According to ESPN’s Monday report, the Chicago Bulls have obtained clearance to conduct interviews with six individuals vying for the franchise’s top basketball operations position.
The organization will begin conducting meetings this week with several executives, including Matt Lloyd from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ general manager office, Detroit Pistons’ senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks’ senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers’ GM Mike Gansey, and San Antonio Spurs’ assistant GM Dave Telep, according to sources.
Additionally, the team plans to meet with Austin Brown, who serves as co-head of CAA’s basketball division in his role as an agent, ESPN’s sources indicated.
The Bulls made the decision to dismiss executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6, ending their six-year tenure that produced only a single playoff berth.
Following their disappointing 31-51 season, the organization hopes to finalize their new executive hire before the NBA Draft Combine takes place in Chicago from May 10-17.
Regardless of which candidate receives the position, head coach Billy Donovan appears secure in his role due to strong support from Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf.
“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf stated earlier this month. “If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”
