Here's some welcome news for Chicago Bulls fans amid these trying times: current (and maligned) team vice president of basketball operations John Paxson is not only willing to step aside as the franchise looks to overhaul its front office — he's in favor of the idea.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Paxson is “all for stepping aside from his position and acting more as an adviser to the Reinsdorfs when the front-office restructure is finalized, but would even completely step down from the organization if the Reinsdorfs and the new-look executive group deemed it better for the rebuild to continue.”
On Apr. 3, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Bulls had discussed the plan to restructure its front office and had started a formal search process to find a new executive.
Ownership has discussed the plan with Executive VP of Basketball Operations John Paxson and GM Gar Forman, sources said. Paxson is likely to continue in an advisory role with franchise; there are expected to be more conversations with Forman about his future too. https://t.co/zLRRfjsFey
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 3, 2020
The organization has begun interviewing executive candidates, including Utah Jazz GM Justin Zanik, which Paxson did not participate in.
The Sun-Times insists its source genuinely wants what's “best for the franchise. And not in a martyr way, just saying what he feels everyone wants to hear.”
The Chicago front office has been led by Paxson and general manager Gar Forman since 2009 (Paxson first served as GM from 2003-09), to the longtime chagrin of Bulls faithful. Chicago has made the postseason just once since 2014-15—a first round loss in 2016-17. “Fire Gar-Pax” has been a common refrain chanted by Bulls fans during the team's unsuccessful rebuilding effort in the years post-Tom Thibodeau.
“FIRE GARPAX” chants have broken out on national television. pic.twitter.com/PqkIP41ogZ
— Josh (@JoshJBullsHoops) February 14, 2020
This season, the Bulls slumped to a 22-43 record before the league went on indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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