The Bulls have received permission to interview Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas, sources tell K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Karnisovas was one of four men said to be on Chicago’s initial wish list for a top front office executive who will have full authority on basketball decisions. It’s not clear if the Bulls will get a chance to talk to any of those four potential candidates besides Karnisovas.
Pacers GM Chad Buchanan reportedly rebuffed the Bulls’ interest, opting to remain in Indiana. And there’s plenty of speculation around the NBA that the Heat will make an effort to retain assistant GM Adam Simon, according to Johnson (Twitter link).
As for the fourth candidate, Toronto’s Bobby Webster, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes that the Raptors may not grant the Bulls permission to speak to their general manager, who is under contract through 2021. With president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri and head coach Nick Nurse also set to have their contracts expire after next season, and many of their players coming off the books in the coming months, the Raptors face some long-term uncertainty and might not want to risk losing a rising young executive. There’s a sense they’ll tell Chicago that “this is not a good time,” according to Grange.
Even if they’re only able to speak to one of their initial four targets, the Bulls have a longer list of candidates, per Johnson (Twitter link), who names Clippers GM Michael Winger, Clippers assistant GM Trent Redden, Magic assistant GM Matt Lloyd, and Jazz GM Justin Zanik as possibilities.
Chicago has received permission to talk to Zanik, Johnson reports, so the Utah GM will join Karnisovas in taking part in the first round of Bulls interviews.
The Bulls will conduct those meetings electronically due to the coronavirus pandemic and reportedly want to make a hire prior to the draft and free agency.
Karnisovas of Denver may be the best, but would point the Bulls in a very different player personnel direction, than with Paxson, or Webster of Toronto. IMO, Denver acquires scorers and then turns the screw on defense, while Chicago & Toronto look for promising defenders then relishes emergent offense.
With Zanick & Jazz, maybe a focus on centralized plans rather than seeing what you’ve got like the Bulls.
That’s a lot of hibi-jibi, but for instance, the Bulls picked Jimmy Butler when the others might look past him. But, first they took PG Norris Cole who had to play PF in college and was tough enough to do it well. (Trades followed and he was just okay in the NBA).
Seems like Bulls have been looking for a PG for awhile. This draft is deep there. Not a Mello fan, more of a scorer. Bulls should get a nice player in draft. This draft is not top heavy. But it’s not weak IMO. Team needs should be a priority this draft.
Sell the team Reinsdorf. No one, players, coaches and General Managers, wants anything to do with your cesspool team.