The Bulls have no plans to replace executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson or general manager Gar Forman in their front office anytime soon, team president and COO Michael Reinsdorf tells K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Reinsdorf confirmed in no uncertain terms that Paxson and Forman would be back next season.
“Absolutely. We believe they’ve done a great job,” Reinsdorf said of the duo. “I know that in this market, with some of our fans and some in the media, they look at it differently. That perplexes me. Let’s talk about them individually because that’s another thing I don’t understand — why they’re referred to as ‘GarPax’ when they have different job responsibilities.
“… I said [previously] that if we ever felt we weren’t headed in the right direction that we’d be open to change. But we’re nowhere near that. John’s ability to build rosters is proven. We have the utmost confidence in him.”
Reinsdorf took exception to the idea that the Bulls have gone through a handful of rebuilds under Paxson and Forman, arguing that this is just the club’s second rebuild, and stating that he believes it’s very much on the right track. Pointing to promising young players like Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter, Reinsdorf likened the Bulls to the Kings and expressed optimism that Chicago can take a similar step forward next season.
The Bulls’ president and COO also offered a defense of Forman’s draft record, praising the GM for selecting players like Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic, Taj Gibson, and Bobby Portis outside of the lottery over the years. The selection of Markkanen at No. 7 in 2017 earned high praise from Reinsdorf as well.
“If we look at Lauri Markkanen, if you did the 2017 draft over again, Lauri in theory could be the No. 1 pick in the draft,” Reinsdorf said. “You might say Jayson Tatum or Donovan Mitchell. But Lauri could be the No. 1 pick. That’s how good that pick was at No. 7.”
While Paxson, Forman, and head coach Jim Boylen have all received plenty of criticism from segments of the Bulls’ fanbase over the course of the 2018/19 season, it sounds like all three will be back to start the 2019/20 campaign. In addition to praising the club’s management team, Reinsdorf echoed Paxson’s earlier comments on Boylen returning for next season, lauding the work he has done with Markkanen and LaVine.
“Nothing has changed from what John has said,” Reinsdorf said. “I’m very happy with the job that Jim has done. Everything he has said he was going to do, he has done.”
Cant wait for the comments on this one.
Bulls fans are whiney.
If they dump LaVine they’ll be fine.
They got a good return on Butler and have been drafting well… Not sure what else you’d expect.
Dump the good return they got?
Worse than the State or Federal government. Absolutely NO accountability. Must be nice to have that kind of job security. Most of us out here actually have to do good work in order to keep our jobs.
Did you read the article or are you so flustered that you couldn’t?
Not sure what else they’re supposed to do other than keep drafting good.. Bringing in Porter Jr gives them a recruiter for some talent this off-season.
Porter who?
Otto Porter. And I get it. Not a big name. But he’s hella productive on both ends of the court. Top 15 wing easily.
He’s not a U-22 youngster is my point, tho.
Gar, is that you??
Do you actual follow the team, or are you one of those guys that just jumps in occasionally and thinks he knows it all?
The entire point is their track record is terrible. One of the reasons they can’t even sign anyone good is BECAUSE of the horrible reputations of these two bozos.
Brush up on what’s actually going on in the organization, and then come back and talk to me, fella.
Spot on with your comments!
No. It’s because they are too young.
Thus why they added Porter Jr.
I guess you could try reading but the tears seem to be getting in ur way.
Death, Taxes and GarPax keeping their Jobs. These are life’s only certainties
lol
Absolutely Ridiculous!
Good time for a vote of confidence, after the Porter trade looks good and the team is above 50% of late.
In WHAT world is Lauri better than Mitchell or Tatum? They must be smoking some good stuff in Chicago
The world we live in….
I guess you can’t look at stats? Would rather just talk out the side of your neck, eh?
Tatum has been awful lately. Always been super overrated.
Mitchell is fantastic, but if you could get a 7’0 stretch big that’s just as productive, it’s a toss up.
In what world is Tatum as good as Mitchell and Lauri? Must be a Boston fan eh? Tatum has struggled all year, definitely not the player the Celtics want you to believe.
So in other words, they are still going to suck.
Sigh. It’s time to find a new team.
Right in time for them to turn the corner….
They have been drafting well. Did great on that Butler trade. They have cap space, will have a top pick this summer, and already have the ability to win games. Go be a Sun’s fan buddy!
They are going to continue to have cap space because no one of any value will come to this wreck of an organization! They will have a lot of good picks in the next few drafts, because they are going to continue to stuck! I want to have some of the stuff Michael Reinsdorf is smoking! Must be really good!
The Bulls are on the come up! Though I think GarPax may have been watching the draft on ESPN as it was happening and seeing that list of “next best available” and going with that player every year. That said, Lauri falling to 7 is just stupid… PHX. Nice haul for Butler actually. If Lavine would play some solid D, which he is very capable of, that would make a big difference. Still GarPax has made quite a few blunders so I see why new MGMT could be good.
Also whoever said players don’t want to go to Chicago forgot that D-Wade signed there. And when Melo could actually still ball it was 2nd behind NY for him. And also Kyrie, who wanted to go to Chicago but then they traded Jimmy Butler and KI ended up in Boston (not on his list). But nah Chicago’s on par with Memphis in FA’s minds.
Phoenix East
Markkanen, Carter Jr, Porter Jr all good moves. LaVine is basically a younger, starter version of Jordan Clarkson for 5-6M more a year which is less than ideal. Dunn is a fringe starter.
They made some decent moves, others are puzzling like not moving Lopez or even Dunn. Moving Portis and getting something for Parker was smart, don’t want to overpay him or bring the other back. Porter Jr is definately overpaid but he has a skillset you need in this league. 3-D and he’s on fire from 3.
For all the hate and clownery, they’re doing an okay job somehow.
Some people just don’t understand a proper rebuild.
People also don’t realize how sick these 21-23 year olds are gonna be when they’re 27
Naturally. It’s so sad and messed up. Reinsdorf’s loyalty to clueless, inept front office guys has rendered both the Bulls and White Sox complete irrelevant jokes. Sadly these teams will never be good or even relevant until he’s out of the picture.
The Bulls are in a rebuilding mode…. since Jordan left.
I made an account on this page just so I can write this on this comment thread.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bulls fan since 95′. Bulls fan since i was 5, for the math illiterate.