Management will bring back Fred Hoiberg to start the third season of his five-year deal. But even while also offering praise, management for the second straight offseason said it needs to see growth from its handpicked successor to Tom Thibodeau.

“Fred's challenge this season is to find ways to be a better leader. He showed progress in that area. The team did rally around him at times,” executive vice president John Paxson said. “But that's part of the process. We made the commitment to him. We support him. And we're in this with him.”

Paxson also cited Hoiberg's “creative offensive mind” and pointed to Dwyane Wade's praise that Hoiberg is “improving.” General manager Gar Forman conceded Hoiberg had a “tough” job with so many new players and young players.

Not mentioned, although Wade acknowledged it during the season, is that Hoiberg also was tasked the difficult dual goals of trying to make the playoffs while also developing young players. Following the February trade with the Thunder, this briefly led to 11- and 12-man rotations.

“There was too much inconsistency in the rotations and trying to plug holes from game to game,” Paxson said.

Asked if Hoiberg has coached a roster that fits his preferred philosophy of pace and space, Paxson acknowledged some missteps.

“Outside of (Rajon) Rondo, our point guards did not play with push and pace the way Fred wants to play. So yes, we have to continue to look at the style he wants to play, and look at players that fit that,” Paxson said. “Last year, maybe we did plug some holes and do some patchwork stuff that maybe did not turn out. ”