Chicago Bulls sign Arturas Karnisovas as Executive VP

By: Will Farlow 

The Chicago Bulls are one of the many well-known teams throughout NBA history. Former Bulls player John Paxson was the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations from 2003 to 2020. Late last night the Chicago Bulls named Denver Nuggets General Manager Arturas Karnisovas as the team’s new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. This is a move that many Bulls fans have prayed and waited for over the years. Fans in Bulls Nation have taken to social media, and signs at games calling for the end of the GarPax era. The hiatus of the NBA due to the COVID-19 global pandemic has brought Bulls fans a happy surprise for the future as they awoke this morning to the news of Karinsovas taking his talents to the Windy City to join the Chicago Bulls front office. 

The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal with Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas to become the franchise’s new Executive VP of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Karnisovas will be tasked with hiring a new GM and reshaping the front office.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 9, 2020

Arturas Karnisovas has went through a exciting journey to this point in his new appointed role with the Chicago Bulls. Karnisovas came from Lithuania and became a college basketball player for Seton Hall. Following his career at Seton Hall he played professionally for the Lithuanian National team and was a part of the team that was defeated by Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and the 1992 USA Dream Team. Karnisovas spent time as a scout for the Houston Rockets for five years , and later in 2013 took a job as the assistant general manager for the Denver Nuggets. Karnisovas worked his way up to the general manager role in 2017 for Denver, and as of last night became the first Chicago Bulls Executive VP .  ​

Karnisovas is bringing many great aspects to his new role with the Chicago Bulls front office that is in need of a change and improved direction. Karnisovas is very well respected in the NBA carrying himself as a good hardworking personality. Karnisovas brings great experience in scouting as he brought great players such as Michael Porter Jr, Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray to Denver. The Chicago Bulls have a good young core of players in their organization, and it will be Karnisovas taking the helm of a front office that controls the future of this historic franchise.  

 

A current NBA head coach told me today when I asked his opinion on Arturas Karnisovas: “Tremendous hire. Smart, great person and extremely well connected. The Bulls got this right if they can seal the deal”

— David Kaplan (@thekapman) April 9, 2020

The tasks ahead for Karinsovas entail trying to hire a new general manager , and managing the roles in the scouting department. These hires are important to Karnisovas to have a good working front office that can be effective and successful. Karnisovas will also have to decide the coaching staff and if current Bulls Head Coach Jim Boylen will stay or go in Chicago. The next step following front office and coaching is Karnisovas bringing his strong draft experience and team building to mold this young Bulls team into an eventual contender for what Bulls fans hope will be many years to come. ​

Welcome to the Eastern Conference and the City of Chicago, Arturas Karinsovas. I will join Bulls fans in excitement and anticipation into what you bring to the front office and the organization to help it get back on track. I always like to say expect the unexpected as Bulls fans didn't expect the timing of the search to begin back when Chicago hosted the 2020 All Star Game. The era of John Paxson and Gar Foreman is nearing it end as Bulls faithful now greet Karnisovas and an exciting future for Chicago Bulls basketball.