NEWSLETTER
Can you imagine if you were an alien and the first thing you saw on planet earth was an episode of Jerry Springer?
You’d be so confused.
• Yes, you’re reading that right, another team wants to get their hands on a member of the Bulls coaching staff.
Bulls Assistant Chris Fleming Will Reportedly Talk to Knicks About Head Coaching Jobhttps://t.co/hENjlrUw4S
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) June 18, 2020
• If you don’t know a whole lot about Chris Fleming, I’m sure this is a rather surprising development. The Bulls coaching staff certainly doesn’t feel like it would include highly coveted personnel following a disastrous 2019-20 campaign, but as it typically goes in the NBA, the head coach deserves most of the blame. Fleming is still a coach with an impressive resume, and while I don’t think he’ll necessarily be the one to land the Knicks job, I highly doubt this will be his last head coach interview. For more on Fleming, read the post above.
• Let’s talk about coaching searches. The Chicago Bulls have yet to kick things into high gear, even though Jim Boylen’s time with the organization is reportedly all but finished. Still, I don’t completely blame the Bulls for their hesitation; after all, we’re still in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis. However, I’m becoming increasingly eager to see Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley take a couple of steps in the right direction. I know it’s not typical for the Knicks to set the right example, but that’s exactly what they’re doing with this ongoing coaching search. New front office leader Leon Rose is taking advantage of the downtime to build an extensive list of candidates: Kenny Atkinson, Tom Thibodeau, Ime Udoka, Mike Miller, Mike Woodson, Pat Danley, Becky Hammon, and Will Hardy. With the rate in which names keep popping up, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a couple more names over the next couple of days.
• Now, we haven’t seen a coaching search in Chicago in quite some time, but this is the exact approach I hope we see from the Bulls. More specifically, considering how much talent is is out there on the market, I hope to see Karnisovas sit down with a wide array of candidates, including some of the names above. Of course, known as a great judge of character (and talent), Karnisovas feels like the perfect person to steward this search, whichever way he sees fit. My broader hope, however, remains: I don’t care how many people are on the list or how long the process takes. As long as we don’t fire the person two years later because this team still stinks, I’ll be happy.
• One last thing: Doesn’t a list that big for the Knicks make them seem better-off than they really are? I mean, speaking on perception alone, this makes it feel like the job in New York is probably more highly-regarded than it truly is. I’m sure this long list of candidates will generate some good PR, and the Bulls should keep that in mind.
• The Athletic’s NBA analysts did a massive evaluation of where the Bulls currently stand, and it’s very worth a read. Not only is it a good comprehensive review, but the evaluation raises a couple of important questions that Bulls fans will have to keep in mind over the next year or so.
• I’m not going to lie, I love this hire for Detroit.
Troy Weaver will become the ninth current black GM in the NBA and will work with Senior Advisor Ed Stefanski running the Pistons. Weaver's route to GM is groundbreaking: a high-profile AAU program to Syracuse assistant, NBA scout to a dozen years as an executive with Thunder. https://t.co/pZIZAJaekM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2020
• Don’t get me wrong, I’m very content with Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, but I was definitely bummed to see all the confusion that surrounded the Bulls and Weaver. On one end, it was reported that OKC wouldn’t allow Weaver to interview and the Bulls were certainly interested. On the other, it was said Weaver declined because he felt it was a “token offer.”
• Bleacher Report named Toni Kukoc the 6th-best 2nd Round Draft Pick of all time. I can’t wait until Daniel Gafford is on that list.
• I’m smashing the RT.
Jordan changed the game. Take your pick. pic.twitter.com/Kg4NM7QGHm
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) June 17, 2020
• Facts.
I stan for Thibs but Bulls have to move forward. It's time to build the next good thing, not keep trying to hang onto the last one https://t.co/RnFsqad64i
— Will Gottlieb (@wontgottlieb) June 16, 2020
• Whoa.
"We are restructuring certain functions at the league office to better align with changes in our business, particularly around digital media, and be well-positioned for future growth."
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 18, 2020
