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Bulls' Brown expecting to be traded

Chicago Bulls forward P.J. Brown told the Chicago Tribune that he expects to be traded soon.

P.J. Brown Brown

"I don't expect to be a Bull too much longer," Brown told the newspaper Friday after the Bulls beat the Bucks 117-111 in Milwaukee. "I'm just hoping it can be over as soon as possible. I think it's unfair with the way the team is playing right now. They don't need a distraction."

Bulls operations chief John Paxson told the Tribune that he's spoken with Brown on the phone and plans to meet with the player and agent Mark Bartlestein on Monday.

"It would have been my preference that P.J. had addressed this privately, but I understand that not every player is happy in his role on a team," Paxson told the newspaper. "As for players requesting trades, I can only say that my obligation is to do what is in the best interest of the Bulls organization. Whether something can or will be done is uncertain."

Brown, who was sidelined Saturday for the third straight game with a strained plantar fascia in his right foot, has had difficulty adjusting to inconsistent playing time and has not been happy in Chicago. His name has been among those mentioned in trade rumors for the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson.

Brown, 37, a 14-year NBA veteran, came to Chicago in the trade that sent Tyson Chandler to the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets. But his playing time has plummeted to 16.5 minutes a game -- nearly half his 31.9-minute career average.