Fred Hoiberg has downplayed a report that he's on the hot seat as the Chicago Bulls struggle.

“Someone just mentioned something to me about that. You know, I don’t know anything about it, so I’m not going to comment on it," Hoiberg said.

"I’ve got a job to do, which is to try and put this team in a position to go out and win basketball games. Like probably 24 other coaches, I’m trying to find a way for us to go out and play consistent basketball on a nightly basis. We’ve taken some steps at times the last few games, as far as getting back to how we were playing earlier in the year to where I thought we were as good as anyone in the league as far as getting up and down the floor. We gotta find that, we gotta get back to it. So again, my job right now is to do the best job I can as far as putting the game plan together to give us a chance to win the game, and throw it all out there."

Hoiberg replaced Tom Thibodeau in 2015.

Fred Hoiberg is under earlier-than-expected pressure with the Chicago Bulls' disappointing December play.

While John Paxson and Gar Forman haven't escaped questioning as well, the Bulls are increasingly assessing the coaching fit.

Hoiberg so far has been best protected by the fact he's owed a significant amount of money on his five-year, $25 million contract.

The Bulls are concerned with how the players have responded to Hoiberg.

The Chicago Bulls have waived R.J. Hunter.

During his time with the Bulls, Hunter (6-5, 185) appeared in three games and grabbed one rebound in nine total minutes.

Hunter signed with the Bulls on Oct. 27, 2016.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.

John Paxson addressed the state of the Chicago Bulls publicly for the first time since media day.

“The area we really do need to improve is with our athleticism,” Paxson said. “That’s been evident this year. We’ve got some vets who know how to play and can score. But when you look around the league and the way the game is now, that’s an area we have to address. That is a part of the plan. We’ll try to do that obviously through the draft and free agency if we can. You always have the trade option. Right now, our roster is what it is.”

In general, Paxson acknowledged the inconsistent bench play and lack of 3-point shooting have hurt the Bulls.

“One of the things I see and Fred (Hoiberg) has talked about is we get in fourth quarters and we really stop pushing the pace and the ball stops moving. That’s been one thing that has really hurt us. It’s been a point of emphasis. We need to get on the practice floor and keep finding ways to do it. You have to find a way to move the ball and make defenses shift. And the other thing is we’ve just really gotten inconsistent play from the guys coming off our bench. Losing Doug for that period of time with a concussion really did hurt us. It messed with our rotations a bit.

“(The lack of 3-point shooting) has hurt us. There’s no question about it. We’re last in the league in 3-point shooting in a league that needs it. We acknowledged that going in that that would be an issue. We did think---and still think---that Niko and Doug have the capability of being 40 percent 3-point shooters. That’s what they need to be.”

Nikola Mirotic will be fined for his unexcused absence from the Chicago Bulls' shootaround on Thursday.

Mirotic told team officials he simply forgot about the shootaround.

Fred Hoiberg benched Mirotic in the Bulls' 108-97 loss at the Milwaukee Bucks.

Mirotic was the first person getting up shots and working out on Friday morning.

"He was as good as he can be in a situation like that," Hoiberg said. "Obviously, any competitor isn't going to be happy when you get taken out of a lineup. But talking to him about keeping himself ready ... It was good to see him in there this morning getting in extra work and getting up extra shots, keeping himself prepared when his name was called, and that's what we talked about. Obviously he's going to get another chance this year. He's got to keep working, keep himself ready, and when opportunity comes, go out and play well."

Taj Gibson agreed upon a four-year, $38 million extension with the Chicago Bulls in 2012 and will be a free agent for the first time in his career this offseason.

"Of course I want to stay here," Gibson said.

Gibson took somewhat of a hometown discount when he extended in 2012.

"The amount of money I'm seeing guys making is ridiculous. But I'm going to remain humble," Gibson said. "I'm going to stay focused and know I was blessed to get that last deal I got."

Gibson will turn 32 in June.

"The basketball gods always reward you. Just stay the course," Gibson said. "I always just do my job and never be a distraction for my team. I'm blessed to be here a long time. I remember over the years a lot of trade rumors, a lot of times I thought I wasn't going to make it through. They stayed with me. It speaks to my character.

"Right now, I just have to focus on doing my job and proving I can still play and be a front-line guy (as a starter) or off the bench."

Rajon Rondo has been suspended by the Chicago Bulls for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.

Rondo will miss Monday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Rondo had a heated postgame exchange following Saturday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks with assistant coach Jim Boylen.

Rondo apologized to the coaching staff and his teammates on Sunday, and as one source said, “took responsibility for it.”

Dwyane Wade acknowledged he had to adjust his game more than LeBron James did during their time together with the Miami Heat.

Wade and James played together for four years before James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I definitely changed mine more," Wade said with a laugh after Thursday's practice. "It's not even a conversation. There's no conversation to have. I definitely had to change mine more."

Wade and James didn't have a conversation about how their respective games would change before they decided to join forces.

"We all knew the sacrifice that was going to be [made]," Wade said. "Obviously, you sit down and you talk about playing together. You think you know what's [going to happen], you try to cover things in that moment, but then once you start playing together you realize it's harder than what you thought. But we all knew we had to sacrifice. Chris Bosh, too. He's somebody who they don't talk about, he had to sacrifice a lot too. But at the end of the day, we sacrificed points, article hits, but what we gained was championships, friendships and brotherhoods that last a lifetime. So I'm sure if we could do it all over again we'd do it exactly the same way."