The Associated Press

John Paxson has been a player, an assistant coach and a broadcaster for Chicago. Now he might get to run the team.

Paxson will meet with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to interview for the team's general manager opening. A date for the meeting hasn't been set.

"It is exciting," Paxson said. "I'm comfortable with this organization and this group. That's important. And I think the future is unbelievably bright with the young guys.

"Anyone who gets (the job) is going to be in a great situation."

The Bulls are looking for a replacement for Jerry Krause, who resigned unexpectedly Monday because of health problems. Reinsdorf said in a statement that he hopes to have someone in place within a month.

Paxson immediately emerged as a front-runner for the job. He played for the Bulls for nine years of his 11-year NBA career, and was a guard on the first three championship teams. He was a Bulls assistant for the 1995-96 season, and has been part of Chicago's broadcast team - both on radio and television - for the past seven years.

Though he doesn't have management experience, he's gotten a firsthand look at running a team through his brother. Jim Paxson is general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the two talk often. Paxson is well-known for his exhaustive preparation as a broadcaster, and he has a wealth of contacts throughout the league.

In fact, when Michael Jordan was looking for someone to coach the Washington Wizards three years ago, Paxson was his first choice. Paxson considered it, but ultimately turned Jordan down because he didn't want to uproot his family.

"My life was a little different then," Paxson said. "My kids have gotten older. They know I'm going to talk to Mr. Reinsdorf, and they're very supportive."

There is a possibility some of the GM duties could be shared, similar to the Detroit Pistons' management structure. Joe Dumars is the Pistons' president of basketball operations, but he also has a director of player personnel.

If Reinsdorf goes in that direction, B.J. Armstrong is expected to be part of the mix. Armstrong, another former Bull, is in his third season as a special assistant to Krause. He was at the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational Tournament on Friday and unavailable for comment.

"I would not have any problem with that," Paxson said. "In fact, that's one of the appealing things. You don't feel like you have to cover every base."

HAWKS: Forward Glenn Robinson missed Friday night's game against Cleveland because of inflammation in his left Achilles' tendon.

Robinson, who leads the Hawks with 20.8 points a game, hasn't played since he scored seven in 31 minutes against New York on Tuesday. He's missed four of the past five games, and wasn't expected to travel with team for Saturday's game in Washington.

Reserve forward Darvin Ham (flu) also sat out.

CLIPPERS: Lamar Odom was a late scratch from Los Angeles lineup Friday night because of a sore left ankle.

Odom, who's also been plagued by problems with his right ankle this year, had just six points in 26 minutes of the Clippers' loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday. He's averaging 14.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season. He is day-to-day.

Quentin Richardson replaced Odom against Minnesota.

TIMBERWOLVES: Guard Rod Strickland was activated after missing 29 of the past 30 games with a strained left groin.

The team put Igor Rakocevic on the injured list with a right ankle injury.

Strickland was hurt Jan. 27 in a game against San Antonio and went on the injured list Feb. 12. He missed 24 games before being activated March 18, when he played five minutes against Memphis and aggravated the injury.

Strickland went back on the injured list March 30 and missed the last five games.

He's averaging 6.9 points and 4.4 assists this season.

Minnesota entered Friday 48-31, third in the Midwest Division. It has clinched a playoff berth.

BULLS: Forward Tyson Chandler will miss the rest of the season after being placed on the injured list with an inflamed esophagus.

Chandler missed two games last week because of the illness, and sat out the second half of Tuesday's win over Indiana.