Chicago Bulls: The GarPax era is over, and the future is now

At long last, Chicago Bulls front office executive John Paxson is reportedly being shifted to a different role. The team is searching for a new top executive, and it’s a reason for fans to be hopeful again.

The NBA season ground to a screeching halt in March amid growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Play has yet to resume, and as new rumors swirl about the season’s possible cancellation, the Chicago Bulls made headlines last week.

It was an announcement fans longed to hear for ages: the Bulls are reportedly re-assigning front-office executives John Paxson and Gar Forman to different roles in which they will no longer be making personnel decisions. That’s right, the GarPax era is over.

Before we pop the cork on that bottle of bubbly, it’s worth noting that the Bulls haven’t officially announced anything. This report came in a form as good as a team’s official announcement, a Woj bomb.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that the Bulls informed Paxson and Forman of their decision, and told them that there would be future discussions about their new roles. The report also states the team will begin interviewing candidates as soon as this week.

Paxson is reportedly expected to remain in an advisory role, though it’s unclear what kind of say he’ll have. This part of the report may make some fans hesitant to celebrate, but it’s hard to imagine Paxson’s insight having a lot of weight after 18 years of failure.

For now, what we know is that the tandem known as GarPax won’t be as powerful when the NBA returns. And hopefully, there will be a new sheriff in town that looks at things a lot differently than the previous regime. Here are three things to look forward to in the Bulls future.