Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro initiated contact with vice president John Paxson during their reported altercation on March 30, according to a source.
Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday that Paxson grabbed Del Negro in an effort to provoke a fight. The two were engaged in a heated debate about Joakim Noah's playing time.
The center has dealt with plantar fasciitis in his left foot this season.
However, a source close to the situation disputed the Yahoo report.
The source also said that it wasn't the first altercation Del Negro has had with management. Del Negro and Bulls general manager Gar Forman reportedly had an altercation in Forman's office that was similar.
"So this was not the first time [Del Negro] exhibited this behavior," the source said.