NEWSLETTER
The last time we heard from General Manager Marc Eversley was the first time.
Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas hired his No. 2 back in April, and Eversley has worked behind the scenes ever since. But make no mistake, he’s been just as much a part of the Bulls new direction as anybody. So when he spoke to reporters about how he views the team’s future on Wednesday, I thought it was worth some extra attention.
Retool, Not Rebuild
Let’s start with the hands-down best comment of the day. Give it a read:
GM Marc Eversley: “This is not a rebuild, we’re looking to retool this thing and Billy’s going to put us in a great position to do that in the foreseeable future. There’s a lot of pressure & responsibility to bring this team back but we embrace that…" pic.twitter.com/6Mo2oJNcCx
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 30, 2020
Karnisovas said this himself early-on, but I sure do like to hear it reiterated after months of work. Additionally, Eversley’s use of the word “retool” is especially reassuring. What this tells us is that the front office is prepared to make the talent on the roster work, whether it be on the court or in the trade market. A retooling, in my opinion, means an addition and subtraction of current pieces, but in a way that sets a team up for more immediate success. In other words, while I’m sure one method to the Bulls madness will be via landing talent in the draft, it’ll be no means be the only way.
To be clear, I’m not saying I envision major trades this offseason, but I’m also not saying the Bulls will not plan to pick up every phone call that comes across their desk. The Bulls want to be a much more competitive team as soon as next season, and it appears as though they’re ready to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
There is no denying that true success will stem from the development of the team’s current young players. Again, whether the Bulls move certain pieces or keep everyone on board, it’s in the best interest of the organization to invest in player development. The retooling Eversley references must also refer heavily to the work behind the scenes.
Speaking of which …
Billy Donovan and Immediate Potential
Billy Donovan along with several new front office and player development hires will help establish a far more productive culture and environment. The healthier the Bulls can become internally, the better basketball they’ll see from their players.
GM Marc Eversley: “Billy brings a different voice, leadership, & player development… If we can grow these players internally we are going to see success on the court. This team is better than a 22-win team. If we tweak some things, we’re going to see results that are positive.”
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 30, 2020
Eversley’s comments about how this squad is better than 22-win performance tells us a lot about his perception of the previous regime. What it also tells us is that he and Karnisovas believe heavily in certain players already onboard. Both Karnisovas and Eversley have not only been around high-level talent but are both viewed as quality talent evaluators, and we should be encouraged by this thought process. I guess it’s true people in NBA circles view the Bulls pieces as serviceable, and perhaps that’s at least part of the reason why Donovan felt comfortable taking the head coach position.
The confidence Eversley has in where the Bulls are at is comforting. Bulls fans have, in many ways, been trained to expect the worst. We’ve been made to think that we can’t have nice things. We’ve been made to think everyone is pointing and laughing. While that may have been true just seven months ago (and it was definitely true at All-Star Weekend this season … what a sh*tshow), the tides are changing. Two strong executives from outside organizations have come in to say “hey, things aren’t that bad.”
Trust in Karnisovas
Sure, this team might have some work to do, but it’s work that Eversley is confident they can get done.
GM Marc Eversley: “One thing about AK is when he wants to get something done, we get it done.” pic.twitter.com/NQPZnB0o7T
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 30, 2020
To cut to the chase, I’m happy. You should be too. We’ve yet to see on-court results, but the Bulls are winning an off-court game they haven’t won in decades. I’ll take that victory.
