Bulls Rumors: Gar Forman’s firing won’t make a difference

The Chicago Bulls rumor mill suggests Gar Forman might be on the chopping block, but so what? It won’t make a difference.

If you are a Chicago Bulls fan, you have had very little to cheer about this season. Alright, let’s face it, you’ve had little to cheer about for the better part of the last five years (a fluke playoff berth notwithstanding).

However, yesterday, some news flashed across the wire and social media about Gar Forman that just might have gotten the blood coursing through your veins again.

That’s because of the news that the team’s much-maligned and heavily criticized general manager sine 2009, Forman, is rumored to be on the chopping block.

Sources have indicated that owner Jerry Reinsdorf is livid over the team’s rough start and is considering terminating Forman.

This would certainly make the fan base happy and would satisfy the blood-lust of the faction of that base who has sought the end of the “GarPax” era for a long time. The duo has been used as a virtual punching bag online and has become the literal and figurative face of ineptitude for this organization.

However, here is the problem. While it may make fans feel better, firing Forman won’t actually mean a thing, nor will it have any meaningful effect on improving the organization. Instead, Forman will merely be the sacrificial lamb thrown to the masses as ‘tribute.’

Has Forman been good in his role? Not by a longshot. But the reality is, his role within the organization is not what it was when he first assumed the Gm position back in 2009. The widely accepted reality is that John Paxson is the de facto GM and is the one primarily responsible for making decisions.

So as long as Paxson is still behind the wheel, then Jim Boylen is still at the helm as head coach, and that means the head-scratching decisions and lack of player development will continue all while running the risk of losing the locker room.

If Reinsdorf really wanted to “make a change” and was truly interested in reviving this franchise, he would clean house altogether. The fact that he would keep Paxson and Boylen indicates that if the story is true, it’s more about paying lip service to the fans. Perhaps that’s because the United Center isn’t as full as it has been in years past?

Since 2010, the Bulls have ranked first in overall attendance every year, except for last season when they ranked second behind the Philadelphia 76ers. However, this season, they are sixth, and that is largely due to a slight decrease in their home attendance numbers. And with the way they are trending, those numbers are expected to only get worse as fans tune out yet another uncompetitive team with no shot at the playoffs.

We’ll see what Reinsdorf ultimately does, but even if he gives you your pound of flesh and fires Forman, just remember, he will still be two pounds short.