Come To Think of It: Bulls GM John Paxson's Deadline Deals May Have Saved Job

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The trades that Bulls GM John Paxson made at the deadline seemed insignificant at the time. This is especially true when compared with all the names being floated around as possible trade rumors.

Was Shaquille O'Neal going to leave the Suns? Where was Amare Stoudemire going to land? (The only place he landed was on the disabled list.)

So while Paxson's deals to bring back center Brad Miller and to acquire forward John Salmons were nearly glossed over, both deals now look like job savers for the Bulls General Manager.

Miller works well with the Bulls "franchise", Derrick Rose, and Salmons, who was averaging 18 points per game in obscurity playing in Sacramento, has been just what the doctor ordered.

In fact, the injury to Luol Deng in retrospect appears to have been fortunate because it has allowed Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro to give Salmons regular minutes.

Speaking of Del Negro, you don't even hear the calls for his job any longer, now that the Bulls are playing well.

The Bulls are the third best team in the Eastern Conference since the All-Star break, and winners of four in a row. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games at the United Center.

With the season winding down, it no longer appears to be a question if the Bulls will make the playoffs, but what seed they will be. Currently the seventh seed, they conceivably could pass Philadelphia for the sixth seed before the regular season comes to a close.

Now, relax, Bulls fans, we're not going to win a championship this year. Cleveland and Boston are certainly better than us, and I believe in Miami with superstar Dwayne Wade.

But their run has really been impressive, and they are playing like we expected them to play since the start of the season.

Another reason for the Bulls turnaround has been the scoring of Ben Gordon. Unfortunately for Bulls fans, he may be leaving for greener (as in dollars) pastures as a free agent following the season. So they need to strike while the iron is hot.

Back to Deng. While signed to a long-term, expensive contract, he doesn't dribble the ball well. It's not that Salmons is a star, but he does everything right. Paxson recently said he can't wait for Deng to get back, but really, I have to ask why? Salmons is clearly the better ballplayer at this point.

And the Bulls have been playing better defense. Even Joakim Noah has stepped it up a bit, and Tyrus Thomas continues to pull down rebounds and to block shots.

So, while the ultimate prize may not be within their reach, one can't help but be impressed by these Bulls of late. More importantly to Paxson, it just may have saved his job, come to think of it.

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