The Chicago Bulls are making changes at …

The Chicago Bulls are making changes at the top, having reportedly launched a search to replace long-time executive vice president John Paxton and general manager Gar Forman. And the Dallas Mavericks may have a top-notch candidate. “Michael Finley would be amazing in that role,” Mavs owner Mark Cuban tells DallasBasketball.com. “Fin has had a huge impact on the Mavs. … Amazing.”

Adrian Wojnarowski: We probably don’t …

Adrian Wojnarowski: We probably don’t have a draft or free agency till September until the season’s over. But what if you wait on this and all of a sudden we get to June 1 or June 5 or June 10 and there’s an environment where the season can’t resume where they say, we’re going to have to, we’re not close enough to being able to return to work in the NBA. We’re out of time. We’ve got to look at canceling the season. Well, now all of a sudden, you’ve got the draft on June 25, you got free agency on June 30. Those very well probably then just stay intact. And so you can’t you don’t want to start your search then. So I think it makes a lot of sense. In any scenario, that you get it done now, especially in a circumstance like Chicago, where you know, Paxson and Gar Forman knew they were aware of what was coming.

With longtime tandem John Paxson and …

With longtime tandem John Paxson and Gar Forman expected to be reassigned from their respective roles as executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager, the Bulls, led by president and COO Michael Reinsdorf, have zeroed in on four preliminary executives across the league. Sources tell The Athletic they are Toronto GM Bobby Webster, Denver GM Arturas Karnisovas, Indiana GM Chad Buchanan and Miami vice president of player personnel and assistant general manager Adam Simon.

Buchanan is widely known for his …

Buchanan is widely known for his embrace of analytics. If the Bulls ask for and receive permission to interview Buchanan, his longstanding working relationship with Pritchard would seemingly indicate an ability to mesh with Bulls executive vice president John Paxson. As previously reported, ownership still values Paxson’s leadership and vision for the direction of the franchise. Paxson long has publicly stated he’s willing to accept any role the franchise thinks is best for the Bulls.

Chicago Bulls president Michael …

Chicago Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf has been gathering background on potential candidates to take over the franchise’s basketball operations, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The John Paxson-Gar Forman front office leadership structure is unlikely to continue in its current form beyond this season, sources say.

The hope for Paxson is this new hire …

The hope for Paxson is this new hire will take over the media duties, allowing him to slip into the background. As for Forman, he is not expected to be fired, but reassigned into a scouting position, as the team is also looking to build up that department. The Bulls have long been known for having a small scouting department, and they plan on an expansion this spring.

During an appearance Friday on ESPN’s …

No one is asking LaVine to rise to the …

No one is asking LaVine to rise to the stature of those two MVPs. But the Bulls hope LaVine can grow into the kind of star who can lead them back to the playoffs. After Thursday’s trade deadline, Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson reinforced the front office’s long-term belief in LaVine. “Zach has had an excellent year,” Paxson said. “From the time we’ve had him, we’ve all seen growth in him and confidence in him. And we put a lot on his shoulders. Zach is a very, very talented player.”