The Chicago Bulls didn’t wait until the offseason to make major changes to the front office.
Earlier this week, the Bulls dismissed executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, and now the search starts for replacements.
When it comes that search, Bulls CEO and Michael Reinsdorf has one major requirement: Keeping Billy Donovan on as head coach.
“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach,” Reinsdorf said, via ESPN. “They’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City. … If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”
Billy Donovan Has Some Serious Job Security With the Chicago Bulls
GettyChicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan
Donovan has been the head coach in Chicago since 2020. During his tenure with the team, the Bulls have made the playoffs just once and they have a grand total of one playoff win. However, Reinsdorf obviously remains impressed with Donovan’s previous accomplishments and resume, which includes two NCAA National Championships with the University of Florida and a trip to the Western Conference finals with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016.
By backing the coach and dismissing the front office executives, Reinsdorf made it clear that he thinks the team’s shortcomings as of late are more the result of the personnel decisions and roster, as opposed to the coach.
So, what exactly is Reinsdorf looking for in a quality candidate? In addition to someone willing to keep Donovan in place, he’s also looking for a strong communicator with an eye on sustainability.
“I want someone who’s really strong in communication,” Reinsdorf said. “What are we trying to accomplish? What is the plan? Our fans have a right to understand what we’re trying to accomplish.
“Going forward, it’s about sustainability,” Reinsdorf added. “We want to build this for the long term. I don’t want to be just good for one or two years. I want it to be year in and year out, we have a chance to be competitive and win.”
A Chance for Bulls to Hit the Restart Button
The upcoming offseason will provide the Bulls with a major opportunity to hit the restart button and get a fresh start. This is likely why Reinsdorf made the changes to the front office when he did, so the Bulls can quickly fill the position(s) and hit the ground running over the offseason.
The Bulls could have two first-round picks in the upcoming, highly-hyped 2026 NBA Draft. The Bulls will have their own pick, which will land in the lottery and they will also receive the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-round pick if it lands outside of the lottery. Those picks will provide an excellent opportunity to infuse some young talent into the roster.
Plus, the Bulls are projected to have the most salary cap space in the entire NBA over the offseason, which will provide them with another avenue to improvement.
It’s going to be an important offseason for the Bulls, and it all starts with building a new-look front office.
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