The NBA offseason is officially here, and the Chicago Bulls are wasting no time trying to get their house in order. While the New York Knicks are still celebrating their first championship since 1973 after taking down the Spurs in five games, the rest of the league is already plotting next season’s moves. For the Bulls, that starts with finding a new head coach.
Billy Donovan stepped down after six seasons in Chicago, leaving behind a 226–252 record. That tenure included just one playoff appearance in 2022 and three straight play-in tournament berths — not exactly the kind of track record that gets fans excited. Now the front office is racing the clock to name a replacement before the NBA Draft, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Stein reports that the Bulls are aiming to make a hire as soon as Monday, with four finalists in the mix. The list includes Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Portland Trail Blazers assistant Tiago Splitter, and current Bulls assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr.
Unseld Jr. Emerges as Frontrunner
Unseld Jr. brings the most head-coaching experience to the table, having spent three seasons as the Washington Wizards’ head man from 2021 through 2024. Sources indicate he’s currently seen as the frontrunner for the job, though the team has not confirmed any timeline or front-runner status.
The Bulls aren’t alone in their search. The Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers also need to fill head-coaching vacancies, but Chicago appears to be furthest along in the process. Portland, according to reports, is the farthest from making a final call.
There’s a clear trend across the league: teams are increasingly willing to hand the reins to rising assistants rather than recycling veteran names. The Bulls seem to be following that blueprint, with three of their four finalists currently serving as assistants elsewhere.
Why the Rush?
The draft is just days away, and teams understand the value of having a new coach in place before making roster decisions. Even if the coach isn’t making the final call on draft picks, having a voice in the room matters for building a cohesive vision moving forward.
For a Bulls team that has been stuck in neutral for years, every edge counts. Chicago hasn’t won a playoff series since 2015, and the fan base is growing restless. A quick, decisive hire could signal that the front office is serious about turning things around — or at least ready to try something different.
The Bulls have plenty of work ahead, but locking in a coach before the draft is the first real step. Whether it’s Unseld Jr. or one of the other finalists, the clock is ticking.
Leave a Comment