Following their fourth consecutive loss on the season, the inevitable happened, and Billy Donovan's tenure as head coach of the Chicago Bulls ended when he officially "resigned" from his position on Tuesday.
At the beginning of the week, it was still unclear whether Donovan would follow general manager Mark Eversley and executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas after they were fired by the Bulls earlier this month. There were also recent reports that the former Florida and Oklahoma City Thunder coach could gain even more influence in the organization.
However, Donovan would end his run with a 226–256 record and just one playoff trip in six seasons. So who could the Chicago Bulls make their next head coach? We present five possible options, including former head coach Tom Thibodeau.
taylor jenkins
Taylor Jenkins helped turn the Memphis Grizzlies into a consistent playoff contender in the Western Conference. However, his inability to manage Ja Morant and his on- and off-court issues played a role in his surprise exit at the end of last season.
The 41-year-old certainly deserves another chance as a head coach in the NBA and has shown he can develop talent. This is a must-have trait for the Bulls' next coach. Jenkins will get some good pieces to start in Matas Bouzelis and Josh Giddy.
tom thibodeau
In the NBA, you have rarely seen a coach returning to a franchise after a breakup. But other than a few good seasons from Scott Skiles at the turn of the century, Tom Thibodeau is the only coach who has pushed the Bulls back into title contention since the Michael Jordan era.
Yes, his inability to reach the NBA Finals since being fired by Chicago in 2015 continues. But he showed with the New York Knicks that he still knows how to turn a program around and make them a consistent playoff contender. This is what the Bulls need right now. A strong, capable coach who has mastered the art of turning teams into very competitive units year after year.
Sam Cassel
Sam Cassel had a really good 15-year career as a player, winning three NBA championships. But since 2009, he has built a strong reputation as a top assist during several stops, including with the Los Angeles Clippers and currently the Boston Celtics.
For many years, he has been viewed as someone who is worthy of the head coaching job, and it is only a matter of time before a franchise finally gives him a chance. He should definitely be considered for Chicago.
Mika Nori
Another top assistant who has been linked to multiple head coaching jobs over the past few years is Minnesota Timberwolves assistant, Micah Nouri. He's been learning on an NBA bench for 17 seasons and with five different teams. Of the various assistants in the game, there is none more prepared and respected than Nori.
chris quinn
Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn is a man who is sure to get a top job soon. He has been with the organization for 12 years and is Erik Spoelstra's top assistant. The Heat and their culture is one of the most respected in the game due to their potential. Quinn is one of the franchise's greatest retainers and can bring to Chicago what has worked for him over the past decade.
