Report: TNT's Collins running with Bulls

TNT hoops analyst Doug Collins appears to have had a change of heart. The three-time NBA head coach and former star guard had been insisting he had no desire to go back to the bench, but the Chicago Sun-Times is quoting a source today who says he will be named the next head man of the Chicago Bulls "sooner rather than later."

Collins, 56, coached the Bulls from 1986-89 and took the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals. He also coached the Detroit Pistons and later a Washington Wizards team that featured Michael Jordan in the twilight of his career.

The Bulls fired Collins in '89, but he remains close to owner Jerry Reinsdorf and is well regarded by general manager John Paxson, who issued a statement Thursday saying no deal had been reached.

"I have been in contact with Doug Collins in regard to our head coaching position," Paxson said in the statement. "Contrary to some reports that are currently out there, we have not reached an agreement.

"Right now, his commitment is covering the Western Conference Finals for TNT. When that series concludes, we will continue our dialogue. In the meantime, I will continue to talk to other candidates and review our options."

The Bulls recently defied the odds by landing the top pick in the NBA's annual draft lottery, putting them in a position to choose either Memphis point guard Derrick Rose or Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley, the consensus cream of this year's crop. Rose is a native Chicagoan and if he's the Bulls' choice it would almost certainly lead to a major trade involving current point guard Kirk Hinrich, which would bring even more new talent to the roster.

Collins is currently working alongside Marv Albert on TNT's coverage of the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.