Chicago Bulls: Desperately Seeking a Better GM

As a sports fan, I’ve spent countless hours lamenting the mistakes GMs and other front office personnel make, seemingly on a daily basis. 

While I understand actually being a GM is harder than it looks, I’d love nothing more than one year in the front office of a lackluster franchise in the hope of turning things around.  And if I had to choose the professional sports franchise I’d like to run starting tomorrow, it would be the Chicago Bulls. 

Why the Bulls? 

They’re an NBA team 

I may write like a know-it-all, but even I admit I wouldn’t even know what to do in an NFL or MLB front office.  Basketball is the sport I’m most familiar with.  Basketball is a sport whose wayward franchises—when not faced with Knick-like cap problems—can be turned around quickly. 

And basketball is the sport that seems to have the most boneheaded GMs.  Really, would I do any worse than Isiah Thomas?  Probably not.   

John Paxson stinks

If organizations win championships, like former Bulls GM Jerry Kraus famously claimed, then it’s a wonder that this franchise ever won anything.  With all due respect to current Executive VP John Paxson, he’s not getting the job done. 

Now, for all I know his equally inept owner Jerry Reinsdorf is the one calling the shots and making the once-mighty Bulls the least relevant team in the Windy City.  But as long as Paxson keeps cashing his paychecks, he's part of the problem.

One word: Upside

 The Bulls are a team that’s right there.  At least, they were.  After a nice playoff run last year, many predicted them to seriously contend in the East.  This sentiment was amplified when rumors had Chicago potentially acquiring Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, or Kobe Bryant. 

Of course, none of these deals got done, and the team regressed in a big way. 

However, these Baby Bulls still have a lot of good, young pieces that can be developed or traded.  They have a reasonable cap situation—and oh, by the way, it doesn’t hurt that they have the number-one pick in Thursday’s draft.

What would I do as the Bulls GM?

Apologize for the last 10 years

I’d apologize for the Bulls breaking up their dynasty and not keeping Jordan in the organization.  When you have a superstar of that magnitude who is that beloved by the fans, you keep him around.  Period. 

You offer him an ownership stake.  You do whatever it takes to keep him coming to games, signing autographs, and reminding everyone that this franchise was great once. 

In addition, I’d apologize for drafting Marcus Fizer and hiring Tim Floyd.  I’d apologize for trading Elton Brand and drafting Eddy Curry.  I’d apologize for signing Ben Wallace.  I’d apologize for dealing Tyson Chandler, the younger, less expensive version of Ben Wallace, to Charlotte.  I’d apologize for trading LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas. 

And last but not least, I’d apologize for not signing Mike D’Antoni, a mistake that may take years for this franchise to get over.

Speaking of which…

Replace Vinny Del Negro ASAP

Okay, I probably couldn’t do it as quickly as I'd like.  After all he did just sign a contract less than a month ago.  But I’d definitely tell him in no uncertain terms that we’re building a winner.  And the moment he loses this team, he’s gone—even if it’s mid-season. 

I’d also start text messaging Avery Johnson on a regular basis.  Just to get the ball rolling. 

Draft Derrick Rose

 This is, of course, the easiest decision in the world.  It’s so easy I don’t even feel the need to explain it. 

Make trades

Part of Paxson’s legacy will be the fact that he didn’t move on potential deals—in part because he seems to have a delusional sense of Luol Deng’s value. 

I’d try to move some of the aforementioned “young pieces”—including Kirk Hinrich and his contract—in the hopes of landing a frontcourt scorer.  Preferably, one who is (or could be) an exciting, honest to goodness, puts asses in seats superstar. 

A while back, I went into great detail on this website about a scenario where the Bulls could bring Carmelo Anthony to town.  Since the Nuggets insist ‘Melo is staying put, I’d be on the phone to every other franchise that had a disgruntled, under-appreciated player on their roster.            

Sign role-playing free agents

Championship contenders need valuable role players.  Has anyone else noticed that James Posey has won two rings in three years?  He’s the prototypical glue guy that hits the open thres and plays hard-nosed defense. I’d take him over Thabo Sefolosha every day of the week.  Did I mention Mr. Posey’s currently an unrestricted free agent? 

Perhaps being the Chicago Bulls GM is a bad idea.  In reality, there’s a good chance I’d spend my entire tenure with the team trying to fully understand the luxury tax.  I’d probably also find myself thirty pounds heavier, since my Second City diet would consist largely of deep dish pizza, bratwurst and deep-dish bratwurst pizza. 

However, I could promise Bulls fans this much—I would shake things up.  I would make deals.  In short, I would actually try.  And if there’s one thing Bulls fans and other NBA fans would probably like to see from their GMs, it’s a little effort. 

Or perhaps that’s too much to ask.