Chicago Bulls: Immediate reaction to Gar Forman firing

The Chicago Bulls have officially fired their long-time general manager, Gar Forman. Here’s what that means for the future of the franchise.

The Chicago Bulls have been busy during the coronavirus pandemic. With the immediate future of the NBA up in the air, playoff teams are prepping for a potential return to action. The Bulls, on the other hand, clearly have their vision locked on next season.

This morning, the Bulls officially announced their biggest hire in years, Arturas Karnisovas, as executive vice president of basketball operations. It didn’t take long for more front office changes to be made.

Per Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago, Gar Forman has officially (and finally) been fired. Forman had been with the Bulls since 1998 and was named the general manager in 2009. As of today, he’ll no longer be involved in the operation of Bulls basketball. It’s been a long time coming.

This news came with additional news that John Paxson is shifting into a role as a senior advisor. Per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, he won’t be around the team on a day-to-day basis.

That’s right Bulls fans. No more GarPax jokes. No more “Fire GarPax” chants. No more blaming the dynamically disappointing front office duo. It’s time for a new era.

My first thought as the news broke: They finally did it.

For years, it felt like Forman would never get fired. I thought he would have to voluntarily step down if the Bulls ever wanted a different GM. That makes this morning’s news seem surreal. Am I dreaming? Did Forman actually get the boot? Is hope for a brighter future finally here?

Of course, GarPax didn’t actually play the games and Karnisovas won’t play the games either. It ultimately all comes down to the players playing well, and the Bulls still have the same roster as they did a few weeks ago, so they remain far away from their goals. But having a competent front office is an absolute necessity. That’s where everything starts. And the Bulls are finally looking like they’ll have that.

There’s a long way to go, but at least there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Chicago Bulls fans.