Indiana Pacers rumors: Chicago Bulls looking to interview GM Chad Buchanan

While the NBA has come to a standstill, Indiana Pacers rumors continue. According to recent reports, Pacers General Manager Chad Buchanan is one of the primary targets for the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls have been open about their desire to move on from John Paxson (Bulls VP of Basketball Operations) and Gar Forman (Bulls General Manager) as top executives after this season, potentially sliding each of them into advisory positions.

Though the season is at a standstill, Chicago is looking to get ahead on an uncertain and potentially tumultuous offseason for all teams by starting their search for a new front office.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Bulls are looking to fill an executive role that would have full authority over basketball-related decisions.

According to Darnell Mayberry, multiple executives are currently being eyed by the Bulls.

This would be a major promotion for Buchanan, who currently reports to Pacers President, Kevin Pritchard.

Since it’s not currently possible to conduct in-person interviews, digital interviews are happening starting next week, per Wojnarowski.

Buchanan was hired as general manager in the 2017 offseason after serving as assistant general manager with the Charlotte Hornets.

One of his savvy moves as interim GM with the Portland Trail Blazers, as pointed out by IndyStar, was securing a draft pick in the Gerald Wallace trade that was later used to select Damian Lillard. It was Neil Olshey who made the actual draft selection, not Buchanan.

The names Buchanan is going up against for the Bulls position are of high class. Given the notoriety still leftover with the Bulls franchise since the Michael Jordan era in the 90s, there’s reason to believe this will be a highly sought-after position.

The Bulls have a stockpile of young talent and it doesn’t seem like a major chore to turn that team into a winner. In a large market, it could be viewed as a dream job for many executives.

Though it wouldn’t be optimal to lose a key piece of the front office this summer, it doesn’t appear team president Kevin Pritchard is at-risk of going anywhere, which is a great sign.

A hire is not imminent at this point, but Buchanan has respect and a track record to lean on.