Karnisovas sets course to boost Bulls toward ultimate prize

FILE – Donatas Motiejunas #20 of the Houston Rockets talks Denver Nuggets Assistant General Manager Arturas Karnisovas prior to their game at Pepsi Center on December 17, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images/AFP

CHICAGO — Arturas Karnisovas developed a passion for the Chicago Bulls when he was a teenager in Lithuania. He watched from afar as Michael Jordan set out on a path that turned Chicago into a championship dynasty and a global brand.

Now it’s his job to direct Jordan’s old team back to the top of the NBA.

The Bulls fired general manager Gar Forman on Monday, while officially hiring Karnisovas as their executive vice president of basketball operations and moving John Paxson into an advisory role.

The struggling Bulls handed the keys to the 48-year-old Karnisovas last week, convincing him to leave his job as GM of the Denver Nuggets. By making the move now rather than waiting until the season resumes or is called off, they believe they are giving him more time to evaluate the organization.

“This is my dream,” Karnisovas said during a conference call. “Our ultimate goal is clearly to bring an NBA championship to the city of Chicago. … A firm foundation is absolutely vital. I will build that here in Chicago. No skipping steps. There is a systematic approach to success.”

Paxson is moving into a background role as senior advisor of basketball operations after nearly two decades running the department. He took over as general manager for Jerry Krause in 2003 and was promoted to vice president of basketball operations in May 2009, with Forman — who joined the Bulls as a scout in 1998 — becoming GM.

Chief operating officer Michael Reinsdorf said Paxson told him and his father Jerry Reinsdorf, the team’s chairman, in December the front office needed to be restructured and it was time for someone else to lead the operation. Paxson offered to change his role and even step down.

“That’s really the kind of person John is,” Michael Reinsdorf said. “I’ve always said that: When the time came to make a change, John would be the one to let us know. That is indeed what ended up happening.”

Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement that Paxson — who hit the championship-winning 3-pointer for Chicago against Phoenix in 1993 — showed why he is “forever a willing teammate on and off of the court” by putting the Bulls’ interests first and deciding to step aside.

While Paxson remains with the organization, Forman is out. And coach Jim Boylen’s future remains unclear.

Karnisovas said he sees Paxson as “an asset” who can be a “huge help” as he adjusts to his new job.

As for Forman?

“After some consideration and conversations, it was apparent we have different philosophies that would prevent us from moving forward,” Karnisovas said. “I’m sure Gar gave his best to the Bulls’ organization. But those decisions are never easy. I was hired to affect change.”