Report: Floyd to Replace Jackson

Iowa State’s Tim Floyd reportedly will replace Phil Jackson next season as coach of the Chicago Bulls, a move that could trigger the breakup of the NBA’s dominant team.

According to a report Saturday by NBC Sports, Floyd has been in contact with Dave Kleinschmidt, the trainer of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, about filling a similar position with the Bulls.

NBC Sports contacted Saint Coach Mike Ditka, who confronted Kleinschmidt regarding his possible job change. Ditka told NBC Sports that Kleinschmidt had indeed held conversations with Floyd, completing a complex connection.

Kleinschmidt has been with the Saints for 28 years. In what is perceived as a related move, Bulls trainer Chip Schaefer announced his resignation earlier this season after nearly eight years with the team.

Jackson is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history but has had an adversarial relationship with General Manager Jerry Krause.

After guiding the Bulls to their fifth title in seven seasons, he haggled with the team before signing a one-year deal worth nearly $6 million.

After the signing, both Jackson and Krause publicly stated that the 1997-98 season would be Jackson’s last as the Bulls’ coach.

Jackson, 52, has a career coaching record of 545-193, all with the Bulls.

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Center Luc Longley, who has missed 23 of Chicago’s last 25 games, probably will sit out another today when the Bulls play the New Jersey Jets in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

Longley initially sat out a month because of a left knee sprain. He returned for two games in late March but experienced more pain and discomfort. It was then that a deep bone bruise was diagnosed.

“When I hyperextended my knee the bones jammed against each other, and now, any time I get into a land or any sort of a flex, the knee cap rides right under the bone bruise and sets it off. It’s hard to play with,” Longley said.

“The next three days we hope to start testing it. We’ll do it very gradually and work into it slowly and make sure there’s no recurrence. I pushed it a little hard and a little fast before and went right back into a 30-minute role and think that was too much for it.

“I need to do a more systematic sort of an approach to it this time.”

The Bulls have other injury problems. Toni Kukoc sprained his right thumb in Friday’s 96-93 overtime victory against the Nets, but is expected to play today.

Ron Harper, bothered because of a back strain, also will be ready to play, trainer Schaefer said.