I don't see this team putting up much of a fight for the coach tonight...
Two team sources have told the Chicago Sun-Times that coach Tim Floyd told his players during a team meeting that he was going to ask Bulls management to relieve him of his duties, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
When asked Monday if major news was imminent, Floyd told the Sun-Times, "I'm not prepared to share that with you right now."
It's safe to say Floyd's reign as Bulls coach never has been more tenuous.
"After practice, he called us upstairs for a meeting," one player told the Sun-Times on the condition of anonymity. "We weren't sure what to expect. "I got the impression he's tired of losing. I don't see how he held on this long, from the standpoint of being able to maintain his sanity."
Despite Floyd's comments, the player said he believes Floyd will remain as coach. The Bulls play host to the Houston Rockets tonight.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Floyd's future has being called into question again after an emotional 48-hour period featuring plenty of dissension
According to the newspaper, matters began festering after Saturday night's loss to Philadelphia when injured forward Ron Artest and Floyd had a heated confrontation regarding a proposed dress code, team sources said, and Floyd accused veteran players of undermining his authority.
Floyd derided the casual dress of players on the injured list who sit on the bench, and Artest angrily took exception.
The incident comes on the heels of veteran forward Charles Oakley publicly criticizing Floyd and raises the question of whether Floyd has lost control of his team, a subject he addressed in a team meeting Monday, the Tribune reported.
Floyd has endured the worst coaching start in NBA history -- 47-182 in just over three seasons -- but he has maintained he will not quit. Floyd would have to forfeit the remainder of his contract, which runs through the 2004-05 season and is believed to be worth nearly $2 million per season, if he re-signs, the Sun-Times reported.
Floyd met with operations chief Jerry Krause after addressing the players, but Krause denied the discussion turned to Floyd's future with the team.
"What we talked about was private," Krause told the Sun-Times. "But he never asked to be released or fired, and he said nothing about quitting. "And I don't know what was said in the meeting with the players. I wasn't there."
Krause was asked what he would do if Floyd did request to be fired or told him he planned to quit. Krause normally refuses to address hypotheticals, but he changed his policy this time.
"I have no intention of letting him go because I don't want to see him leave," Krause told the Sun-Times. "If he said he wanted to quit, I would try to talk him out of it."
JT
Sneaks
