Potential Candidates Emerge After Chicago Bulls Fire Front Office

The buzz eventually reached its inevitable conclusion. After a reported mounting pressure on the Chicago Bulls' front office, the team announced the release of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on Monday.

The Bulls' coach Billy Donovan, who had been rumored as a candidate for the North Carolina job before the Tar Heels hired Mike Malone, remains with the organization amid the shakeup.

Under Karnisovas and Eversley, the Bulls posted a dismal 224-254 record with just one playoff appearance in 2021-22. The malfunctioning front office, which presided over years of fruitlessness and the franchise's downfall, became the primary target of fan criticism and ultimately ownership's axe.

While rumors circulate about whether ownership might even consider promoting Donovan to the upfront, the team starts shifting to the next discourse of who should take over this vacancy filled with uncertainty and challenges, but also wide room for execution.

Here is my list based on the reports right after the franchise cleaned its front office.

Before the front office change, the Chicago Sun-Times had identified two potential high-profile candidates with Golden State ties. According to Joe Cowley, former Warriors executive Bob Myers and current Golden State General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., who played for the Bulls from 2013 to 2016, could be top targets.

The duo with Warriors connections might remain wishlist items, as they're sophisticated executives who would require significant convincing given Chicago's poor track record. Myers, famed as the architect of Golden State's dynasty, helped the Warriors win four championships while earning two Executive of the Year awards. If the Bulls want a "home run" hire bringing instant credibility and championship pedigree, Myers is the clear top choice. However, since he moved into an HBSE role in 2025 (overseeing the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils), it would take a massive offer to lure him back.

Even Dunleavy himself might be too high to reach. Hired by Golden State as a pro scout in 2018, he climbed quickly — promoted to assistant general manager the following year, then vice president of basketball operations in 2021. Dunleavy won his first championship when the Warriors defeated Boston in the 2022 Finals and was promoted to general manager in 2023 following Myers' departure. Both figures boast championship pedigrees, proven ability to build from the bottom and executive track records that make them intriguing — if improbable — candidates.

Though being under contract with other NBA team, the Chicago native surfaces as one of the candidates. The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski suggested Lloyd, the current Minnesota Timberwolves general who began his career in Chicago as an intern. Lloyd spent nine years with the Bulls, climbing through media coordination, operations and scouting before resigning in 2012. He was then hired as assistant general manager with the Orlando Magic, working for 10 years before transitioning to Minnesota, where he was promoted to general manager in 2024.

His success in transforming the long-struggling Timberwolves into Western Conference contenders makes him a compelling candidate to handle Chicago's sudden cap flexibility. The Athletic's Sam Vecenie marked Lloyd as a smart hire for the Bulls, particularly given his Chicago roots and proven rebuilding acumen.

Such an intriguing combination.

Following Karnisovas and Eversley’s dismissal, the Sun-Times suggested Ujiri as a potential target. The report indicated that Luol Deng suggested the former Raptors executive to the team several times this season. Hiring Ujiri would likely mean Deng becoming general manager in a tandem leadership structure.

While Deng lacks NBA executive experience, the former Bull co-founded and now serves as president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation after retiring from the NBA in 2019, helping the South Sudan national team qualify for both the FIBA World Cup and Olympics despite limited resources. If he joined as a general manager under Ujiri, who famously slotted a Kawhi Leonard’s move and brought the 2019 NBA title to Toronto, the Bulls would boast their most ambitious front office in recent memory, combining Ujiri's ruthless efficiency with Deng's local loyalty and understanding of Chicago basketball culture.

As a sports agent, Brown differs from other candidates on this list but stands out with his wide-ranging player network built as an agent. Currently co-head of the basketball division at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Brown is one of the most influential agents in the basketball world, representing stars like Cooper Flagg and Donovan Mitchell. He's also from Evanston, a suburb of Chicago.

Given Myers and Leon Rose as examples, the "agent-to-GM" pipeline has worked successfully before. Brown possesses the relationships and negotiation acumen to fix a stagnant roster. He also understands modern CBA navigation and what players want, making him a compelling outside-the-box candidate.

Per NBC Sports, Landry Fields and Kyle Korver, who both worked in the Atlanta Hawks before the former was dismissed, are also connected with the Bulls' vacancies.

After retiring from the court, Fields rose through the ranks and eventually became a general manager in his mid-30s during a turbulent Hawks period that included the Dejounte Murray trade and drafting Zaccharie Risacher. Fields worked closely with Korver on the team, making this a collaborative front office pair that both show experience in youth development.

Korver currently serves as assistant general manager for the Hawks. The former NBA sharpshooter moved quickly from court to front office, focusing on roster construction and shooting development. Once a fan favorite from Chicago's "Bench Mob" days, Korver represents modern NBA thinking, understanding floor spacing and player value better than most, which aligns closely with Donovan's mindset. While he lacks leading experience like other candidates, his basketball IQ and work ethic reputation are unmatched.