Two weeks after formally hiring Arturas Karnisovas as their new executive VP of basketball operations, the Bulls have chosen a general manager who will work with Karnisovas in their new-look front office. The club is hiring Sixers senior VP of player personnel Marc Eversley to fill that GM role, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Eversley was one of several candidates to interview for the general manager position following Chicago’s hiring of Karnisovas and the team’s dismissal of longtime GM Gar Forman. Matt Lloyd (Magic), Mark Hughes (Clippers), and Michael Finley (Mavericks) were among the other executives known to have spoken to the Bulls about the job.
Before reaching a deal late on Sunday night to join the Bulls, Eversley worked in the 76ers’ front office since 2016, when he was hired by the club’s former head of basketball operations, Bryan Colangelo. Eversley, a Canadian, also previous worked under Colangelo in the Raptors’ front office, with a stint as a Wizards exec in between. Prior to his time in NBA team front offices, he spent a decade working at Nike, per Wojnarowski.
This was at least the second time Eversley had interviewed for a GM job, having lost out to Mitch Kupchak on the Hornets’ position in 2018. He was also believed to be a candidate to replace Colangelo as Philadelphia’s head of basketball operations that year, but Elton Brand ultimately took over GM duties.
As Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer details, Eversley was largely responsible for the Sixers zeroing in on Matisse Thybulle in last year’s draft and was also the first to recognize DeMar DeRozan‘s talent during his time in Toronto’s scouting department.
After the Bulls faced some criticism for a lack of diversity in their search for a head of basketball operations, Eversley will become the first black GM in team history, as Wojnarowski notes.
While Karnisovas and Eversley figure to run the show in Chicago’s revamped front office, the team is making additional changes. As previously reported, J.J. Polk and Pat Connelly are coming aboard in key roles — Woj suggests they’ll hold the titles of assistant GM and VP of player personnel, respectively. Meanwhile, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago says that more hires are likely coming, singling out Nazr Mohammed as one executive who interviewed for an “unspecified role.”
Do they need a coach with a New England accent?
At least he comes from an organization that understands the importance of draft picks. The more picks the better your chances.
I’m not sure how anyone gives credit to the Sixers for anything. They basically wasted numerous seasons tanking to get one good (not great) player in Embiid. Nobody drafted worse than Philly.
That’s a bit ridiculous. Lots of teams have drafted worse. Sixers were messed up by the Colangelo trade.
Look, most teams are lucky if they get one or two lottery picks in one decade. Philly had multiple lottery picks for consecutive years during “the process”. Trading up for Fultz, a PG that couldn’t shoot, with Simmons (another PG who couldn’t shoot) already on the roster was just plain dumb. They have no real core on that squad because they drafted poorly.
I can’t say I’ve really heard of him before, but this article explores into his background and I’m happy he’s getting a chance to show what he can do with the Bulls, and good for him being the first African-American GM in the history of the Bulls. (Not saying that’s why he was hired, so please don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say here).
He’s Canadian, thus maintaining the preppy, country club environment in their front office.
Bulls can have Brett Brown
I would have preferred Finley but I think this was a PR hire Bulls got called out so they tryna sweep it under the rug for now this guy will be out in 2Yrs unfortunately be nice if he got a decade like Paxson
All I can say of course is, “we shall see”. Hope reigns supreme.
Hughes and AK are both gym rats, not exactly what Paxson said he had in mind when he announced a new FO.
Missed out on Hank Voit of the Chicago PD. Should have said “of ‘Chicago PD'”.
Alas he is a fictional character on a great TV show.