The Chicago Bulls have a new general manager in Arturas Karnisovas, someone who will be taking over basketball operations from John Paxson moving forward. And each time a team has a change in top management, the days of select personnel are likely numbered.
Someone who could be axed soon is head coach Jim Boylen. He has not exactly hit it well with Bulls players and got his share of criticism this NBA season. His extreme practices did not bode well with several players but the 54-year-old somehow softened his stance along the way. Regardless, the fact remains his efforts have not exactly pushed the Bulls to meet expectations. Such is the reason why Chicago took in a new top brass to run basketball operations.
Regardless of the change in management, Boylen is unfazed, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. He is confident that he will stay on as head coach for the Bulls although he is not shunning the fact that he could get fired. To his credit, he was able to make do with a depleted lineup and gain some success through defense. Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league into suspension, the Bulls were 22-43 in the NBA Eastern Conference. Since taking over from Hoiberg, Boylen has compiled a 39-84 record - something that is not exactly impressive.
Unless Karnisova has a head coach in mind, there is a chance that Boylen could stay. The length of that tenure will depend on how well he can motivate his troops next season. Should he continue to stumble, most know that he will likely be booted out of his current position.
The Bulls have a lot of work to do once the current NBA season is settled. Among the ones set to become free agents include Kris Dunn, Otto Porter Jr., and Denzel Valentine. Of those names, Dunn and Porter have been mentioned in NBA trade rumor talk frequently. But being restricted free agents, the Bulls could match offers for as long as they are reasonable.
Sure to be kept are Zach LaVine, Coby White and Lauri Markkanen. The rest have had their moments but their stay in Chicago is not entirely secure. The Bulls need help in the wings and someone who can patrol the paint. That could be addressed once NBA free agency starts or if they get a good player from the 2020 NBA Draft. Some rookies they could target include Onyeka Okongwu and Isaac Okoro, NBA.com reported. It all depends on their spot once Draft night comes.
The Bulls have a lot of work to do and personnel changes are one of them. Boylen feels he will still be around but no one knows what is going on in Karnisovas' mind right now.
