For Bulls, money walks Paxson got Reinsdorf to part with Pip, Wilks, Robinson, eat $16M

Imagine being relatively new to the job and asking the boss toshell out over $16 million just to part with a few employees.

Welcome to the world of Bulls operations chief John Paxson, whoasked team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to fund the extravagant chemistryexperiment at the beginning of the season.

Without Reinsdorf's willingness to put his money where Paxson'sheart was, it's highly unlikely the Bulls would be returning to thepostseason this weekend.

Reinsdorf's latest check will be cashed by Lawrence Funderburke,who signed with the Bulls on Monday for the remainder of the regularseason and playoffs.

Signing Funderburke was relatively painless for the …