The Portland Trail Blazers fired 10-year GM and President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey after an investigation fired up a toxic workplace environment, that led to his demise.
This firing has speculation swirling that the Blazers are targeting Chicago Bulls General Manager, Marc Eversley, for the now vacant GM position.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports was the first to report his firing and of the investigation that launched in early November.
The team stated that Joe Cronin will become their temporary replacement as GM while the organization searches for a new one.
Marc Eversley’s Contributions
The Bulls announced that Eversley would be the team’s general manager back on May 1, 2020, as part of Arturas Karnisovas’s front office staff.
As Bulls fans know, Eversley previously worked with Nike in their marketing department, then worked in Toronto with the Raptors before becoming the 76ers’ Vice President of Player Personnel before joining the Bulls.
Eversley’s trademark move with the Bulls so far was his effort to recruit DeMar DeRozan, whom he worked with during his time in Toronto.
Eversley flew out to Los Angeles to meet with DeRozan upon notice of DeRozan’s agent that he would listen to pitches for each team. The Lakers and Clippers also targeted DeRozan, but a two-hour meeting with Eversley sealed the deal for the free agent.
Eversley is the first black general manager for the Chicago Bulls after taking over for the GarPax regime, which resulted in John Paxson taking a lesser role with the organization and Gar Forman landing with the Pelicans as a scout for the team.
It’s unlikely Eversley considers the job with Portland.
Eversley and Karnisovas built a contending team this offseason.
The two surrounded franchise cornerstone, Zach LaVine, with the likes of four-time all-star, DeRozan, up-and-coming point guard Lonzo Ball and all-star center Nikola Vucevic.
They also added one of the NBA’s best defenders, Alex Caruso, standout Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu, high-flying Derrick Jones Jr., and rock-solid backup center Tony Bradley.
The Bulls are now the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind the Brooklyn Nets after defeating the New York Knicks on Thursday night to boost their record to 15-8.
The counterargument to Eversley’s likely disinterest in Portland is the mess that is left behind Olshey’s departure.
Portland has a new, ungroomed head coach in Chauncey Billups and a superstar that could be on his way out in Damian Lillard.
The Trail Blazers have tried multiple management moves to build a championship team around Lillard, but none have amplified them enough to make the NBA Finals.
Portland has made eight straight playoff appearances, but the furthest they made it was the Western Conference Finals in the 2018-19 season.
The Bulls GM is here to stay
Barring any unforeseen circumstance with Eversley’s interest in Portland, it makes more sense he rides out with the team he built with the Chicago Bulls.
He has done an excellent job building the team so far, as the Bulls are one of five teams in the NBA that rank in the top-10 in offense and defense.
DeRozan is having an MVP-caliber year, as is LaVine this season.
The bottom line is this. Eversley has not yet hit a year into his new job. Quite frankly, the Blazers are naive for thinking Eversley would leave his current position to help the disseminating Trail Blazers.
