Chicago Bulls Have a "Leader In The Clubhouse" For Their Top Job

There are plenty of rumors surrounding the Chicago Bulls and what they have planned regarding their search for a new VP of Basketball Operations. Recent reports suggest John Paxson is not part of the process in any way. He's been relegated to an advisory role by COO Michael Reinsdorf who is in personal charge of the search himself, backed by his father Jerry Reinsdorf. After a rough start to their search that included being blocked from speaking to two candidates and refused by another, they seem to be zeroing in on their guy.

According to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, momentum has really begun to pick up on Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas being the guy Chicago ultimately chooses to lead their basketball operations moving forward.

"Team president and COO Michael Reinsdorf, son of managing partner Jerry Reinsdorf, has taken more of a leading role in the last couple of seasons and is spearheading the search to hire a new top basketball executive.

Multiple sources told Yahoo Sports that Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas is the leader in the clubhouse. Karnisovas has a strong draft record and is known to be good in player development, two of the bullet points the Bulls have earmarked for their next top basketball executive."

Karnisovas is probably one of the most accomplished options out there. He's been in the Nuggets front office since 2013, helping them rebuild the roster into a Western Conference contender. He had a big hand in drafting star Nikola Jokic and has strong ties overseas in Europe. He's been groomed well for this opportunity.

Chicago Bulls may still widen their search

Karnisovas being the favorite to land the job isn't a huge surprise. However, the Bulls might not move quickly to lure him in just yet. There is a belief the team doesn't want to rush such an important decision. Ownership is willing to take its time and make sure they get the right guy. This means they could end up widening the search to other candidates if they haven't already.

This is probably the right decision. While Karnisovas might be among the most qualified and deserving of the position, it doesn't necessarily mean he's the right choice for the organization. His credentials are excellent, but sometimes it's less about qualifications and more about fit. The Bulls want to make sure he's the right fit before moving forward.