(670 The Score) New Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has a clear objective as he conducts a search for a new general manager.
He wants someone who isn't like himself.
"Somebody that's going to complement me and my skill set," Karnisovas said of what he's seeking in his general manager during an interview with the Mully & Haugh Show on Tuesday morning. "I don't want somebody that is just like me in terms of player evaluation. I would like to complement my skill set in my next hire. I want a person that is going to be really good with the players and relationships. That would be my No. 1 criteria."
Karnisovas is expected to make progress on the general manager search front this week, though he has also mentioned that time is his ally now as the season has been halted. Clippers assistant general manager Mark Hughes, 76ers senior vice president of player personnel Marc Eversley, Magic assistant general manager Matt Lloyd and Nuggets assistant general manager Calvin Booth are among those whom Karnisovas is targeting, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has reported. Booth is also a serious candidate to take over for Karnisovas as the new general manager in Denver.
Beyond them, the list could certainly widen. Whoever fills the spot, Karnisovas wants it to be someone who speaks their mind freely.
"I always hire people -- besides being talented and smart -- that are going to complement my skill set," Karnisovas said. "I would like people that are very critical thinkers, have different opinions. That's how we come up with new ideas."
On Monday, Karnisovas fired longtime Bulls general manager Gar Forman, who had been with the organization since 1998 and in his post for nearly 11 years.
"After some consideration and conversation, it was apparent that we had different philosophies," Karnisovas said of Forman's dismissal. "That would prevent us from moving forward. I'm sure Gar gave his best to the Bulls organization, but the decision, those decisions are never easy. I was hired to effect change on the current situation. That was the decision behind that."
