All of Chicago rejoiced when it was announced today that the Chicago Bulls had moved on from their head coach, Jim Boylen. Boylen took over the reins from Fred Hoiberg during the 2018/19 season and despite optimism that he’d help spark the young players, it seemed like a bad fit from the start.
He butted heads with many of the younger players in the locker room and his “extreme” methods got so bad, some of the players even went to the NBPA for help.
Boylen’s performance on the court may have been even worse as his schemes and gameplan lead to questionable results. This past season, the Bulls ranked just 27th in offensive net rating and 12th in defensive net rating.
Needless to say, it was time for a change. But, now that he’s gone, who will they bring in? With new management and a ton of bright young talent on the roster, now is the time for them to begin building a positive and winning culture. A good coach will be key in successfully implementing that goal.
Among a sea of candidates, here are some that may be the best fit for the Bulls:
Becky Hammon
While many still aren’t convinced Hammon is ready to lead her own team, she is definitely deserving of a chance to prove it. Besides her seemingly likable personality and the way in which her basketball brilliance is revered, there are a number of reasons why she’d be a great fit in Chicago.
The players like and respect her, she has countless endorsements from her peers, players, and media members, and has been under the wing of Gregg Popovich and his staff, one of the best in NBA history.
Wes Unseld Jr.
The Bulls should prioritize development more than anything right now. Under the right coach, guys like Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Bobby Portis can continue to grow.
Wes Unseld Jr. isn’t exactly the most popular candidate, but he’s revered for his work and experience developing young players and, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bulls have already started looking his way.
Arturas Karnisovas makes the change on Boylen and will start a search right away for his replacement. Among many expected to be considered: Denver assistant Wes Unseld, Jr., former Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson; Toronto assistant Adrian Griffin; Bucks assistant Darvin Ham. https://t.co/SxGYny4Biy
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 14, 2020
Unseld is currently an assistant with the Nuggets and is no doubt part of the reason for their recent success.
Jason Kidd
After his stints with Brooklyn and Milwaukee, Jason Kidd doesn’t have many chances left as a head coach in this league. Still, with all things considered, the Bulls wouldn’t be crazy for bringing him on.
Like Unseld, Kidd’s greatest strength appears to be player development — especially with guards. And as an assistant with the Lakers, under Frank Vogel, he deserves some credit for their success.
Perhaps most intriguing about Kidd is the strong relationship he has established with the players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James — who both had some pretty high things to say about him.
Jacque Vaughn
Jacque Vaughn doesn’t have much of a sample size to go on, but without Durant, Irving, Jordan, and Dinwiddie, he has to be considered one of the main driving forces behind Brooklyn’s inspiring performance in the bubble so far.
He has lit a fire under the team and has them playing hard under his leadership since the firing of Kenny Atkinson.
While Chicago might be wary about picking him up, he definitely deserves consideration for what he’s been able to do with a broken and hobbled Nets team. If there’s one thing the Bulls need right now, it’s some spark and energy and Vaughn has shown so far he can bring that out of his players.
But will he even be available? He’s only a temporary replacement but could become permanent if Brooklyn decides he’s the best fit.
Kenny Atkinson
The biggest reason why Atkinson got fired was that Durant and Irving wanted someone with more clout. While coach Kenny is far from perfect and has much to prove, he may be the best fit out of all the candidates to take the vacancy in Chicago.
The Nets overachieved largely because of his coaching talents and his role as a cultural trendsetter. Players bought-in to his vision, got better under his brand of basketball, and grew to become a widely respected team in the East just a few years after being its laughing stock.
What better way to start a new era in Chicago than by bringing in a guy who already has experience turning around a desperate situation?
