Are the Chicago Bulls finally ready to retool the front office?
The long-running status quo seems to be over for the Chicago Bulls, as they are ready to move on from John Paxson and Gar Forman.
Back in November, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the Chicago Bulls general manager to replace Gar Forman was on the hot seat. More recent indications were an effort to replace him was being started, but Forman would be bumped down to the scouting department.
Now, the plot has gotten thicker.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bulls are searching for a new top executive who will have full authority over basketball operations. Getting permission to interview Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas and Toronto Raptors general manager Bobby Wester is reportedly the first step in the search.
K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago has added Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan to the list of potential candidates.
According to Wojnarowski, Bulls’ ownership has discussed the plan with Forman and VP of basketball operations John Paxson. Paxson is likely to remain with the organization in an advisory role. Prior reports suggested Paxson would retain some power in an upcoming front office change, and that looks like it’ll happen.
This detail from story has been reported before but, from emails/questions I get, seems to be getting lost in translation. So spotlighting it here:
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 3, 2020
Paxson has been a driving force behind the scenes on the need for change and a more modern front office.
Michael Reinsdorf's original timeline to begin interviews was end of regular season. As 1st reported by @wojespn, that process will begin next week. As previously reported, Reinsdorf didn't act when league shut down because of unprecedented situation and sensitivity to situation
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 3, 2020
Bulls also will seek permission to interview Heat asst. GM Adam Simon, per source.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 3, 2020
Initial round of interviews centered on Nuggets’ Karnisovas, Raptors’ Webster, Pacers’ Buchanan and Heat’s Simon.
Other targets could emerge, but longshot scenarios of Presti/Ujiri won’t happen
There were rumors, which never felt likely, that the Bulls would pursue Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti. Now, as the search ramps up, the Bulls won’t be pursuing two very big fish to lead their front office.
Chicago will not pursue OKC's Sam Presti or Toronto's Masai Ujiri, according to sources, and does not plan to go player agent route.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) April 3, 2020
Another previous report suggested management would ask general manager candidates to keep an open mind about the much-maligned Jim Boylen. Boylen is 39-84 as Bulls’ head coach over the last two seasons, so a new executive that’s worth their salt is going to instantly look at a coaching change.
The Bulls have had three straight bottom of the barrel seasons, with one playoff appearance in the last five seasons and one trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since “GarPax” took power in 2009. That should be enough for a front office overhaul, without retaining Forman and Paxson in any down spout or “advisory” capacity.
Next. 5 players you forgot won a ring with Michael Jordan. dark
But this is the current state of the Bulls’ organization, now over 20 years removed from the Jordan era. Bad decisions mixed with half measures are to be expected, and the search for a new man to lead the front office will surely follow suit.