3. Shane Battier, Miami Heat Director of Basketball Development and Team Analytics
The name on this list, among the three, that was most often discussed as a potential candidate in the Bulls general manager search thus far is the Miami Heat director of basketball development and team analytics and former NBA player Shane Battier. A front office exec that seems like a great candidate to be the Bulls next general manager might not get that chance so fast, though.
According to a report from Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel, Pat Riley and the Heat are fully intent on keeping Battier around and lot let him walk to the Bulls. That could mean that no matter the Bulls interest, that Battier won’t get the easy chance to walk if he so chooses. But this is something that could still happen given that discussions with any one candidate haven’t really taken off thus far.
Moreover, Battier was originally hired to be the director of basketball development with the Heat back in 2017. He plays a big role in the development of player analytics and roster construction at this point in time. The Heat put together an impressive roster that outperformed expectations for much of the regular season so far.
Battier did play his college ball with the Duke Blue Devils and was the sixth overall pick of the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2001 NBA Draft. He would play six seasons with the Grizzlies, five with the Houston Rockets, and three with the Heat. During his playing days in the NBA, he would win two titles, get two All-Defensive Team selections, and was a member of the 2001-02 All-Rookie Team.