The Chicago Bulls’ head coaching search seemed easy enough to follow. They cast the net wide, intending to interview several candidates with extensive experience. San Antonio’s Sean Sweeney was considered the heavy favorite early on. That dream died once he accepted an offer from the Orlando Magic. With that option off the table, most experts and insiders believed the heavy favorite for the job was Chris Quinn. It made sense. He’s been a top assistant to Erik Spoelstra in Miami for years. He’s been ready for his shot for a long time. Well, things have shifted significantly in the past few days.
That is because of Tiago Splitter.
The former standout player-turned-coach burst onto the NBA scene when he took over the Portland Trailblazers midseason after a horrendous start. He immediately turned things around, getting the Blazers to a 42-40 record and into the playoffs. That success resulted in the Bulls receiving the 15th pick in the upcoming draft. Most felt this success made the decision easy for Portland. They’d just remove the interim tag and make Splitter the permanent head coach. Apparently, it isn’t that simple. Insider Brett Siegel of Clutchpoints is hearing a major divide on money. This has emboldened the Bulls to make a stronger push to lure Splitter away.
The Chicago Bulls smell a big opportunity at hand.
“However, new Blazers owner Tom Dundon has made it his mission to cut internal costs, including at the head coaching position. Once the Trail Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs, Dundon and Blazers officials spoke with Splitter about the possibility of returning, but the starting point in these brief contract talks was well below average, league sources told ClutchPoints.
This is why Splitter’s return to Portland remains a mystery, although he is still a lead candidate in their coaching search, and it’s why he has become the focus of the Bulls’ coaching search.
Chicago is attempting to lure Splitter away from the Blazers, which makes me believe he is a top option for them as a finalist. Over the last few weeks, the Bulls have been pushing the idea that they are a better long-term position for Splitter, especially since they would be committed to him long-term compared to the Blazers, sources said.”
Splitter is a more than sensible choice for the Bulls.
For one, he is the only candidate with head-coaching experience. After five years as an assistant, he got his first taste in 2024, taking over Paris Basketball. That season, his team won the LBN Elite championship, which is basically the French equivalent of an NBA title. If that weren’t enough, he also won the annual French Cup tournament, the first in franchise history. Portland then lured him back to the U.S. as a top assistant for the team. He was promoted to the top job after Chauncey Billups was suspended over gambling allegations and led the Blazers to their first winning season in five years.
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Again, this was all done in less than two years. Splitter has shown he is a winner, regardless of the league he coaches in. The Chicago Bulls are searching for somebody who can foster that kind of environment. He’s only 41 years old. If the Bulls are willing to make a long-term commitment to him, which apparently the Blazers aren’t, then this pursuit makes plenty of sense. We already know he can work with younger players. Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe both had career years under his watch last season.
Everything depends on how the Blazers react.
They still have control of the situation. All they’d have to do is up the money to a point where Splitter is satisfied, and it feels like he’d be back. However, their owner has made it pretty clear to this point that he isn’t interested in spending money on anything. Splitter isn’t a big name. The fans aren’t likely to riot if he lets the young coach walk. From his standpoint, he won’t be bullied into paying up for somebody who hasn’t really won anything yet. That is exactly what the Bulls are banking on.
We’ve already seen with the Reinsdorfs that they are willing to invest in their head coach. Billy Donovan was in line to get the bag this offseason before he chose to step away. If Graham has convinced the owners that Splitter is the type of leader this team needs, they will put in the funding necessary to make it happen. Reports have said the Bulls want a resolution to the coaching job by the end of the second week of June. So we should be getting answer within the next few days.
