Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is well aware of what the Chicago Bulls are going through. He's heard like everybody else that the team is preparing to make massive changes to their front office structure. GM Gar Forman is already out and team president John Paxson isn't far behind. Already word has leaked COO Michael Reinsdorf is heading up the search for the next man they hope to put in charge.
According to K.C. Johnson and other top insiders, the list of names is centered around Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan and Heat assistant general manager Adam Simon. While that list isn't lacking for talent, Cuban believes it's missing a key name. He told Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com as much.
"Michael Finley would be amazing in that role,'' Mavs owner Mark Cuban tells DallasBasketball.com. "Fin has had a huge impact on the Mavs. … Amazing.''
"Fin would be so good there,'' Cuban tells us, "that I don't know if I would even give permission for them to talk to him.''
Mark Cuban understands Chicago pretty well
If one were to look back at some of the most successful team-builders in Chicago sports history, they'll find a lot of guys with a personal stake in the city. George Halas was born there. GM Jim Finks, the architect of the 1985 Bears, attended high school in Illinois. Jerry Krause, the man who helped forge the dynasty Bulls of the 1990s was born in Chicago.
Dale Tallon, who laid the foundation for the dynasty Blackhawks from 2010 to 2015 played for the organization back in the 1970s. Kenny Williams played for the White Sox in the late 1980s. He later built the 2005 world champion team. So it's pretty clear that Cuban knows what he's talking about.
Finley grew up a huge Bulls fan. Michael Jordan is still his favorite player. Chicago is his home. He joined the Mavericks front office in 2015 as their vice president of basketball operations. Since then he's helped construct a contender featuring superstar Luka Doncic along with Kristaps Prozingis. All done through savvy trades and other maneuvers.
He's learned under one of the best. Maybe Cuban is right and the Bulls need to make that phone call.
