TITLE: Report: Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd Emerges as Leading Candidate to Run Bulls’ Basketball Operations
SLUG: timberwolves-gm-matt-lloyd-frontrunner-chicago-bulls-front-office
CONTENT:
Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd has moved to the front of the line for the Chicago Bulls’ vacant head of basketball operations position, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. Lloyd, long viewed as a primary target since the search began, is considered a strong match for a franchise expected to pivot toward a rebuild.
The 51-year-old executive, who grew up in Chicago’s suburbs, joined the Bulls in 1994 as a game-day employee in the video room before transitioning to media relations and, eventually, the front office. He was promoted to director of college scouting prior to departing for Orlando in 2012 and later assumed the top basketball role in Minnesota. Observers view his track record in talent evaluation and player development as aligning with the Bulls’ immediate needs.
While owners Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf have pledged to explore a wider pool of candidates this time, their history suggests they often gravitate toward executives with previous ties to the organization, a box Lloyd clearly checks.
Celtics Notes: Mazzulla, Tatum
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, a finalist for NBA Coach of the Year, downplayed the individual nature of the honor, calling it “a stupid award” unless it recognizes an entire staff or organization. “I haven’t made one basket all year,” Mazzulla told The Athletic. “If it was Staff of the Year or Organization of the Year, it’s different.”
On the court, forward Jayson Tatum continues to manage the lingering effects of the Achilles tear that kept him sidelined until March 6. He scored 25 points in Boston’s Game 1 rout of Philadelphia on Sunday but struggled in Tuesday’s Game 2 loss, finishing with 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists while shooting 8-for-19 from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range. Tatum is 3-for-15 from deep through two games in the series.
Brooklyn: Pressure Mounts on Marks
The Nets’ decision to extend head coach Jordi Fernandez places added urgency on general manager Sean Marks to reshape the roster, the New York Daily News reports. By locking in Fernandez, Brooklyn’s front office signals confidence in its coaching staff and turns the spotlight toward roster upgrades needed to return to postseason contention.
Playoff Matchup: Mobley vs. Barnes
Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, selected third and fourth overall in the 2021 draft, are meeting in the first round. Both players have established themselves as potential cornerstones, though league observers remain unsure whether either is destined for full-fledged superstardom, according to The Athletic.
Source: HoopsRumors
