Arturas Karnisovas was hired in Chicago in April 2020. He took over a team that hadn't seen a winning season in five years, a playoff round won in six, and had no defined path to success. Since his arrival, the Bulls have gone 179-197, winning 47.6% of their games, and still haven't advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs. He has overseen four All-Star nominations with the Bulls, one single playoff game won, and one All-NBA nod via DeMar DeRozan in 2022. Billy Donovan has been the head coach throughout his stay and is similarly feeling the heat with the sustained mediocrity this season. After another unsuccessful campaign and disastrous management job throughout the year and at the trade deadline, it's feeling imminent that Karnisovas or Donovan will be gone after this season. If Karnisovas gets the axe, who can Chicago turn to to right the ship?
1. Bob Myers
Bob Myers would be a home run hire for the Chicago Bulls. There are no current ties to the organization that would indicate he has an interest in returning to the NBA or the Bulls. Still, as a catalyst for one of the most dominant and long-standing dynasties in American sports history, he's the most coveted front-office leader. A four-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Executive of the Year, this hire is a pipe dream that would instantly ignite Bulls fans' excitement for the future. Myers would have to be seeking a challenge and project if he were to pursue the keys to Chicago's historic franchise.
Bob Myers could be making his return to a NBA front office
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) February 22, 2025
“Bob Myers is a name to watch as a trusted advisor for NBA teams in the near future. Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are among some of the teams I've heard.”
Per @ScoopB
(https://t.co/r01pIBMECt) pic.twitter.com/1lfLoxVddD
2. Rob Hennigan
Rob Hennigan can potentially be the Chicago Bulls' front-office rendition of Ben Johnson. He's seen as the up-and-coming genius on the block, has been a part of the most successful rebuild of the last decade, and has his fingerprints coated on the most talented and youthful roster in the NBA. He was promoted to Vice President of Basketball Operations, the same position that Karnisovas holds in Chicago, in 2020 for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Since then, he's been integral in bringing in the seemingly endless list of young rising stars for the Western Conference's top-seeded team. His first significant stint in the front office was as the Orlando Magic's general manager. During that time, he made notable moves like trading for Nikola Vucevic and drafting Victor Oladipo.
Weaver's key role in Oklahoma City's strong history of player personnel decisions made him one of favorites from start of this search. Weaver is the fourth OKC executive under Sam Presti to leave for a GM job, including Rich Cho, Rob Hennigan and Michael Winger. https://t.co/pZIZAJaekM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2020
Should the Bulls grant Hennigan another shot at heading a front-office group?
3. Trent Redden
Trent Redden is a repeated name on the list of candidates Chicago would be zeroing in on, having been mentioned by CHSN's K.C. Johnson in 2020 as a potential hire during their last search for a front-office leader. Redden was the assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers until 2023, when he was promoted to general manager. A few notable moves include bringing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to LA, and he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers when they won the NBA Championship in 2016. He's been floated in front-office hiring waves for several years and will likely jumpstart his own project elsewhere soon.
Sources: After meeting with New Orleans' top executive David Griffin about a high-ranking front office job, assistant GM Trent Redden will stay with Clippers. Redden has great belief in Griffin, but is still too connected to LAC group and the unfinished business remaining there.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 29, 2019
Will Chicago finally move on from Arturas Karnisovas, and if they do, will one of these three be the target hire? With an imminent rebuild on deck and a front office that botched the last five years of the franchise, can this group be trusted with another cycle of draft stock and young assets to bring the organization back to a respectable level?
