The Chicago Bulls have finally moved on from the GarPax era. What’s next for Arturas Karnisovas as he revamps the team in his image?
It finally happened Chicago Bulls fans, it finally happened. The John Paxson and Gar Forman (GarPax) era is over. Gone are the days of GarPax leading the once-storied franchise down a wayward path toward NBA irrelevance. Your rage will need to be redirected elsewhere because now, as requested, there’s a new man in charge of the front office.
After 17 years leading the Bulls, Paxson has stepped aside to usher in a new era of Chicago Bulls basketball. Arturas Karnisovas is now in place as the new vice president of basketball operations, bringing with him an impressive resume and high praise from colleagues, former players and just about anyone who has come into contact with him.
For the first time in quite a while, Bulls fans can feel some deserved sense of excitement. More than excitement, there is hope – hope that Karnisovas can replicate the success he has enjoyed with the Denver Nuggets, helping turn that franchise into a contender while assembling a talented roster.
Chicago is arguably basketball’s mecca – yes, over New York City, many all-time greats hail from the Windy City (George Mikan, Tim Hardaway, Isiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, etc) – but the city’s NBA franchise has disappeared from the national narrative of late. If anything, under GarPax the team became somewhat of an embarrassment – most notably during the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago of all places.
It’s all changing for the Chicago Bulls now. But what’s next for the once-proud franchise striving to once again be one of the NBA’s elite? Let’s take a look at the three steps the Bulls front office should be looking to take in the next few months.