One of six candidates that Chicago was expected to interview for its executive vice president of basketball operations position has withdrawn his name from the selection process.
The Chicago Bulls are looking for a new head executive for just the second time since the turn of the century. The franchise's selection pool is now a little smaller after one of the top candidates withdrew his name this week.
According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, Austin Brown has taken himself out of the running for the job.
"The Bulls were informed that the co-head of CAA's basketball division, Austin Brown, has elected not to pursue their head of basketball operations position, sources tell ESPN," Charania said in a social media post on Friday. "Bulls officials started first round of interviews with candidates on Monday."
Brown has been certified as an NBA agent since 2013, when he joined the Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The Chicago native was on Forbes' "30 Under 30 - Sports" list in 2015 and ranked No. 11 on Forbes' 2025 list of the top sports agents.
His client list includes NBA players like Donovan Mitchell, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, Cooper Flagg and Myles Turner. Former Bulls Jaden Ivey and Kris Dunn are also represented by Brown, as well as Hall-of-Famers Dwyane Wade and Pau Gasol.
Brown was one of six candidates that Charania claimed Chicago intended to interview. The Bulls previously received permission to interview Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Hawks senior vice president Bryson Graham, Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey and Spurs assistant general manager Dave Telep. As of Saturday, Brown is the only one to decline to interview.
The Bulls are seeking to replace executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, both of whom were fired on Apr. 6.
Since Hall of Fame general manager Jerry Krause resigned in 2003, Chicago has struggled to find the same level of success in the front office. Former Bulls guard John Paxson was subsequently hired as Krause's successor, then elevated to vice president of basketball operations in 2009 with the addition of general manager Gar Forman.
Karnisovas and Eversley joined the franchise in 2020. The Bulls have combined to go 226-256 (.469) in the six years since the duo was hired, reaching the playoffs just once. Chicago went 46-36 and earned the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference in 2021-22.
All five of the Bulls' remaining front office candidates are with teams currently in the NBA Playoffs, meaning the franchise's search for its next executive could be delayed.