Most people had a fairly good idea of what was coming after the 2026 NBA season ended for the Chicago Bulls. Head coach Billy Donovan would likely depart, heavily coveted by college programs. Ownership would then have to make a decision on whether to keep Arturas Karnisovas in charge as VP of Basketball Operations. Initial speculation had former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone as a prominent option to replace Donovan. Adding someone with an NBA championship on his resume would certainly lend credibility to the job.
However, things were just thrown into the blender. The University of North Carolina, believed to be the top landing spot for Donovan were he to leave, has hired Malone as their new head coach, replacing Hubert Davis. Not only did this remove one of the top candidates from the Bulls’ list of possible head coaching options, but it also took away Donovan’s most prominent suitor. What makes this even more interesting is the timing. NBA insider Marc Stein revealed that there were rumblings that the Bulls wished to retain Donovan.
This abrupt decision by North Carolina lends credence to that revelation.
Everything points to a Chicago Bulls power struggle happening.
One of the prominent rumors circulating is that Donovan would not return next year as head coach if Karnisovas remains in charge of the front office. Stein’s revelation would suggest the Reinsdorfs, who clearly like and respect the coach, are willing to work something out. This would mean they plan to shake up the team structure by removing Karnisovas and bringing in somebody Donovan is familiar and/or comfortable with. It might not be the sweeping changes fans want, but it would eliminate the organization’s primary issue.
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Karnisovas has proven time and again not to have the ability to construct a winning team. He’s been clinging to players for far too long, trading talented younger ones, and has consistently been unable to get proper value in those trades. He is the primary reason this team has been stuck in mediocrity for close to a decade. Now the Chicago Bulls finally have tons of cap space and possibly two 1st round picks going into next season. It is the best opportunity they’ve had in years to lay the foundation for a winner.
Giving Karnisovas a chance to screw it up again is not something anybody wants. If retaining Donovan is the required price of getting him out, so be it.
This situation will go one of two ways.
Either the Bulls will keep Donovan in place and seek to shake up the front office, or they will wipe the slate clean and go hunting for a head coach in a pool that just lost its most intriguing candidate. Knowing how the Reinsdorfs operate, they don’t like complete overhauls. Continuity is a big buzzword with them. What makes this situation different is that they might be siding with the head coach this time. In previous power struggles, it has always been the executive whom they decided to keep.
It was true with Jerry Krause over Phil Jackson.
It was true with Gar Forman over Tom Thibodeau.
Their siding with Donovan would be a major departure. Of course, Krause and Forman already had established reputations as quality talent evaluators, leadership question marks aside. Karnisovas can make no such claim. His Patrick Williams selection alone is an anchor around his neck at this point. Much depends on how committed Donovan is to staying put if the VP were to get the axe. Most believe the coach wanted to remain in the NBA. Sticking with Chicago might be his best bet.
