On paper, the Chicago Bulls certainly look like a team with a bright future. Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Coby White are promising young players who could help usher in a new era of greatness for the franchise.
But first, the Bulls had to bring in a replacement for the exiled former head coach Jim Boylen. After a disastrous season with him at the helm, Chicago needed a guy with legitimacy to steer their young core in the right direction.
Today, it seems they found that guy.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bulls will bring in former OKC coach Billy Donovan.
Billy Donovan has agreed to a deal to become the next coach of the Chicago Bulls, sources tell ESPN.
Chicago Bulls executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas aggressively pursued Donovan in the aftermath of Donovan’s leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder after five seasons, sources said, selling Donovan on a partnership and vision for a talented young roster and chance to lead one of the league’s anchor franchises.
ESPN story on the Chicago Bulls hiring Billy Donovan as the franchise's next head coach: https://t.co/v0I6Z7tUW0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 22, 2020
Donovan started his NBA coaching tenure back in 2015 when he led the Thunder (with Durant and Westbrook) to the Western Conference Finals. His most impressive feat, though, was coaching this year’s Thunder team to a 44-28 record after losing Russell Westbrook and Paul George in the offseason.
The hope is that Donovan can bring some of that same energy to Chicago. For years, the Bulls have struggled with trying to remake a toxic, losing culture. Is Donovan the one to finally bring them over the curve?
We’ll have to wait to find out, but optimism is definitely high in the Windy City.
