NEWSLETTER
As the Detroit Pistons continue their front-office search, one familiar name has come up again.
Chicago Bulls general manager Marc Eversley was mentioned on a short list of candidates for the team’s head of basketball operations opening. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and James L. Edwards III implied that the Pistons’ dream candidate would be Minnesota’s Tim Connelly, who could be a free agent this offseason. However, largely expected to stay with the surging Timberwolves, the two shared three other candidates currently in the mix:
“New Orleans’ Trajan Langdon, Dallas’ Dennis Lindsey and Chicago’s Marc Eversley, among others, have established themselves as viable targets for the role, league sources tell The Athletic.“
Detroit decided to restructure their front office this season after finishing with the NBA’s worst record. Previous leader Troy Weaver will remain a member of the Pistons brain trust, but the team’s new hire will apparently surpass him as the No. 1 voice in the organization.
NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson also went on to confirm that Eversley has been a target in the Pistons’ search.
Will Marc Eversley Really be on the Move?
This isn’t the first time Eversley’s name has come up in Detroit. James L. Edwards III mentioned the Bulls’ second-in-command as a name worth watching earlier this month in one of his mailbags for The Athletic. Clearly, Detroit’s interest has grown strong enough that he’s now viewed as one of three “viable” candidates for the opening.
Interest in Eversley seems to be only growing around the NBA despite the Bulls’ struggles. The Charlotte Hornets were reportedly considering the GM before hiring Brooklyn’s Jeff Peterson. The Portland Trail Blazers have also expressed interest in Eversley during his tenure with the Bulls.
Again, while Eversley’s time in Chicago hasn’t come with the best results, he seemingly remains a well-respected figure in league circles. He built a strong reputation as a relationship builder during his time as a Nike Executive before transitioning to the NBA. He worked for the Toronto Raptors and spent time with both the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers. Arturas Karnisovas then hired him away from his VP of Player Personnel job in Philly to be the Bulls’ GM.
The Athletic notes that the Pistons were interested in Eversley before hiring Weaver back in 2020.
How much of the Bulls’ poor roster construction and drafting falls on Eversley’s shoulders is hard to say. But it’s clear that the Pistons aren’t holding that against him. Nevertheless, I’ll be surprised if he ends up as the hire. The other names on the list do come from current winning programs, and this often tends to stand out the more you weed out options.
If Eversley does land the gig, however, the Bulls’ offseason will become even more interesting. Karnisovas will have the chance to bring in a new voice to the team’s front office, and this sure doesn’t feel like a bad thing for a Bulls team that needs to reinvent itself.
