Bulls News: Gar Forman 'Absolutely Safe' After Fred Hoiberg's Firing
While the Chicago Bulls relieved head coach Fred Hoiberg of his duties Monday following a 5-19 start to the season, general manager Gar Forman's job does not appear to be in jeopardy.
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson gave Forman a vote of confidence following the coaching change, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: "Gar is absolutely safe."
Forman joined the organization in 1998 as a scout and has since taken on a number of different roles. He has been the club's general manager since May 2009.
With Forman at the helm, the Bulls made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011. That 62-win season—a 21-win jump from the previous year—earned Forman (along with the Miami Heat's Pat Riley) the 2010-11 NBA Executive of the Year Award.
Chicago has missed the postseason just twice (2015-16, 2017-18) during Forman's tenure as general manager. The team's 27-55 record a season ago was its worst since a 23-win campaign in 2003-04.
The decision to fire Hoiberg came after Chicago lost its last six games and 10 of 11. During the summer, the Bulls re-signed Zach LaVine on a four-year, $78 million deal and added 2014 No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker in free agency.
And while LaVine and Parker have been productive, a number of other Bulls have missed time with injuries. Denzel Valentine (ankle), Kris Dunn (knee), Bobby Portis (knee) and Lauri Markkanen (elbow), last year's seventh overall pick, have been sidelined for extended periods so far.
The organization, however, did not give Hoiberg a pass. Associate head coach Jim Boylen was promoted to head coach effective immediately.
