Updated: Bulls Interview Jazz GM Justin Zanik
Apr 6, 2020, 1:31 PM | Updated: 4:04 pm
Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik (Courtesy of Utah Jazz)
(Courtesy of Utah Jazz)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik has once again become an eyed commodity for a front-office position from a fellow NBA franchise. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Zanik interviewed for the Chicago Bull open front office position on Monday via video conference.
Early Monday, K.C. Johnson from NBC Chicago reported that the Bulls had received permission from the Jazz to interview the team’s GM.
Zanik, in his second stint with the Jazz, has been a target for opposing teams since joining the Jazz in 2013, having worked under Dennis Lindsey to rebuild the Jazz into a near contender in the Western Conference.
Utah Jazz GM Justin Zanik did a video interview with the Chicago Bulls today for the franchise's Executive VP of Basketball Operations opening, sources tell ESPN. Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas will interview with Bulls mid-week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 6, 2020
In 2016, Zanik left the Jazz to serve as GM for the Milwaukee Bucks with the assumption that he’d be the eventual successor to then Bucks team manager John Hammond. In 2017, the Bucks promoted director of basketball operations Jon Horst t replace Hammond, leading Zanik to rejoin the Jazz.
In February, the Bulls began the process of looking for a new GM to replace longtime front office member Gar Forman. Chicago has also received permission to interview Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas according to Johnson.
Karnisovas is a popular target among the Bulls fans base relationship with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic who will be a free agent in the summer of 2023. Wojnarowski has reported that the Nuggets GM will interview with the Bulls midweek.
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Zanik, a former player agent has brought a thorough understanding of the league’s collective bargaining agreement also has deep relationships in the international basketball community, and has assumed many of the day to day responsibilities previously held by Lindsey.
Meanwhile, Chicago may hold some hometown interest for the Zanik family. Zanik’s wife Gina is a midwestern native, having grown up in Milwaukee.
According to @wojespn, Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas is someone to watch closely for the Chicago Bulls top executive job.
Bobby Marks and Woj both said that Chicago is an "elite job" in the NBA.
Woj: "Chicago is one of the greatest cities in the world."
(Via Woj Pod)
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) April 3, 2020
In the latest episode of The Woj Pod, a podcast hosted Wojnarowski, the NBA insider said, “The people in the league you talk to still think Chicago is an elite job.”
With the league sidelined by the coronavirus pandemic, the summer schedule for the NBA remains up in the air, including June’s NBA draft and July’s free agency period.
