My biggest problem with GarPax is they should have been fired after their mini-rebuild around Rose/Jimmy failed. They shouldn't have been given yet again another chance. Obviously the hope prior to 2016 was that Rose would some day return to form, but clearly, never happened and wasn't going to.
I know people will say they should have been fired prior to that, but frankly, I viewed them as average to acceptable until the 2015-16 season.
Important to note that, Paxson, while still involved, pretty much gave the reigns to Gar starting in about 2009, and Paxson only became more involved later on when it was clear Gar was not making the right moves.
Their long tenure is a combo of luck and then the blind loyalty that Jerry has. They might have possible been gone earlier had the Bulls not lucked into Derrick Rose. It was clear in 07-08 that the team Paxson had built had failed, but getting that #1 pick and taking Rose rejuvenated everyone and they went on to some minor success, that could have possibly done better with some more luck (like Atlanta not offering that max to Joe Johnson).