Rumors Are Chicago Bulls Already Have a New Head Coach in Mind

Arturas Karnisovas isn't bowing to outside pressure. The new Executive VP of Basketball Operations has a plan and he's taking it step-by-step. That plan involves filling out his new Chicago Bulls front office first. He's already done this to a large extent, capped by the arrival of new GM Mark Eversley. More hires are expected in the coming days to expand what had been one of the small front office operations in the NBA. However, fans don't really care about that at this point.

All they want to know is what fate awaits Jim Boylen.

It's hardly a secret most people are beyond fed up with the head coach, his baffling game management, and his 39 wins in two seasons. Reports are Boylen feels his odds are strong to stay put. However, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times says that the arrival of Eversley may have changed that. It puts the Bulls in great position to hire a name that's been connected to them since the overhaul began.

"A source told the Sun-Times earlier this week that Eversley still has good relations with the Raptors organization he came up with, and that’s why assistant coach Adrian Griffin’s name continues popping up as a potential Boylen replacement.

Griffin was an assistant under former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, has a great understanding of defense as well as player relationship, and is coming off a championship season as a member of the Raptors coaching staff.

Add to the fact that Karnisovas played with Griffin back in their Seton Hall days, and the ringing endorsements Griffin has been getting league-wide the last few seasons as a head coach candidate, Boylen’s days on the job could be numbered."

Chicago Bulls aren't going to be rushed into this decision

Adrian Griffin just makes so much sense for the Bulls. He played for the organization on two different stints. He was part of their most recent run of success as an assistant under Thibodeau. Now he has a championship ring with an organization that was never viewed as a viable threat in the East for most of its existence. Griffin isn't just qualified to run the Bulls. He can run just about any team in the league. He's beyond ready for the opportunity.

Chicago just makes the most sense.

He's not the only candidate though. The Bulls were recently connected to longtime assistant Ime Udoka, whom Eversley also shares a relationship from Philadelphia. Udoka played almost 20 years of basketball at a professional level including seven seasons in the NBA. He eventually became a trusted assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio and helped the Spurs win their fifth championship in 2014. Then last year he headed off to Philadelphia.

Something to keep in mind as the process moves forward.