Paxson Preparing for Second Draft

“We’re exploring everything," Paxson said following Tuesday's workout. "Whether we keep the pick or move the pick, there are a lot of options." Adam Fluck/Bulls.com

Minutes after a double session of private workouts at the Berto Center concluded on Tuesday, Bulls general manager John Paxson met the media and the following is an excerpt of what he had to say.

On Josh Childress, who was among the eight players that the Bulls saw on Tuesday:

“Josh is a real fluid player. We’re obviously looking for a wing and he fits that bill. He does a little bit of everything and he can shoot the ball. He’s got a little bit of a quirky shot but he can shoot it. He’s long and he’s going to be a two or a three in the league. He was impressive. He comes from a great system. He really likes to play and that is very high on our list; we want a player who likes to play the game.”

On gauging a player’s defensive ability in workouts:

“It’s hard. We do a lot of two-on-two and we simulate screen-and-rolls and how they defend off screens so you get an idea. It’s just really important to see them face to face and gauge them, see the length that they have and the physical abilities that they have when they are out on the floor.”

Childress hasn’t turned down too many workouts—is that a good thing?

“Yeah, that is him kind of having an understanding of what this is all about. You have to show what you have against other guys considered to be high picks. We all look for competitive people and I think that he’s shown through his desire to work out a lot against other players that he wants to compete for a job.”

Have you been pleased with some of the current players on your roster and their summer work habits?

“It’s been nice. Tyson [Chandler] has made some real progress with his conditioning and his back. Eddy [Curry] started to filter in and he’s on vacation this week but we’re keeping tabs on him. [Kirk] Hinrich works out—he’s just a basketball player and that’s what he does. So it’s been positive but we have a long way to go.”

With the draft only nine days away, do you have an idea of what you want to do?

“We’re exploring everything. Whether we keep the pick or move the pick, there are a lot of options. You have to have a willing partner in any deal and sometimes that is difficult to do. I’m confident that we’ll come out of this draft either with a good player or a scenario that makes us a better team.”

Will the Bulls be bringing in Okafor, Howard or Deng for workouts?

“We’re going to have Luol Deng in Thursday for a workout and it will be an individual workout. Okafor is going down to Orlando on Friday and depending on how that workout goes we hope to get him in. It doesn’t look like we will get Dwight Howard in for a workout. But I’ll be happy to get Deng in here early and quickly to give us a week to evaluate what he can do, his position, and all those things.”

Is your approach to the draft this year different that it was last year?

“Well last year ten days before the draft it seemed as if our team was pretty locked in. Then, three days later Jay Williams had his motorcycle accident and things changed. I feel that this year we’ve done a real good job of knowing what caliber of player we like. We have a good idea of what we’d like to do with our pick—even our second round picks. We have a real good idea. So I feel good and we still have a lot of time to evaluate different information and have some more workouts. I feel good where we’re at right now.”

How would you describe interest in the third pick around the league at this point?

“It’s been minimal. There have been several teams that have called but there is nothing really serious on the table. But I’m listening to anything.”