2. Alonzo Mourning/Shane Battier, Miami Heat
Picking most of the more tenured and well-respected candidates from the Miami Heat front office is never really a bad way to go for a team like the Bulls that is trying to restructure their management structure and organizational image. The Bulls and Heat tend to have opposite images around the NBA, which is interesting since Jimmy Butler was the star of each team at some point in the last five years.
The first of the two front office candidates that the Bulls could consider for their general manager opening from the Heat is their vice president of player programs and former center Alonzo Mourning. This Hall-of-Famer, seven-time NBA All-Star selection, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year held his current role in the Heat front office since the lead up to the 2008-09 season.
Mourning plays a prominent role in shaping the roster development, construction, and image of the Heat organization. There’s clear value that he could bring to the table in a similar role with the Bulls.
And, the second of the two candidates from the Heat front office is their director of basketball development former two-time NBA Champion small forward Shane Battier. Back in February 2017, Battier was hired to his current role in the Heat front office. Like Finley, he is a recent retiree from the NBA and is quickly becoming a rising star in the managerial ranks.
Battier was a well-liked and well-traveled guy during his playing days in the NBA. And that image seems to carry over to his days up in an NBA front office. He’s a good option if the Bulls actually decide to look his way anytime soon.