GarPax.com | The Timeline To Futility

Welcome! This site was created to chronicle the sheer incompetence of John Paxson and Gar Forman during their time in the Chicago Bulls front office, and as a resource for Chicago Bulls fans trying to advocate for their firing. Chicago is the greatest city on the planet with a proud, rich basketball history and its people deserve better. It is as comprehensive as I have been able to make it, and I will continue to add to it until they are relieved of their duties. #FireGarPax — Without further ado…

Jerry Krause Resigns

April 8, 2003

Krause cited health concerns as the official reason for his departure.

John Paxson Named GM

April 14, 2003

Paxson, who was serving as a broadcaster for the Bulls, was selected over B.J. Armstrong, who was in his third season as a special assistant…

Jay Williams Accident

June 19, 2003

A 2002 draft pick, Williams suffers career-ending injuries in a motorcycle accident.

2003 NBA Draft

June 26, 2003

Bulls draft Kirk Hinrich (7th overall), Mario Austin (36th overall), Matt Bonner (45th overall), and Tommy Smith (53rd overall)

Bill Cartwright Fired

November 24, 2003

Paxson relieves Bill Cartwright of his Head Coaching duties.

Scott Skiles Named Head Coach

November 28, 2003

Scott Skiles is named the 15th Head Coach in Chicago Bulls franchise history.

Rose, Marshall and Baxter Traded

December 1, 2003

Traded Lonny Baxter, Donyell Marshall and Jalen Rose to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Antonio Davis, Chris Jefferies and Jerome Williams

Mason, Jr. Traded

December 16, 2003

Acquired Rick Brunson from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Roger Mason, Jr.

Forman Named Director Of Player Personnel

January 27, 2004

Forman, who was in his sixth season with the Bulls, joined the club as a scout in 1998.

Season Record: 23-59

April 14, 2004

Bulls finish the 2003-04 NBA season with a 23-59 record, 8th in the Central Division.

2004 NBA Draft

June 24, 2004

Bulls draft Ben Gordon (3rd overall), Jackson Vroman (31st overall), and Chris Duhon (38th overall). The Bulls acquired the rights to Luol Deng (7th overall)…

Crawford and Williams Traded

August 5, 2004

Re-signed Jamal Crawford and traded him and Jerome Williams to New York for Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington, Frank Williams and Cezary Trybankski.

Signed Andrés Nocioni

August 11, 2004

Bulls sign free agent Andrés Nocioni

Mutumbo Traded

September 8, 2004

Traded Dikembe Mutombo to the Houston Rockets for Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks.

Scottie Pippen Retires

October 5, 2004

Scottie Pippen retires after returning to the Bulls prior to the 2003-2004 season.

Gordon Named NBA Sixth Man of the Year

May 3, 2005

Bulls rookie Ben Gordon finished first in the voting, with 513 out of a possible 625 points (82.1%). He earned 88 of a possible 125…

Season Record: 47-35

May 6, 2005

Bulls finish the 2004-05 NBA season with a 47-35 record, 2nd in the Central Division.

Skiles Contract Extended

June 9, 2005

Bulls agree to contract extension with Head Coach Scott Skiles.

2005 NBA Draft

June 28, 2005

The Bulls had no picks in the 2005 NBA Draft due to previous trades.

Retained Chris Duhon

August 15, 2005

Matched the three-year, $9 million offer sheet made to restricted free agent Chris Duhon by the Toronto Raptors.

Re-signed Tyson Chandler

September 1, 2005

Re-signed restricted free agent Tyson Chandler to a six-year, $63 million dollar contract.

Curry and Davis Traded

October 4, 2005

Traded Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis to New York in exchange for Mike Sweetney, Tim Thomas, Jermaine Jackson, a conditional first round draft pick and…

Season Record: 41-41

May 4, 2006

Bulls finish the 2005-06 NBA season with a 41-41 record, 4th in the Central Division.

2006 NBA Draft

June 28, 2006

Drafted LaMarcus Aldridge (2nd overall) and Rodney Carney (16th overall).

Signed Ben Wallace

July 13, 2006

Bulls sign free agent Ben Wallace to a four-year, $60 million dollar contract.

Chandler Traded

July 14, 2006

Acquired P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith from the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets in exchange for Tyson Chandler.

Smith Traded

July 20, 2006

Traded J.R. Smith to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Howard Eisley and two 2007 second-round draft picks from the Nuggets.

Basden Traded

August 18, 2006

Acquired Martynas Andriuskevicius from Cleveland in exchange for Eddie Basden.

Extended Kirk Hinrich

October 31, 2006

Re-signed Kirk Hinrich to a five-year deal worth $47.5 million.

Season Record: 49-33

May 17, 2007

Bulls finish the 2006-07 NBA season with a 49-33 record, 3rd in the Central Division.

2007 NBA Draft

June 28, 2007

Drafted Joakim Noah (9th overall), Aaron Gray (49th overall) and JamesOn Curry (51st overall).

Signed Nocioni and Smith

July 18, 2007

Re-signed restricted free agent Andrés Nocioni to a five-year, $37.5 million dollar contract. Also signed free agent Joe Smith to a reported two-year contract with…

Scott Skiles Fired

December 24, 2007

Paxson relieves Scott Skiles of his Head Coaching duties.

Jim Boylan Named Interim Head Coach

December 27, 2007

Jim Boylan is named Interim Head Coach, 16th Head Coach in franchise history.

Wallace, Smith and Griffin Traded

February 21, 2008

Acquired Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons from Cleveland in exchange for Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Chicago’s 2009 regular second round…

Season Record: 33-49

April 16, 2008

Bulls finish the 2007-08 NBA season with a 33-49 record, 4th in the Central Division.

Jim Boylan Fired

April 17, 2008

Paxson relieves Jim Boylan of Interim Head Coaching duties.

Bulls Win Draft Lottery

May 22, 2008

Bulls had a 1.7 percent probability of obtaining the first selection. The Bulls’ winning of the lottery was the second-largest upset in NBA Draft Lottery…

Vinny Del Negro Named Head Coach

June 11, 2008

Vinny Del Negro is named the 17th Head Coach in Chicago Bulls franchise history.

2008 NBA Draft

June 26, 2008

Drafted Derrick Rose (1st overall) and Sunny Weems (39th overall).

Re-signed Luol Deng

July 31, 2008

Re-signed restricted free agent Luol Deng to a six-year, $71 million dollar contract.

Re-signed Ben Gordon

October 1, 2008

Re-signed restricted free agent Ben Gordon to a one-year qualifying offer for $6.4 million.

Nocioni, Gooden, Simmons and Ruffin Traded

February 18, 2009

Traded Andrés Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Michael Ruffin to Sacramento in exchange for Brad Miller and John Salmons.

Hughes and Sefolosha Traded

February 19, 2009

Traded Larry Hughes to New York for Tim Thomas, Jerome James and Anthony Roberson. Traded Thabo Sefolosha to Oklahoma City for a 2009 first-round pick.

Season Record: 41-41

April 15, 2009

Bulls finish the 2008-09 NBA season with a 41-41 record, 2nd in the Central Division.

Rose Named NBA Rookie of the Year

April 22, 2009

Derrick Rose receives 111 of 120 first-place votes and wins NBA Rookie of the Year. He joins Michael Jordan and Elton Brand as Bulls winners…

Forman Named GM

May 21, 2009

Forman has served as the Director of Player Personnel since January 27, 2004.

2009 NBA Draft

June 25, 2009

Drafted James Johnson (16th overall) and Taj Gibson (26th overall).

Gray Traded

January 25, 2010

Traded Aaron Gray to New Orleans for Devin Brown.

Salmons and Thomas Traded

February 18, 2010

Traded John Salmons and Bulls’ second round picks in 2011 and 2012 to Milwaukee for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander. Also traded Tyrus Thomas to…

Season Record: 41-41

April 27, 2010

Bulls finish the 2009-10 NBA season with a 41-41 record, 3rd in the Central Division.

Vinny Del Negro Fired

May 4, 2010

Forman relieves Vinny Del Negro of his Head Coaching duties.

Tom Thibodeau Named Head Coach

June 23, 2010

Tom Thibodeau is named the 18th Head Coach in Chicago Bulls franchise history.

2010 NBA Draft

June 24, 2010

Drafted Kévin Séraphin (17th overall).

Hinrich and Séraphin Traded

July 8, 2010

Traded Kirk Hinrich, the draft rights to Kévin Séraphin (17th overall) and cash considerations to Washington, in exchange for the draft rights to Vladimir Veremeenko…

Acquired Carlos Boozer

July 8, 2010

Bulls acquired free agent Carlos Boozer, signed to a five-year, $80 million dollar contract, along with a future protected second-round pick from Utah for a…

Warrick Traded

July 9, 2010

Signed and traded the contract of Hakim Warrick to Phoenix, in exchange for Phoenix’s regular 2011 second-round draft pick.

Signed Kyle Korver and Omer Asik

July 12, 2010

Bulls sign Kyle Korver to a three-year, $15 million deal and Omer Asik to a three-year contract worth $4 million dollars.

Signed Ronnie Brewer

July 19, 2010

Bulls sign free agent Ronnie Brewer to a two-year, $10 million dollar contract.

Acquired C.J. Watson

July 22, 2010

Acquired C.J. Watson from Golden State for a future second-round draft pick.

Re-signed Joakim Noah

October 4, 2010

Re-signed Joakim Noah to a five-year, $60 million dollar contract.

Johnson Traded

February 22, 2011

Traded James Johnson to the Toronto Raptors for a 2011 first-round draft pick.

Thibodeau Named NBA Coach of the Year

May 1, 2011

Tom Thibodeau win the NBA Coach of the Year in his first season with the Bulls. Thibodeau led the Bulls to a 62-20 regular season…

Rose Named NBA MVP

May 3, 2011

Rose becomes the youngest in NBA history at 22 years, 7 months by claiming 113 of 121 first-place votes.

Forman Named Co-Recipient NBA Executive of the Year

May 10, 2011

General Manager Gar Forman and Miami Heat President Pat Riley are co-recipients of the 2010-11 NBA Executive of the Year award. Forman and Riley each…

Season Record: 62-20

May 26, 2011

Bulls finish the 2010-11 NBA season with a 62-20 record, 1st in the Central Division.

2011 NBA Draft

June 23, 2011

Selected Norris Cole (28th overall), Jimmy Butler (30th overall) and Malcolm Lee (43rd overall).

Signed Richard Hamilton

December 14, 2011

Bulls sign free agent Richard Hamilton to a three-year, $15 million dollar contract.

Re-signed Derrick Rose

December 22, 2011

Re-signed Derrick Rose to a five-year, $94 million dollar contract.

Extended Derrick Rose

December 22, 2011

Re-signed Derrick Rose to a five-year, $98.4 million contract extension.

Rose Tears ACL

April 28, 2012

With about 1:20 to play and the Bulls up by 12 over the 76ers in a playoff game, Rose tears his ACL. He was never…

Season Record: 50-16

May 10, 2012

Bulls finish the 2011-12 NBA season with a 50-16 record, 1st in the Central Division.

2012 NBA Draft

June 28, 2012

Drafted Marquis Teague (29th overall).

Korver Traded

July 16, 2012

Traded Kyle Korver to the Atlanta Hawks for a trade exception and cash considerations.

Signed Kirk Hinrich

July 23, 2012

Bulls sign free agent Kirk Hinrich to a two-year, $8 million dollar contract.

Thibodeau Contract Extended

October 1, 2012

Bulls agree to a four-year contract extension with Head Coach Tom Thibodeau.

Re-signed Taj Gibson

November 1, 2012

Re-signed Taj Gibson to a four-year, $38 million dollar contract.

Season Record: 45-37

May 15, 2013

Bulls finish the 2012-13 NBA season with a 45-37 record, 2nd in the Central Division.

2013 NBA Draft

June 27, 2013

Drafted Tony Snell (20th overall) and Erik Murphy (49th overall).

Signed Mike Dunleavy

July 10, 2013

Bulls sign free agent Mike Dunleavy to a two-year, $6 million dollar contract.

Deng Traded

January 6, 2014

Traded Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum, a future conditional first-round pick, a second-round draft pick in 2015, a second-round draft pick…

Teague Traded

January 21, 2014

Traded Marquis Teague to the Brooklyn Nets for Tornike Shengelia.

Noah Named NBA Defensive Player of the Year

April 22, 2014

Joakim Noah got 100 of a possible 125 first-place votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters and wound up with 555 points. Noah joins…

Season Record: 48-34

April 29, 2014

Bulls finish the 2013-14 NBA season with a 48-34 record, 2nd in the Central Division.

2014 NBA Draft

June 26, 2014

Drafted Jusuf Nurkic (16th overall), Gary Harris (19th overall) and Cameron Bairstow (49th overall).

Smith and Randolph Traded

July 14, 2014

Traded Greg Smith to the Dallas Mavericks for the rights to Tadija Dragićević (selected 53rd overall in 2008 NBA Draft). Traded Anthony Randolph, cash considerations…

Signed Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic

July 19, 2014

Bulls sign free agent Pau Gasol to a three-year, $22 million dollar contract and Nikola Mirotic to a three-year, $17 million dollar contract.

Butler Named NBA Most Improved Player

May 7, 2015

Jimmy Butler wins the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Improved Player award. In his fourth season in the NBA, Butler posted career highs in scoring, rebounding…

Season Record: 50-32

May 14, 2015

Bulls finish the 2014-15 NBA season with a 50-32 record, 2nd in the Central Division.

Tom Thibodeau Fired

May 28, 2015

Forman relieves Tom Thibodeau of his Head Coaching duties.

Fred Hoiberg Named Head Coach

June 2, 2015

Fred Hoiberg is named the 19th Head Coach in Chicago Bulls franchise history.

2015 NBA Draft

June 25, 2015

Drafted Bobby Portis (22nd overall).

Re-signed Jimmy Butler

July 9, 2015

Re-signed free agent Jimmy Butler to a five-year, $94.3 million dollar contract.

Hinrich Traded

February 18, 2016

As part of a 3-team trade, the Chicago Bulls traded Kirk Hinrich to the Atlanta Hawks; the Atlanta Hawks traded Justin Holiday to the Chicago…

Season Record: 42-40

April 13, 2016

Bulls finish the 2015-16 NBA season with a 42-40 record, 4th in the Central Division.

Bairstow Traded

June 17, 2016

Traded Cameron Bairstow to the Detroit Pistons for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Holiday and Rose Traded

June 22, 2016

Traded Justin Holiday, Derrick Rose and a 2017 second-round draft pick to the New York Knicks for Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant and Robin Lopez.

2016 NBA Draft

June 23, 2016

Drafted Denzel Valentine (14th overall) and Paul Zipser (48th overall).

Calderon and Dunleavy Traded

July 7, 2016

Traded Jose Calderon, a 2018 second-round draft pick and a 2019 second-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for the draft rights to Ater…

Signed Rajon Rondo

July 7, 2016

Bulls sign free agent Rajon Rondo to a two-year, $28 million dollar contract.

Signed Dwayne Wade

July 15, 2016

Bulls sign free agent Dwyane Wade to a two-year, $47.5 million dollar contract.

Snell Traded

October 17, 2016

Traded Tony Snell to the Milwaukee Bucks for Michael Carter-Williams.

Gibson and McDermott Traded

February 23, 2017

Traded Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Joffrey Lauvergne, Anthony Morrow and Cameron Payne.

Season Record: 41-41

April 28, 2017

Bulls finish the 2016-17 NBA season with a 41-41 record, 4th in the Central Division.

2017 NBA Draft

June 22, 2017

Drafted Justin Patton (16th overall) and Jordan Bell (38th overall).

Butler Traded

June 22, 2017

Traded Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen (7th overall).

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