According to a report by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls' GM John Paxson plans on talking with a veteran coach whom nobody has identified that would be surprising.

Many believe that Doug Collins will be named as the new coach of the Chicago Bulls, but Paxson appears to still be interviewing other candidates, showing that the decision is not yet set in stone.

The same person who spoke with Johnson about the unnamed veteran candidate emphasized Paxson hasn't yet recommended to team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf that negotiations should begin with Collins, the point the Bulls reached with Mike D'Antoni before he spurned them for the Knicks' job.

Paxson and team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf were said to be unhappy that their talks with Collins became public while several league executives believe that Derrick Rose will be a lock for the top pick if Collins does land the team's coaching job.

Doug Collins and the Chicago Bulls have made no announcement regarding his status as the next head coach of the team, according to The Associated Press.

Collins coached the Bulls before they began their dynasty in the 1990s and worked as an analyst for TNT this season.

He acknowledged Thursday after the Lakers won the Western Conference Title that he was in discussions with GM John Paxson.

However, Collins did say, "I have not been offered. I have not accepted."

Collins has a 332-287 record over his coaching career.

Media reports from the Chicago Sun-Times have sources saying Doug Collins will be named the Bulls' new head coach.

John Paxson has released the following statement to RealGM and other media outlets in response.

?I have been in contact with Doug Collins in regard to our head coaching position.  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.?

Doug Collins will become the next Bulls' head coach, according to a source.

The source said the deal is expected to be announced "sooner rather than later."

"I know Doug's got the itch [to coach again]," a league source said. "I think the Bulls' youth intrigues Doug more than the Phoenix [Suns] situation. He's a teacher That's what he likes to do.

"He might have been leery about the veterans on the Suns, including Shaq."

Both the Heat and Bulls are denying a rumor that guard Derrick Rose is headed to South Beach, according to The Miami Herald.

Draft prospect Joey Dorsey, a teammate of Rose's at Memphis, insists that he has the inside track and that Chicago will select Michael Beasley, leaving Rose for the Heat.

"There's absolutely no reason anyone would have any clue," Bulls' GM John Paxson said Wednesday. "Nobody knows."

"Chicago's got a lot of pressure on them because Derrick's from Chicago," Dorsey said earlier this week, spurring the rumors "but they're going to take Beasley. I've talked to [Rose], and [Miami is] where I think he's going to end up. You watch what I tell you. I know."

Joakim Noah could have charges for possession of marijuana  and drinking from an open container dropped, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

Florida's attorney office in Gainesville and Noah?s representatives reached terms on a deferred prosecution agreement on Wednesday.

"This is a program we have for first-time offenders charged with misdemeanors," a representative from the office said.

Under terms of the deal, Noah must pay $50 for the cost of prosecution and make a $150 donation to Project Payback, a local charity. If he doesn?t violate any federal, state, or local laws in the next six months the charges will be dropped.

"Once you?ve completed the process, we drop the charges and complete the case," the representative said. "It remains open until then."

Two major rumors came out of the pre-draft camp on Wednesday involving the Bulls: The first being that Avery Johnson is nearing a deal to coach the Bulls, and the second, coming courtesy of Derrick Rose's collegiate teammate Joey Dorsey, is that Michael Beasley will be the first overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, John Paxson angrily shot down the claims by Dorsey, who says he has 'inside information.

"It doesn't do me any good to respond to this stuff," the Bulls' GM said about Dorsey's claim. "I'm tired of it already. Nobody has any idea. Anyone who speculates can do that. That's fine. But nobody knows. We have one month, so let me do my work for a month, OK?"

Meanwhile, the Bulls are hoping to have a coach in place ahead of the NBA Draft, with Paxson and Johnson keeping their back-and-forth extremely private.

Joakim Noah has agreed to pay $200 in fines and avoid additional incidents during a six-month probation, which will lead to the misdemeanor drug and alcohol charges to be dropped, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

"I spoke to him," Bulls' General Manager John Paxson said. "He knows he made a mistake. I obviously am always concerned with how these things reflect on the organization. That's what is disappointing to me. I told him these are things you better learn from and better not happen again. He was very apologetic."

Joey Dorsey believes the Chicago Bulls will select Michael Beasley, which would allow the Heat to pick Derrick Rose.

"Chicago's got a lot of pressure on them because Derrick's from Chicago," Dorsey said, "but they're going to take Beasley. I've got the inside. They're going to get Beasley."

Bulls' Vice President John Paxson has adamantly denied reaching a decision.

Hours after being arrested for possession of marijuana and drinking from an open container on Sunday, Bulls' forward Joakim Noah was issued a pair of traffic citations by University of Florida police, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Campus police stopped a speeding Noah and issued citations for driving with a suspended license without knowledge and for not wearing a seat belt.

The Bulls are aware of the incidents. General Manager John Paxson, in Orlando for the league's predraft camp, has made no public comment.