Former Miami Heat forward Shane Battier was reportedly offered the Chicago Bulls head of basketball operations position that eventually went to Arturas Karnisovas.
According to a report, Heat CEO Nick Arison was among those who suggested to Battier that he reject the offer, one that team vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager Adam Simon also refused.
Battier’s lengthy tenure in the NBA, as well as his reputation for being one of the NBA’s smartest players, may have had a hand in the high regard that the Bulls hold of him.
The Heat may have big plans for Battier’s front-office future which is why they talked him out of accepting the Bulls’ offer.
Currently the Heat’s vice president of basketball development and analytics, Battier played for Miami for three seasons and helped the franchise capture back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
As a member of the Heat in 2013, he won the Magic Johnson Award for excellence on the court and cooperation with media and fans. It was his second time to receive the award after he won it in 2007 with the Houston Rockets.
Battier was also awarded the Twyman-Stokes NBA Teammate of the Year Award in 2014, his last year with the Heat before he ultimately retired at the end of the season.