Even the Chicago Bulls attempts to course-correct result in more questions. From the top on down, everyone’s under the microscope.
News (as well as disparaging chants) broke over All-Star Weekend that the Chicago Bulls were using the time to begin the search for their next general manager. Gar Forman has been pushed into more of a scouting role in recent months and this would seem to be a confirmation that vice president John Paxson has been in control of this thing for some time.
That inarguably shows poorly on Paxson.
Chicago struggled through injuries and ineptitude to a 19-36 record. Injuries happen so that in itself isn’t a reason to chastise the front office. But if the medical staff mishandled a core player’s injury, red flags should go up. Remember how much flak the Philadelphia 76ers staff caught?
The Bulls also had one of the easiest schedules to start the season. And while injuries can be viewed as random, they didn’t happen all at once. So is reasonable to have expected better.
Instead, Bulls fans got another reminder of just how this organization is viewed around the NBA. Kevin Garnett took the time to talk about his potentially coming to Chicago.
"“I don’t really have a why. There was never an opportunity to, and I saw how Jerry (Reinsdorf), how they did Mike, you know, keeping it 100 (% truthful). And all players keep that in the back of their minds. If you treat the greatest like this … the greatest didn’t even have a chance to come back and have ownership. What he invested to build the Bulls, he didn’t even get a chance to come back and reap the benefits of that, so … players see that and remember that or put that in the back of their minds. At least I did.” – per Teddy Greenstein"
That’s a very telling statement from a Hall of Famer and Chicago legend.
Not only is it an acknowledgment of the dysfunction that has plagued this team since the Last Dance, but it’s also an admittance that the rumored changes coming might not be enough.
Chicago’s hopes rest on the notion that getting a “louder voice” in the general manager role will mend the fences between the franchise and the NBA court of opinion. That the players will see Paxson “out of the way” as the organization goes in a new direction.
Bull, no pun intended.
First, Garnett’s words point to Jerry Reinsdorf as the real issue. Citing The Chairman’s treatment of post-career Michael Jordan, Garnett goes on to say how that sort of thing sticks with players.
It may be true that Garnett is at least a generation of NBA players out of the current loop. But that doesn’t mean his sentiments aren’t shared elsewhere. We saw the Sacramento Kings players mock the Bulls for their workout under a newly-installed Jim Boylen. We’ve heard the stories about Dwyane Wade not signing with Chicago because they couldn’t also afford Chris Bosh.
The point is that there is at least some pocket of players that feel some type of way about the Bulls. And when looking at how the front office has handled the roster and coaches, it isn’t hard to understand why, let alone believe.
With the cat out of the bag, the Bulls should relieve Boylen of his duties despite his continued internal support. A new general manager will probably want to bring in his own guy.
That brings up another obstacle. Rumors of the Bulls search were accompanied by rumors that Paxson could maintain his power under the “new” structure. Any entertainment of this by the front office shows they have no intent on moving out their current place of residence, basketball hell.
The search for the new Bulls front office position is wide-spread, rather than in-house. John Paxson will not be stripped of any power, but will take a more behind-the-scenes role like Ken Williams has done with the White Sox. They will also be adding to the scouting department.
— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) February 17, 2020
Currently, the Bulls are slated to have the eighth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. It’s not seventh again, for whatever that’s worth. But it once again puts the franchise-altering talents out of reach.
The Bulls could see themselves as high as four in the lottery; only the Detroit Pistons have a tougher remaining schedule. They are currently one game ahead in the loss column of the current team slotted fourth, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
They’d need to jump up at least a couple of spots to have a shot at one of either North Carolina’s Cole Anthony (unlikely) or Arizona’s Nico Mannion. Top point guard option LaMelo Ball won’t be an option. But maybe, just maybe, they can get their hands on Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton or Killian Hayes, point guards who can score but thrive at creating for others.
Whatever the Bulls do it has to be decisive and clear what they are trying to accomplish. They’ve gone long enough trying plans that only make sense to those inside the building. Attracting free agents means selling them on the city as well as a plan for the future; a vision.
Right now the only vision of the Bulls is great All-Star Weekend hosts, terribly run organization. Maybe Common is available.