Paul Sullivan: As Bulls’ top executive decision gets closer, a former employee becomes the front-runner

The analytically bent Lloyd left the Bulls to become assistant general manager of the Orlando Magic in 2012, working under then 30-year-old GM Rob Hennigan, who was the league’s youngest GM. “We’ve grown up in this computerized age of stats,” Lloyd told the Tribune’s K.C. Johnson upon leaving after 17 years. “The way we see and process things are similar.”

Lloyd departed Orlando in 2022 to become the senior VP of basketball operations of the Timberwolves and was later promoted to GM. He interviewed last year to become executive VP of the Charlotte Hornets, but decided to stay in Minnesota, where the Wolves have built an annual contender around star Anthony Edwards and are searching for their first NBA title.

Lloyd is respected around the league and is valued as a networker with many European connections, which was instrumental in the Wolves’ drafting of French center Joan Beringer last summer.

The Timberwolves are coming off an upset of the Denver Nuggets in an emotional opening-round series and face a significant challenge with Edwards’ knee injury, making him questionable for the start of the Spurs series. Former Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu is also uncertain for Game 1 after sitting out Game 6 of the Nuggets series with calf soreness. Dosunmu staged a legendary performance in their Game 4 win, scoring 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 5 for 5 on 3-point attempts.

The Dosunmu trade could be one that haunts the Bulls for a while. While unloading his veterans at the trade deadline in February, Karnišovas dealt Dosunmu to Minnesota along with Julian Phillips for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round draft picks. Dosunmu, an unrestricted free agent, now has a playoff stage to showcase his talent and cash in this summer. It’s unlikely the Bulls would be in the running after opting to trade him, but if Lloyd were hired, they might have a shot.

If the Bulls hired Lloyd, speculation is that he would bring Wolves assistant coach Micah Nori to replace Billy Donovan as head coach. A gregarious personality who has drawn comparisons to Jason Sudekis’ fictional TV coach, Ted Lasso, Nori could be a good fit in Chicago, where outgoing personalities like Mike Ditka, Ozzie Guillen and Joe Maddon connected with their respective fan bases.

Michael Reinsdorf said in his Zoom meeting with reporters last month that communication is going to be an important part of the organization moving forward.

“What is the plan? Our fans have a right to understand what we’re trying to accomplish,” Michael said. “I think that’s incredibly, incredibly important.”

Lloyd and Nori would seem to fit that mold.

Of course, only the Bulls know what direction they’re going. Or perhaps the Bulls and ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“If Shams didn’t report it, then obviously it didn’t happen,” Michael said last month when refuting a reporter’s assertion that Karnišovas and former GM Marc Eversley had signed extensions in 2025.

So the Bulls could go with Graham or one of the other reported candidates, or with someone whose name has not been previously mentioned. They might want someone in place by Sunday, when the NBA draft lottery takes place in Chicago and four ping-pong balls will be drawn to determine the top four picks. But it shouldn’t really matter since the offseason doesn’t begin until the NBA Finals end in June.

It’s a decision that could affect the organization for a long time, so the only important thing is getting it right.

____