Bulls CEO says new GM must retain Billy Donovan
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Michael Reinsdorf said any candidate for the Bulls' new head of basketball operations must be "sold on" retaining Billy Donovan as head coach, otherwise they are not the right fit.
- Billy Donovan is set to meet ownership the day after the season finale to discuss his future, and Reinsdorf plans to push him into a larger role in personnel decisions.
- The Bulls fired vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six years, citing the need to move out of a "mess" and build a sustainable winner.
- The Bulls are 29-49 with a week left in the regular season, and Reinsdorf highlighted abundant cap space and potential lottery picks (including an extra first‑round pick if Portland makes the playoffs) as a clean‑slate opportunity.
- Reinsdorf confirmed the team will engage a search firm, working with senior advisor John Paxson and the current basketball operations staff, to find Karnisovas' replacement—a contrast to the 2020 hiring process.
- Reinsdorf outlined desired traits for the next decision maker: process‑oriented, willing to "pull the trigger," trend‑following, and a strong communicator both internally and to fans, noting communication was a weakness of the previous regime.
- Reinsdorf warned against tanking, calling it unfair to coaches, players, and fans, and emphasized a focus on long‑term sustainability rather than short‑term roster moves like the 2021 acquisitions of DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Lonzo Ball.
Why it matters: Bulls fans and players stand to gain a more transparent, long‑term building strategy, while the ousted GM and VP lose their positions; the insistence on keeping Donovan and rejecting tanking signals a shift toward sustainable competitiveness, potentially preserving fan loyalty and avoiding a short‑term win‑or‑lose approach.
Ask SkimNews
