Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson announced today the team has appointed Lead Assistant Coach Jim Boylan to Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. Boylan’s role as the Bulls’ Interim Head Coach will begin immediately.
“After sitting down with Jim yesterday and discussing our team I feel comfortable giving him the interim head coaching position. Jim has paid his dues as an assistant coach and has his own ideas on the way he wants us to play,� stated Paxson. “Many top assistants never get the chance to be a head coach in the NBA and Jim has assured me he will provide the necessary energy and commitment this position requires. Ron Adams, Pete Myers and Mike Wilhelm will continue to play integral roles on the staff and will give great support to Jim and our team.�
Full info on insidehoops.com.

InsideHoops.com newswire: Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson today announced that Scott Skiles has been relieved of his duties as the team’s head coach.
In a statement released this morning, Paxson said:  “This was a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary at this time.  Scott helped us in many ways during his time with the Bulls; most importantly, he helped this franchise get back to respectability.  I am appreciative of his hard work and the imprint that he left on our team.�
At this time, no decision has been made on Skiles’ replacement.  On Nov. 28, 2003, Skiles became the fifteenth head coach in franchise history when he succeeded Bill Cartwright.  Over the span of five seasons with the Bulls, he compiled a record of 165-172 (.490), and guided the team to the playoffs three consecutive years, highlighted by a first-round series sweep of the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat in the 2007 NBA Playoffs.  In eight-plus seasons as a head coach in the NBA, Skiles owns a career coaching record of 281-251 (.528).

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has recalled rookie guard JamesOn Curry from the Iowa Energy of the D-League.
Curry (6-3, 190) was assigned to the Energy on Nov. 15 and in his nine games with the D-League affiliate he averaged 21.9 ppg (10th in the D-League), 5.8 apg (eighth in D-League), 3.6 rpg and 1.00 spg in 41.4 mpg (sixth in D-League). He shot .473 from the field, including .378 from three-point range, and .774 from the free throw line.
Curry was selected by Chicago in the second round (51st overall) of NBA Draft 2007 after three years at Oklahoma State. He practiced with the Bulls today and will be with the team for Tuesday’s home contest versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas has been suspended one game without pay and Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy has been fined $10,000, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.
Thomas was suspended for striking Murphy in the face, while Murphy was fined for his role in escalating the incident by shoving Thomas. The incident occurred with 3:51 remaining in the second period of the Pacers 117-102 win over the Bulls at Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 12.
Thomas will serve his suspension tonight when the Bulls host the New York Knicks.

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Thomas Gardner.  In a subsequent move, the team also announced that it has picked up forward Demetris Nichols on waivers.
Gardner (6-5, 225), an undrafted rookie out of the University of Missouri, appeared in four games with the Bulls this season and averaged 5.3 ppg (9-23 FG) and 1.0 rpg in 11.3 mpg.  He shot .391 from the field and .250 from behind the arc.  Gardner signed with Chicago prior to training camp on Oct. 1.
Nichols (6-8, 215) comes to Chicago after spending time with New York and Cleveland earlier this season.  In three games this year, he has scored two points and grabbed one rebound in 14 minutes.  Originally selected by Portland in the second round (53rd selection) of NBA Draft 2007, Nichols enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Syracuse where he averaged 10.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 1.1 apg.
Nichols will join the team tomorrow when the Bulls host the Boston Celtics.  With his signing, Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.