Report: Bulls seek new top exec; eyeing Raptors' Webster, Nuggets' Karnisovas

The Chicago Bulls are seeking a fresh face to lead their front office.

The Bulls are formally searching for a new top executive who will have full authority over basketball operations, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and their initial field of candidates includes Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas and his Toronto Raptors counterpart Bobby Webster.

Chicago's ownership needs to secure permission to interview Karnisovas and Webster, as they're both under contract. If permission is granted, interviews will begin next week, Wojnarowski reports.

The Bulls also reportedly hope to interview the Indiana Pacers' Chad Buchanan and the Miami Heat's Adam Simon, according to The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry and Shams Charania. They apparently will not, however, pursue Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti or Raptors president Masai Ujiri, Mayberry adds.

Former point guard John Paxson is currently the Bulls' executive vice president of basketball operations and works alongside general manager Gar Forman. Paxson is likely to shift into an advisory role, Wojnarowski reports, while Forman is apparently expected to discuss his future with ownership.

Karnisovas was hired by the Nuggets in 2013 alongside current team president Tim Connelly. When Connelly was promoted from general manager to president in 2017, Karnisovas, then the assistant GM, was bumped up to Connelly's former role.

Under Karnisovas' and Connelly's guidance, the Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokic in the second round in 2014 and selected Jamal Murray seventh overall in 2016. The franchise has also improved nearly every year and was on pace for a second straight season of at least 50 wins.

Webster replaced Jeff Weltman as Raptors GM in 2017 after the Orlando Magic tabbed the latter to be their new president of basketball operations. Since Webster took charge of the Raptors' day-to-day operations, the team traded for Kawhi Leonard, won the NBA championship, and signed Pascal Siakam to a maximum contract extension, among other moves.