https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29013074/sources-bulls-tab-nuggets-gm-arturas-karnisovas-lead-basketball-ops

The Chicago Bulls are hiring Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas to become the franchise's new executive vice president of basketball operations, league sources told ESPN.

The sides were finalizing contractual details on a multiyear deal late Wednesday night, after the team offered the job to Karnisovas shortly after completing a second round of interviews, sources said.

https://digife.com

A few thoughts:

01. This is good news. The NBA has changed in the last 17 years, the Bulls haven't.

02. If Jim Boylen is still the coach when the 20/21 season begins, I'll know Karnisovas is slightly handcuffed. It won't surprise me, but it'll be disappointing.

03. Markkanen voicing his concerns about staying with the Bulls HAD to have forced their hand to act during this downtime.

04. Scouting will now look at prospects outside of Ames, IA.

05. I think there's something solid with this core. Lavine is on a very friendly contract. Markkanen definitely regressed but needs touches. Both Carter Jr. and
White are kids. These guys need good coaching and development.

06. Karnisovas was my 2nd choice after Webster from Toronto, but I'm happy. I got a little worried when the Pacers GM turned down the job.

07. This. Is. Good. News.

08. I still wanted a full house cleaning of the front office. Everyone from coaches to the Bulls trainer Jeff Tanaka. So it's not quite #FireGarPax.

https://digife.com

From "Who is Arturas Karnisovas?"
https://www.patreon.com/posts/35788817

“Learning from that situation is that you can come up with 60, 80, 100 ideas and one of them might stick,” Karnisovas told Chris Mannix in The Crossover podcast. “But it’s a relentless try of trying to make things happen, is what I got from Houston. Other teams, they don’t want to call and lose the negotiations by engaging teams. It was the opposite. They would call every team constantly and look for ideas of how they can make their team better. That’s what I took and still to this day, I believe in coming up with 100 ideas. Maybe one will stick.”

https://digife.com

Arturas Karnisovas plans to hire person of color to be Bulls general manager

https://sports.yahoo.com/source-arturas-karnisovas-plans-to-hire-person-of-color-to-be-bulls-general-manager-151020542.html

Bulls had a huge representation issue with their front office. Glad a few reporters finally called them out on it and it forced the Bulls' hand a bit (though making an announcement was stupid). Bulls have had literally one POC head coach in the history of the organization and they're the only team besides the Spurs to not have a POC head coach since 2004. About damn time they hire a POC and it's a step in the right direction.

Michael Finley or Shane Battier would be good picks for GM.

On the coaching front, thank god all signs point towards Boylen being fired. Kenny Atkinson would be my top pick and I think he would fit well with the young team.

Finally some good news for Bulls fans. I been #FireGarPax for a long time and now hopefully the organization will change its culture, modernize, and take steps towards contention. This season's been a wash so I'd like to see what the young core can do together for one more season under a competent coach before making big moves.

I'd take any one of those guys.

https://digife.com

this is a lot of change quickly but garpax absolutely failed have to wipe their imprint off the team so we can move on.

basketball. My research and interest does not go that far.

However, on the coaching front, I would like to see the bulls make a run at Jason Kidd on Becky Hammond.

1. The main thing the bulls need is player development. This is something that Hoiberg and Boylen were and are not able to do. Jason Kidd is very good in that department. He was instrumental in Giannis' development, and the fact that he is one of the greatest PGs to ever play the game, he would be instrumental in the growth of Coby White. I also like Becky Hammond, appears to be a tough, smart coach, and she knows how to design offenses. And the bull could really make some noise by being the first team to hire a female head coach.


2. There needs to be better penetration and facilitation on offense. The bulls need a facilitator, and a player who can be dominant on both sides of the ball. The game has changed. You just can't be one dimensional anymore. You have to be able to 3 and D, or facilitate and D, even centers have to be able to pass and move the offense. So the bulls need to address that in the draft. If they get the number 1 pick, then Lamelo Ball should be the pick. A 6'8 PG that can do everything on both sides of the ball is a no brainer. You can play him from the SF position to run the offense ( similar to pippen) and run white at the 1 and lavine at the 2.

3.What is Laurie? We do not know what he is. He has the potential, and the talent is there. However, he has yet to turn the corner, and make that next step. This needs to be answered asap. If he is not going to evolve into the player that we need him to be, then we surely can get some picks or major talent in return for him.

4. Trade kris Dunn. He is a defensive beast. However, he offers nothing offensively. Harrison is a defensive beast as well, and is way better offensively. Dunn shoots 25 percent from 3. Harrison shoots 38 percent from 3. We don't need two players who are basically the same, especially when one of them has the better offensive upside.

https://twitter.com/McGrawDHBulls/status/1248313427698675712

"Still very early in process, but wouldn’t be surprised if Karnisovas spends next season evaluating Jim Boylen and #Bulls’ coaching staff. This summer is about front office changes."

https://twitter.com/McGrawDHBulls/status/1248313696608063490

Keep in mind, #Bulls went to a lot of trouble bringing in new assistants Chris Fleming from Nets and Roy Rogers from Rockets last summer. Both those guys have multi-year deals, as does Boylen.

https://digife.com

What is there to evaluate? So basically waste another season, and have him try to develop our current players and drafted player?

If that happens, then it's going to be the same ole same ole. That is the difference between contenders and pretenders. Contenders don't evaluate. They know what they have or what they need.


Boylen is the man and everyone knows it.

Correction: Boylen is not the man and everyone knows it.

The Bulls are hiring Pelicans executive JJ Polk as assistant general manager under head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium .Karnisovas makes first hiring decision.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1248687950260551686


Obviously nothing is decided on the coaching front and Jim Boylen's future yet, but there's been a lot of smoke around Adrian Griffin and the Bulls today. One exec told me Griff is so ready that he's "over-qualified" for most coaching jobs.

https://twitter.com/JCowleyHoops/status/1248726459130224645


OKC's Troy Weaver, Dallas' Michael Finley, Denver's Calvin Booth, OKC's Nazi Mohammed, and Orlando's Matt Lloyd are all in play for Bulls GM job, said a source. Booth might be the most ready - but hardest to get, while the source said Mohammed may end up being a gem.

https://twitter.com/JCowleyHoops/status/1248739212486225926

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-chicago-bulls-gar-forman-john-paxson-20200413-vkhskgygcvelxb5nzyet4med5e-story.html

https://digife.com

Source: Bulls reach agreement to make Marc Eversley general manager

https://t.co/IgQa1ShSDe?amp=1

https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1254657435123560450

Token like a motherfucker.

I genuinely don't know enough about this man to know whether this was a token hire or not.

is this a bad hire?

>I genuinely don't know enough about this man to know whether
>this was a token hire or not.

Exactly, who the fuck is he? Past Bulls management had a rep for being all white so they had to throw a black face in there but somebody that would just be happy to be there and not really do anything.

The bulls didn't interview or consider a person of color for their VP of basketball operations. They released a statement that they did have a few black executives in mind, but those individuals were not available for the position. However, they didn't release the names of those individuals, so we do know if that was really the case.


I have no idea who the new GM is, but according to his resume, he has been in the executive ring for quite some time. He was the executive of scouting for the Wizards, and then went on to become the executive of player personnel and assistance GM For the Sixers. He got his start in 2006, where he was hired by Colangelo to join the staff of the Toronto Raptors.

Based on his merits, he is qualified for the position. I don't think there will be any argument with that. He just appears to be a safe minority choice, who will simple fall in line.

Karnisovas is about building a diverse team, diverse in thought.
He's on record as saying he wants someone that brings something he can't.

Like y'all, I don't know much about dude.
But you go so long with a front office that you don't trust,
I kinda trust that AK knows what he wants at this point.
I was banging the drum of change, well here it is.

https://digife.com

If Paxson was still in a decision making position (all reports say he is not) then you would probably be on to something.

Lots of smoke around Adrian Griffin replacing Boylen's dumbass. Wouldn't be surprised if that happens.

Karnisovas said he was "so emotional" watching Eps 3-4 of "The Last Dance" that he called Eversley late Sunday night to hire him instead of calling him as planned Monday AM.

https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1256267789410672644


Karnisovas on Eversley: "I will use a lot of his ideas. In many ways, his values are close to mine. We value inclusion of staff. We will emphasize transparency and communication. At end of day, we're both basketball junkies."

https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1256268001650892801


Eversley on 1st black GM in Bulls history: "I'm a black man in a leadership position in a city with a lot of black youth. I think this position gives me some resources to help drive change."

https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1256271483006902275


Marc Eversley: "We are going to establish a culture of winning in Chicago. Today is a dream come true for me."

https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1256268263278948352

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/what-being-first-black-gm-in-bulls-history-means-marc-eversley

What being the first black GM in Bulls history means to Marc Eversley
By Rob Schaefer May 01, 2020 5:20 PM

On Friday, Marc Eversley officially became the first black general manager in Bulls franchise history, a meaningful tentpole for both Eversley and the organization.

Eversley said he views that distinction as both an honor and responsibility.

“Being the first black general manager in Chicago Bulls history is an honor that I don’t take lightly. I think there’s tremendous responsibility that can go with that,” Eversley said in a sit-down with our K.C. Johnson. “There’s a lot of youth, both boys and girls in Chicago, who may look up to me someday. I’ll be able to share my story and hopefully that may trigger something in them that helps them along the way.

“I’m thrilled. I’m appreciative. But I understand there’s a responsibility that goes with that. I’m looking forward to getting to work.”

Within the Bulls’ building, that work will involve flipping the fortunes of an organization amid a rudderless rebuild that has culminated in wide-spanning front office turnover. In facing the challenges that come with that, Eversley plans to employ an intensive, players-first approach to organization building and development.

White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams told our K.C. Johnson last month that Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf valued candidates with the ability to “relate with players from a basketball standpoint and a cultural standpoint” in filling out the front office. It’s why the Bulls now sit with two lead executives in Karnisovas and Eversley who are vaunted for their relationships across the basketball universe and player development acumen.

“It's our responsibility, (it) falls on our shoulders to seek diversity and divergence through the hiring process,” Karnisovas said. “The luxury that I have is many years being in our league and league office and being around the personnel to get to know personally. It was a great experience for me and I'm so glad we settled on Marc.”

Eversley also becomes the seventh black general manager in the NBA by accepting this post. He joins B.J. Armstrong, Randy Brown, Clarence Gaines Jr. and Billy McKinney as black executives in Bulls franchise history.

But, again, the milestone is about more than statistics to him. Eversely, both in a feature with ESPN’s The Undefeated and on his introductory conference call, emphasized that he sees his installation as a chance to make an impact off the court, and in the community he will soon reside.

“I'm in a leadership position now in a city with so many black youths, I see this as a great opportunity,” Eversley said on the conference call. “I think being visible is going to be important, I think being invested is going to be important. I think this position with the Bulls provides me with resources to help drive some change.”

If his decorated career — which has seen him ascend from Nike retail store manager to marketing executive, to well-regarded personnel executive with three different NBA franchises — is any indication, that change is coming and it will be positive.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2020/5/8/21252320/key-bulls-players-jim-boylen-cloudy-future

The article basically says some players spoke very highly of Boylen,
but some key players dogged him. Nothing new there.
But this line here? This didn't surprise me:

"However, the Sun-Times has learned that things are staying vague for a reason. Ownership, as well as former vice president of basketball operations-turned-adviser John Paxson, would like Boylen back and have told the coach as much."

https://digife.com

Boylen is a substitute teacher, nothing more. We need player development ASAP. This lets me know that the bulls are not trying to change a damn thing. If they are perplexed on what they should do about Boylen, then we are screwed, because tougher decisions are going to be needed down the road.

And why is paxon chiming in?....He no longer has power to make decisions, and he should not be called upon for his opinion. I’ve seen the bulls shoot themselves out of games because Boylen refused to get points in the paint, and continued to instruct the bulls to shoot threes. A terrible three point shooting team being ordered to keep shooting.

>And why is paxon chiming in?....He no longer has power to
>make decisions, and he should not be called upon for his
>opinion.

If the new front office replaces Boylen, and that person fails, Paxson and ownership can say, "Well, we always wanted to keep Jim".

Now, I don't think Paxson has any real power. The demotion in title was just
an easy way to let him go without embarrassing him.
Unlike Gar Foreman, the Bulls love Paxson too much.

https://digife.com

I don't think we could go wrong with either one,
but I'm leaning towards Griffin for some odd reason.
Why didn't I know that Udoka was engaged to Nia Long?

Either way, the Bulls could be in a situation with the head coach.
Both Griffin and Udoka will be in the playoffs with Toronto and Philly respectively.
When do you get a chance to talk to them?
And with the 20/21 season starting in December, when would they have
time to work with the team?


https://www.phillyvoice.com/report-sixers-assistant-ime-udoka-candidate-bulls-head-coach-job-jim-boylen/

Report: Sixers assistant Ime Udoka could emerge as candidate for job with Bulls

So who could the next coach be? Two current assistant coaches are standing out as increasingly possible Boylen replacements whenever the job may open: Toronto’s Adrian Griffin and Philadelphia’s Ime Udoka. Both have ties to the new front-office regime. Both have long been mentioned in coaching circles as lead-man material. And on multiple levels, both fit the mold the Bulls previously have pursued.

Udoka, meanwhile, is a name one league source said the Bulls are likely to take a look at after picking up Eversley, who worked with Udoka this season with the Sixers.

https://digife.com

That’s been known regarding Nia Long back when he was on the spurs bench.

I don’t know about either one of those guys. Philly’s team is used horribly in my opinion, and better coaching would put them on a higher level. Now I know thats all on the head coach , but Udoka is an assistant.

Does anyone of them know about player development ?

I say get Kenny Atkinson on the horn right now. That should be a no brainer to me. Erik Spolstra and Atkinson are the best when it comes to player development.

This team does not need a rookie coach. No way No how.

I don't know where Adrian Griffin lands, but both are being pushed
as the NEXT guys to land a job. It wouldn't surprise me if
Udoka is the pick due to his philly ties to Eversley.
Plus, he spent many years under Pop as a player and coach.
So there's your player development.

https://digife.com

Chicago's defense is what kept them in games, and it hasn't really been a problem. The bulls need offense, badly. The offense was basically Lavine having to put up crazy points and having a big game, or White doing the same thing.


Chicago is top 14 in Points Allowed, giving up 109 points in a high scoring league. Toronto is number 1, giving up 106 points per game.Defense is not our issue.

So why bring in a defensive coach?

honestly asking.

I thought that was mostly up to assistants. Does Spo even pick his assistants in Miami?

>That’s been known regarding Nia Long back when he was on
>the spurs bench.
>
>I don’t know about either one of those guys. Philly’s team
>is used horribly in my opinion, and better coaching would put
>them on a higher level. Now I know thats all on the head coach
>, but Udoka is an assistant.
>
>Does anyone of them know about player development ?
>
>I say get Kenny Atkinson on the horn right now. That should be
>a no brainer to me. Erik Spolstra and Atkinson are the best
>when it comes to player development.
>
> This team does not need a rookie coach. No way No how.

An entire organization from coaching to the front office gets credit when players develop.
It takes GMs, coaches, strength and conditioning teams, etc.
I don't think you can just put it on one guy.
That's why it was so crazy to see that the Bulls had ONE guy on their player development "team".
It was his sole responsibility.

https://digife.com

Right.

And it takes a coach to put all of those elements in play, and to be able to get the best out of each and every player.

Giannis was highly developed by Jason Kidd, who he constantly thanks for his ascension to becoming a MVP type player.

Atkinson took one our our rejects and turned him into one of the best PGs in the league, as well as crucially developing Joe Harris, Allen, and Cariss Levert.

And Spoelsrta who since Lebron has taken whatever players he is given, pushing them to overachieve. Bam, Whiteside, Duncan, etc.....Riley aint never letting him go.



( this was before Bam became the player he is now)

1. Player Development: Erik Spoelstra

Don't look now, but Spo is on a tear. He, in concert with Pat Riley, has been plucking under-appreciated prospects and spinning them into gold. RumpleSpoelstra has used his magic spinning wheel on NBA castoff Hassan Whiteside, undrafted free agent Tyler Johnson, and 2nd round pick Josh Richardson (40th overall), producing above-average NBA players.

Now, obviously, the credit here belongs more to the players than Spo, but he is identifying overlooked talent and putting the players in a position to succeed. Did you know the Grizzlies signed and waived Whiteside twice in 2014 before the Heat scooped him up for good?

Hopefully, RumpleSpoelstra can keep his magic wheel spinning on Bam and produce an All-Star level player (or better). The athletic big man is already progressing, busting out impressive agility, smooth jumpers and ferocious dunking. The Heat even ran their offense through him late against the Pacers.""





Look at Markkanen....He needs to be developed soon

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1273351275225251840

No lie, when the report came out that AK needed to see Boylen face to face,
and that he wanted more time to evaluate the coaching staff
maaaan, a part of me was like, "Watch this dude hold on to Boylen for one more season"
Now supposedly the guy that was a front runner is being interviewed by the Knicks.

I'm still not worried for two reasons.
1. Adrian Griffin might be their guy.
2. AK and Eversley know the Bulls reputation with coaches is horrible.
so the goal is to fire Boylen after going through the motions.
Not that a new GM has never tried to bring in their own guy (I mean, it's expected).

https://digife.com

he'd have been a good look for the Bulls, too.

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1273618711484735491?s=19

...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft

From KC Johnson:

"They have said the plan to take their time to form relationships with the coaching staff and watch them in action. …
that will mean player workouts at the Advocate Center, shared film study, and draft and free agency prep.
As previously reported, Karnisovas has empowered Boylen. They have shared meetings about player development plans and draft preparation."

What organization does all this with a coach that they're gonna fire?

https://digife.com

Be ready y'all.

https://twitter.com/JoshJBullsHoops/status/1278402036338356224?s=19

https://digife.com

https://t.co/8gTDHKUX7W
Article by Darnell Mayberry

Here's a clip that they're sharing on twitter:

Boylen has long touted unwavering support he's received from ownership, and many in and around the organization view Michael Reinsdorf as Boylen's true saving grace, a believer in the coach's vision, dedication, energy, passion and willingness to work in unison with all departments. Former executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson, Karnisovas' predecessor who has moved into the shadows as a senior advisor of basketball operations, also holds Boylen in high regard. But the coach has been empowered by the chairman as well.

"Jerry Reinsdorf asked me to be the CEO," Boylen told The Athletic in October. "He never said 'coach' to me one time. (It was) 'Hire the right people. Get them organized. Set the course. Maintain the course. Correct the course. 'That's what he asked me to do. I'm here to lead. The great head coaches are leaders."

On the face of it, their continued confidence in Boylen comes off as tone-deaf. But internally, the Bulls believe Boylen is in fact a competent head coach and remain curious about what he might be capable of when everything is stripped away so that he may focus solely on coaching. As his tenure wore on last season, Boylen wielded more and more authority, focusing his attention on relatively trivial matters ranging from how the media relations staff operated to game night meetings with season ticket holders shortly before tip-off. Boylen reveled in being the leading figure of the Bulls and having his fingerprints on so many aspects of the organization.

https://digife.com

That nothing would change. This is proof of that. Everything the bulls are doing and will do is nominal, in name and title only.


This organization is partial, tone deaf, and misguided, and everything points to the owner. The team is a reflection of the owner's inability to be a basketball owner who has basketball substance. This is merely a financial vessel for him, nothing more and nothing less.


He told the coach to be the CEO of the team. That says a lot, and all you need to know. And this high confidence in Boylen, simply means he is a puppet guy, who Jerry feels comfortable with.

I beg the organization to prove me wrong....Please do.

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2020/07/23/report-out-of-new-york-bulls-expected-to-stand-pat-with-jim-boylen/

My initial thoughts? Not surprised.

Question: Is the Bulls GM/President job so good you'd accept it
knowing you'd have to wait a year to get rid of a coach the owner wanted?

https://digife.com

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1294264336593104897

"Arturas Karnisovas makes the change on Boylen and will start a search right away for his replacement. Among many expected to be considered: Denver assistant Wes Unseld, Jr., former Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson; Toronto assistant Adrian Griffin; Bucks assistant Darvin Ham."

https://digife.com

Plus the Bulls haven't had a black head coach since Bill Cartwright.
Most fans are leaning towards Griffin or Atkinson.

https://digife.com

>Plus the Bulls haven't had a black head coach since Bill
>Cartwright.
>Most fans are leaning towards Griffin or Atkinson.

in this thread.

You see them Atkinson boys last night? Player development!

Levert, Harris, Allen, Temple.

And Spencer Dimwiddie came out of our organization! Atkinson raised that boy, after the bulls didn’t realize what they had.

Just give Kenny the job right now.

a black coach would be nowhere near another HC job with that record lol

nice

Boylan wasn’t going to be able deliver that.

Let’s go! I expect Kenny on a flight to ORD any day now.

my trust in Karnisovas is restored.

Top choice is Kenny Atkinson. He's a proven coach whose strength is working with young players and developing them to exceed their potential. He'd be perfect for the Bulls for the next couple of years

not a huge fan of Adrian Griffin and he seems like a retread for the Bulls. He was already a Bulls assistant coach for five years yet they didn't see him worthy of promoting. Hiring him again as a head coach would be another example of the Bulls going with somebody they're familiar with.

The Bulls past 4 coaches were first year coaches. I'd much rather they pay for an experienced coach where they know what they're getting rather than rolling the dice on yet another rookie coach.

I borderline wanted nothing to do with this team with Boylen in charge. It was embarrassing. We were laughingstocks. Players despised him, fans despised him. His schemes and coaching style were archaic. The only person who liked him was Paxson. Until this firing it seemed like the old regime was still pulling the strings. I wanted nothing to do with that.

Today is a good day.