NEWSLETTER
I’m about to go on a long-ish drive today, and I think this is the most excited I’ve been to drive ever. Getting out of the house, even if it’s just to be in the car, will be such a nice change of scenery. Crack the windows, jam some tunes, and sing poorly. Let’s do this!
• Remember when the Bulls were run by Gar Forman and John Paxson? Psssh, that was so that month:
Officially Official: Marc Eversley is the New Bulls GM and He’s Ready to Restore Gloryhttps://t.co/cc8gUUOblD
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 1, 2020
• Admittedly, I proceeded with caution when it was first reported that Eversley would land the open gig. I had nothing against the guy, I just wasn’t as familiar with his background. With that being the case, the more I’ve learned about his reputation around the league and – specifically – among players, the more I LOVE this hire.
• ESPN’s Marc J. Spears wrote a great profile on Eversley and his journey to the Bulls GM job. The consistent them throughout anything you read on Eversley is his innate ability to build long-lasting relationships. A great example: He’s the godfather of Vince Carter’s daughter! Eversley met Carter when he was in charge of Nike’s sports marketing deals with the Toronto Raptors, so he managed to turn a full-fledged professional relationship into a familial one.
• Here’s what Eversley had to say about connecting with players: “You learn how to speak to them on their level to where they truly understand and appreciate you for you. That’s not an easy thing to do. With Vince, I always positioned myself as somebody who was going to be a provider or somebody who was going to provide solutions or results for him, as opposed to somebody who was always asking him for something. Often with stars, anybody who gets close to them is always either looking for a picture, an autograph, or something.” In today’s league, more than ever, this should be the job of the front office. Open your arms to a player and let them know the organization is there for them. The previous Bulls always failed to understand that players win championships. For Karnisovas and Eversley to attract and keep top talent, they’ll have to make it clear they now understand this.
• ESPN released a massive report on the where the NBA decision-making process stands behind closed doors. As we inch closer to the summer, it feels like the resumption of the 2019-20 season drifts further away. However, according to the report, Commissioner Adam Silver’s optimism remains high. Despite what some may say, the plan is still to crown a champion with some kind of playoff format this season. The “bubble concept” (which sounds like an episode of Seinfeld) continues to gain traction as a possible resolution, with Las Vegas and Walt Disney World as the two most talked-about suitors. Just saying, that kind of makes me laugh because those are the two most different places in the world. You can either ride the teacups … or a stripper pole! (Luis: Stripper poles are for Vegas amateurs. Catch me outside at the High-Roller all-you-can-drink-for-30-minutes observation wheel. How about that?)
• At the end of the day, the biggest barrier between the NBA and a continuation isn’t location. Regardless of where games are held, players, coaches, and anyone in attendance will have to be properly tested. As the report starts, Silver can’t justify using a bunch of tests – even from private companies – when they’re not readily available for the rest of the country. Fortunately, the NBA still has time on its side, but the clock sure does feel like it’s ticking a lot faster.
• ESPN also outlined exactly what an NBA “bubble” would look like, so if you’re interested in the logistics, I highly recommend you check that out. Here’s my idea (*proceeds with extremely sarcastic idea*), why don’t we put every single player in an individual bubble.
• Holy crap, this is extremely impressive:
Michael Jordan played 1,264 games in his pro career.
I talked to one man who’s trying to find a ticket to all of them.https://t.co/FEpSJnBlun pic.twitter.com/MWa26TyqKD
— Kevin Kaduk (@KevinKaduk) May 1, 2020
• Wendell Carter Jr. talked about how he’s staying mentally and physically fit during these troubling times:
In "Hoopers Meet Heroes," Bulls big man Wendell Carter Jr. chats with Chicago trauma nurse Katrina Tulas-Collins about their mental releases—from running to gaming—during the #coronavirus pandemic, & more. @getusppe #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
Full chat: https://t.co/0bfsnSzJlU pic.twitter.com/pqMDohl5VT
— CloseUp360 (@CloseUp360) May 1, 2020
• I guess if one were to go “KABOOM,” this would be the way to do it:
https://twitter.com/bluewirepods/status/1256252288664064000?s=12
• Same:
Michael Jordan turned down $100 million for two-hour appearance https://t.co/Ea1lFyDqNW pic.twitter.com/U4Ertx2bHz
— New York Post (@nypost) April 30, 2020
