The Chicago Bulls have shaken up their front office, reportedly finalising a deal to hire Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas as their Vice President of Basketball Operations, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Bulls offered the job to Karnisovas earlier this evening, and negotiated the details through the night, sources said. Karnisovas will leave Denver for Chicago after helping Tim Connelly and Josh Kroenke to rebuild the Nuggets into a Western Conference contender. https://t.co/HMtQ2OivGQ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 9, 2020
The 48-year-old enjoyed a successful playing career overseas, including representing Lithuania at the Olympics twice, winning two bronze medals at the 1992 and 1996 Games.
He spent seven seasons with the Nuggets helping develop the squad into a perennial Western Conference playoff contender, previously serving as the team's Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations
Prior to his work with the Nuggets, Karnisovas spent five seasons with the Houston Rockets, eventually becoming the team's Director of Scouting. He also previously worked with the NBA's league office for four years, with a focus on identifying and developing international talent.
Karnisovas will replace John Paxson, who has been in the role with the Bulls since 2003. He will be responsible for hiring a new General Manager as well as basketball operations and scouting staff.
Per Woj, Paxson is likely to move into an advisory role, while General Manager Gar Forman will hold discussions with the organisation about his future.
The Bulls have only made the playoffs once in each of the past four seasons and held a 22-43 record (11th in the Eastern Conference) at the time the 2019-20 season was suspended.