Unhappy Rondo to talk with Bulls GM about benching

As the Chicago Bulls continue to lose, there's turmoil in their locker room. After being benched for the entirety of Chicago's 116-96 New Year's Eve loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, point guard Rajon Rondo told reporters that he had a meeting planned with general manager Gar Forman.

Rondo didn't rule out asking for a trade or buyout, according to The Athletic's Sean Highkin.

As expected, coach Fred Hoiberg didn't start Rondo on Saturday, inserting Michael Carter-Williams into the lineup. However, perhaps unexpectedly, the veteran remained glued to the pine throughout the game, even when Hoiberg emptied his bench late in the Bucks' rout.

The 30-year-old Rondo said Hoiberg told him he looks slow-footed.

"He told me that I've been looking slow the last five games," he said, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.

Hoiberg, who benched Rondo in the second half of Friday's loss to Indiana, prefers an up-tempo system. Rondo rejects the opinion.

"I disagree," he said, according to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson. "But that's part of it. He's the head coach. And we're going to go with that."

The Bulls have now lost eight of 10 and are tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference. The eight losses have come by an average of 14 points.

If Rondo demands a trade, it's debatable there will be much of a market for him in the league, especially if he insists on starting. The mercurial 11-year veteran is at career lows in scoring, field-goal percentage, and PER.

"I'm Rajon Rondo," he told reporters. "It is what it is."