanta, the third straight game Thomas had played less than 16 minutes.
One witness said it made Joakim Noah's vocal assault on then-assistant coach Ron Adams in 2008 look like "nothing."
The suspension came at an inopportune time given the Bulls were playing their fourth game in five nights with a depleted frontcourt. Joakim Noah sat with plantar fasciitis, rookie Taj Gibson played with the same condition and Brad Miller is battling a sore left knee.
NBA Development League call-up Chris Richard played the 20 minutes Thomas would have received.
"It's disappointing and unfortunate timing," Del Negro said. "But in the short run, there's a responsibility to do things right. By handling the situation the right way — which I know we are — no one player is bigger than the team.
"You have to be committed to your role on the team and your teammates and coaches and organization. That doesn't go just for Tyrus. It goes for everybody. The guys know how things run around here. And that's how it's going to be."
Calls to Thomas and his representatives were not returned. Thomas has been hesitant to address frustrations over lack of playing time publicly but clearly has been upset over losing his starting power forward job to injury and the emergence of Gibson.
This is the third time in four seasons the Bulls have disciplined Thomas. Bulls executive John Paxson fined him $10,000 in February 2006 after Thomas claimed he was participating in the All-Star weekend dunk contest "for the free money." Paxson also suspended Thomas two games for skipping practice in premeditated fashion in March 2008.
Team captain Lindsey Hunter, a 17-year veteran, also admonished Thomas for talking back to coaches in full view of reporters after a November practice earlier this season.
"As human beings, we all get frustrated," Hunter said. "But you can't act on your frustrations. At some point, you have to grow up and be a man about it. Life is filled with trials and tribulations. If you get frustrated every time you have one, you're going to live a pretty frustrated life. …
"He has the potential to be as good as he wants to be. It's up to him to take the initiative to realize what he is, slow himself down, put his game in a box."
This latest development might put the Bulls in a box. Already faced with lukewarm trade interest in Thomas, they might be faced with renouncing the restricted free agent for nothing this summer rather than place a roughly $14 million salary-cap hold on him.
Thomas' qualifying offer of $6.3 million would allow the Bulls to match any offer he receives but could gum up their unrestricted free-agent plans.
Del Negro adamantly defended his position on Thomas' diminishing playing time.
"Minutes are up to players," Del Negro said. "I'm going to play the guys who give us the best chance to win, execute the game plan, play hard and get after it defensively and rebound. There's accountability. That just doesn't go for Tyrus. That goes for all the players.
"I have a responsibility to the organization and team, and I have an open-door policy. I'm available 24-7 for my players. If there are any issues — basketball or anything else — I'm there for the players, as is the organization. There's a lot of adversity that happens throughout the year. You have to manage it and stay focused on the big picture."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment