Bulls name Forman GM; Paxson remains in control

Changes within the Bulls' front office have been going on for more than a year, and now player personnel director Gar Forman will get a new job title to reflect his added duties.

The Bulls will hold a news conference Thursday morning to promote Forman to general manager. John Paxson will continue in his role of executive vice president of basketball operations.

Paxson often is called general manager in the media just for simplicity, but that never has been his official title.

His job hasn't changed since he took over for Jerry Krause on April 14, 2003. The basketball decisions in recent years essentially have been made by a three-man panel of Paxson, Forman and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, and that will continue.

Forman worked with Tim Floyd at Iowa State and joined the Bulls as a college scout in 1998 on Floyd's recommendation.

But long after Floyd departed as head coach, Forman continued to impress Paxson and Reinsdorf.

Forman took the lead in contract negotiations for Ben Gordon and Luol Deng last summer because of his quiet, low-key style, which Paxson felt was better suited for the role.

Forman was part of the coaching interviews last spring and has had a hand in all of the Bulls' recent personnel moves.

In essence, Forman was groomed for this role during the past five years so that Paxson wouldn't be burdened as much by things such as scouting and contract negotiations, freeing him up to focus on the direction of the team.

The Bulls may hire someone to take on some of the duties that Forman is giving up.

Paxson assistant Matt Lloyd is coordinating the predraft workouts, which begin Friday. The Bulls have the Nos. 16 and 26 picks in the first round, with nothing in the second round.

Forman is a graduate of Utah State, and he held college coaching jobs at the College of the Desert (Calif.), Cal-Poly Pomona and New Mexico State before joining Floyd at Iowa State.