Report: Bulls interview Colangelo, former Hawks GMs for top exec role
The Chicago Bulls have interviewed former Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns, and Philadelphia 76ers executive Bryan Colangelo for their top basketball operations position, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
However, Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas is still the leading candidate for the position, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports. News of the Bulls' predominant interest in the Lithuanian-born executive first emerged Tuesday evening.
Colangelo was most recently with the 76ers, serving as team president from 2016 to 2018. He infamously stepped down after an investigation determined his wife was operating secret Twitter accounts that leaked sensitive information about the organization.
During his time in Philadelphia, Colangelo was responsible for drafting Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz with back-to-back No. 1 picks in 2016 and 2017. The 76ers finished his first campaign in charge with a 28-54 record, but they went 52-30 in 2017-18. They reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in his second season, with the Boston Celtics eliminating them in five games.
In addition to Colangelo, the Bulls reportedly interviewed Wes Wilcox on Wednesday, according to Wojnarowski. Wilcox was most recently general manager of the Atlanta Hawks in 2017.
Wilcox was promoted from assistant general manager in 2015 following Danny Ferry's resignation. The latter stepped down after an investigation into a racially insensitive comment he made about former All-Star Luol Deng during a conference call with Hawks ownership.
Two years into his own stint as Hawks general manager, Wilcox also resigned from the role. He then took up an adviser position with ownership.
As it happens, Ferry was interviewed by the Bulls' top job too, sources told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.