In Chicago to visit with Bulls officials, free agent Ira Newble told reporters Wednesday he would like to stay with the Hawks, where he spent the past two seasons. But the uncertainty surrounding ownership and the front office has forced him to explore other options.

"There's real chaos down there right now," Newble said. "It's confusing."

How confusing? When Newble walked into the Bulls' practice facility, guess who he bumped into in the hallway? Hawks coach Terry Stotts, in town to discuss an assistant coaching job with the Bulls.

"I spoke to him three days ago and he didn't tell me he was coming," Newble said. "He doesn't know what his future is, so he has to do what he has to do and interview for jobs also."

Stotts is under contract with the Hawks until Aug. 15, but he has a clause that allowed him to talk with teams after June 30. He was contacted by the New York Knicks for the assistant coaching job that was eventually taken by former Hawks head coach Lon Kruger.

"These are very unusual times," Stotts said earlier this week. "It's going to be a tough decision for me, because I think [being head coach of the Hawks] is a good opportunity for me. But I don't want to go without a paycheck."

After bouncing around for a few years, Newble would like to sign a three-year deal and have some stability. Known more for defense, he averaged 11.9 points in the Hawks' last 13 games.