Gar Forman introduced as Bulls’ new general manager
Gar Forman, left, addresses the media as he is introduced as the new general manager for the Chicago Bulls by John Paxson during a news conference at the Berto Center Thursday in Deerfield. (AP)
The Bulls officially introduced Gar Forman as the team’s new general manager this morning, but the front-office restructuring is more subtle than dramatic.
John Paxson remains with the team as executive vice president of basketball operations and is still at the top of the hierarchy.
Forman, who has been in the organization for 11 years and most recently held the title of director of player personnel, will work closely with Paxson and will assume more of the day-to-day operations.
“The promotion of Gar Forman to general manager of the Chicago Bulls publicly formalizes a successful formula that has been evolving for some time,” chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. “Over that time, Gar has been assuming more and more of the daily GM duties, freeing John Paxson to spend more of his time and energies on talent evaluation, and on long-term, strategic planning for the organization.” Said Paxson: “The last several years, Jerry Reinsdorf and I have given Gar more responsibility as a leader in the organization and he’s done a lot of things that have helped me in my position. Really, this just finalizes a process that we’ve had ongoing. It finalizes it to where Gar has the title of GM. I’m going to remain with my title of executive vice president of basketball operations and Gar and I are going to work in tandem, as we’ve been doing in a lot of ways, in determining the future of the organization.” Forman came to the Bulls in 1998 along with former coach Tim Floyd. He was an assistant coach under Floyd at Iowa State.
“I’m thrilled that they’re trusting me with this position,” Forman said.
“I’m very excited to be in this position, very excited for next season.
“The ultimate goal that we all have is to hang another championship banner in the United Center and up here at the Berto Center.” Forman said he was especially encouraged by the way the Bulls reacted after their lost to the Boston Celtics in a grueling seven-game first-round playoff series.
“The thing to me that was most exciting was after we lost the seventh game, every coach, every player wanted more,” he said. “They weren’t satisfied to be there. We like where we’re headed.” Forman’s first task will be preparing for next month’s NBA draft. The Bulls have two first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 26) and will begin bringing in potential prospects on Friday.
Forman’s biggest task this summer will be trying to re-sign Ben Gordon, who is an unrestricted free agent.
“We like Ben; Ben’s been a key, key component for us,” Forman said. “Our goal is to re-sign Ben. From the conversations we’ve had, Ben wants to remain with the Bulls.”