Watching Ayo Dosunmu score 43 points in a critical playoff game was a bittersweet moment for Bulls fans, but it did at least make one thing clear: The top candidate to fill Chicago's vacant GM position is the guy who helped bring Dosunmu to Minnesota in the first place — Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd.
Like Dosunmu, Lloyd is a Chicago native who spent time with the Bulls before eventually landing in Minnesota and becoming one of the Wolves' top decision-makers.
Lloyd played a pivotal role in coercing Chicago to trade Dosunmu for the low price of two bench players and four second-round picks. He just got to watch the 26-year-old carry the Timberwolves to a massive playoff win.
That's the kind of leader the Bulls need.
Ayo Dosunmu's career night just vaulted Wolves GM to top of Bulls list
Matt Lloyd is one of several candidates CEO Michael Reinsdorf is reportedly interviewing to take over as the Bulls' new head of basketball operations. That list currently stands at five, but watching Dosunmu from afar — surely with seller's remorse — should make his decision easier.
Chicago's former front office made some horrendous decisions at this year's trade deadline, but the Dosunmu deal is arguably the worst of any. Worst of any, as in, like, any trade any team made.
In said deal, the Bulls acquired two kind-of-promising young players in Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller and four second-round selections. You didn't need the benefit of hindsight to see it was highway robbery in the moment.
If you're a Bulls fan still holding out hope that this won't haunt you forever, well ... you can officially give up on that.
With Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo out with respective leg injuries, Dosunmu's career-high 43 points led Minnesota to a 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets and a 3-1 series lead.
So why not steal the GM who humiliated you and pilfered your best trade asset?
Matt Lloyd would be a home run hire as Bulls next GM
Lloyd was born in Chicago and worked for his hometown team from 1995 to 2012. After moving on to Orlando for a brief minute, he took a job in Minnesota working for Wolves' President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly.
The 52-year-old was the senior VP of basketball operations for the front office that traded for Rudy Gobert, sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York and worked out long-term extensions with Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid.
During his time in the Windy City, Lloyd was the director of college scouting. In Orlando, he oversaw the organization's professional, college and international scouting departments.
A native Chicagoan who understands the franchise and has a keen scouting eye seems like a solid hire for the Bulls.
But after watching Dosunmu carry a title contender to a playoff win over the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets, Lloyd should sit atop Reinsdorf's list.
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