Certainly Billy understands how *terrible* this team is going to be in 2 years. After a 35-47 record in 2024-25 followed by a 23-59 record in 2025-26 no major college team would want to hire him. If he's smart he'd get the payday now while he still can.
Donovan gets paid a lot of money to put a shitty team on the floor every night. A perfect example of why the Bulls and Reinsdork suck. Lousy coach, lousy team, worst owner ever.
I take issue with the premise that this team could be 'penciled in' for "40-45 wins."
This team wasn't winning 45 games this season under any circumstances. Give them perfect health, Zach being willing to play 5-10 minutes of defense per game, Vuc playing like he's worth $20million per season....all of it together wouldn't have gotten this team to 45 wins.
I don't mean to take pressure of Billy because it's obvious he's just a guy but this not-even-half-assed team wasn't going to win 45 games with Pop and Thibs coaching them.
If the Bulls are even middling, I'll pretty much watch every game. I have a history with the franchise, and also they are my window into the NBA...I'm not logging into League Pass every night.
But I've checked out, which per above is doubly sad for me.
I actually don't think the Bulls, even with the current roster, should be in an irreparable position. However, with AK they definitely are. With this roster, big city opportunity, and even some of the history, an aggressive GM would 1) have the Bulls mentioned when stars opt-out, and eventually land one, or 2) chop of the big-three head and start over with at least something out of that purge plus a decent, not-horrible rebuilding starting point of Coby, PW, Ayo, maybe even Julian Phillips, ALL on cheap salaries, and then rebuilt on top of that.
AK can't or won't do either of those things. As for Billy, I could take him or leave, he's no great shakes but roster construction right now is 99% of the problem.
I think there are very few coaches in the NBA who positively impact winning. I'd put Spo, Kerr, and Thibs in that class. Probably about 80% of coaches are neutral. A handful are actively bad. Billy is definitely not bad, but he's also not in the top tier. The Bulls could do better, but they could also do way worse (Boylen, Boylan, Hoiberg, etc.). Would anyone have any confidence that the Bulls could hire a better coach? So long as AK is in charge, I'd much rather take my chances with Billy.
Billy Donovan's 58 years old and has already made enough money in his career to retire comfortably. Why on Earth would he want to go back to the grind of recruiting players in college when he can continue to coach a team whose front office refuses to set any sort of meaningful goals at the beginning of any season and then retire in a couple of years. Hell, if he keeps carrying water for the organization they might even kick him upstairs and make him a "senior advisor" or some other nonsense.
There's no way that recruiting high school kids is as difficult as actually coaching over twice as many games per year. And... having to put up with guys like Zach or Vuc who aren't going to play the way you want and make 10x as much as you.
This isn't even a contest. On top of it, Donovan will actually make more money going to college. He's making about $6M now. Caliperri made $7M at Kentucky for doing like 40% of the work of a pro coach.
Donovan would delegate recruiting and let his resume talk. He's a legitimately great college coach - 2 natties and a long string of success. If he'd stayed in the NCAA, he'd be in the Izzo, Self range of all-timers. He also successfully transitioned to coaching in the pros, which often torpedos successful college coaches - so recruits can count on him for real insight and connections on making it in the NBA. I can't think of a better capstone career move than becoming Emperor of the Commonwealth (the UK coach is royalty down there) while returning the Wildcats to glory. If you can do it well, the Kentucky job is arguably the most prestigious and rewarding basketball coaching job in the world. It's better, higher-paid and more secure than the Lakers or Celtics job, much less licking boots for Jerry and AK Inc.
Despite the additional games, coaching the Bulls seems like an easier job. Recruiting is a headache and you have almost complete roster turnover every year. There's also a lot of bureaucracy over a college coach that doesn't exist here. Billy pretty much only answers to ownership as opposed to an AD, school management, and donors. There's a ton of pressure to satisfy all of those people and the Bulls job is pretty much no pressure.
There's also the fact that outside of everything else, he's reaching the end of an NBA coach's lifespan.
You can say the Bulls job is "no pressure", but an NBA coach, like 95 times out of a 100 is the first guy to get fired when it's expedient to "do something".
But it seems pretty clear that the Bulls are not a team that feels like they have to do something. Jim Boylen was allowed to be an embarrassment for nearly two years and he's clearly in the running for worst NBA coach of the 21st century. Donovan isn't embarrassing the franchise and seems willing to face the media when the GM won't, and that seems to be what the Bulls are looking for in a coach.
So long as the team is a step or two above the dregs of the league I'd bet Donovan will be allowed to stay as long as he'd like.
You talk around it can't bring yourself to actually say it.
The Bulls aren't going to be "a step or two above the dregs" forever. Missing picks, no cap space, no good young players, and a terrible GM running the show.
All things that are totally outside of Donovan's control. But he will be the easiest guy to blame and fire when they don't.
And that's not even getting into the fact that NBA coaches just don't stay that long in general. Donovan, at 4 years, his the 9th longest tenured guy with his current team.
There is virtually no chance he lasts another 5-10 years with the Bulls.
If he goes to Kentucky, there's about a 90% chance he lasts 5 years, and probably 75% he lasts 10. Making more money than he would as the Bulls coach.
This is, like, the easiest decision in the history of decisions.
Kyle Tucker (covers Kentucky basketball for The Athletic) tweeted that Kentucky did reach out to Billy and Billy turned them down. I guess $5 million a year to put in minimal effort is too good of a deal.
Can't really blame Billy either. He's accomplished probably about everything he could have ever wanted to accomplish as a college coach and he's nearing 60. I could see him mailing in the remainder of his contract with the Bulls and then moving to a mansion in Florida where he'll happily live out the rest of his days. Must be nice.
What's interesting is we could potentially have three contracted guys doing the same thing. Billy could be finishing one final payday (his extension lasts two more years). Vooch is likely finishing one final payday. DeMar could possibly also cash in one on final payday this summer too. DeMar is less likely since I think he'll probably play more than three more years unless some sort of big injury cuts his career shorter than expected.
Regardless, it's cool to know that old guys can come to Chicago for one final overpay where they can put in minimal effort and still be rewarded for it. AK's such a team-first guy. Gotta love that about him!
Edit: I should add that I don't think DeMar is currently overpaid. And regardless of his next contract, I expect him to still put in full effort unlike Vooch. I just also don't know if Chicago should be giving him a big extension this summer, which I'm sure they will do.
At some point, even the hate dries up into a residue. The indifference, once confined to first order beliefs ("I don't care, and isn't that a little sad"), climbs up to the second order ("I don't care that I don't care"). It's a very ineffective entertainment product. Not much you can say or feel about that.
I do recommend League Pass. It's ludicrous and still has a million and one problems. But if you have the scratch I think it's worth it. I've really enjoyed watching a la carte NBA basketball this year.
Donovan did an excellent job this season. Bulls overachieved. No coach could have done much more with a starting lineup of Vucevic Caruso DDR Ayo and White. Not that talented and small. Donovan can only go with the roster that was given to him.
Certainly Billy understands how *terrible* this team is going to be in 2 years. After a 35-47 record in 2024-25 followed by a 23-59 record in 2025-26 no major college team would want to hire him. If he's smart he'd get the payday now while he still can.
Donovan gets paid a lot of money to put a shitty team on the floor every night. A perfect example of why the Bulls and Reinsdork suck. Lousy coach, lousy team, worst owner ever.
I take issue with the premise that this team could be 'penciled in' for "40-45 wins."
This team wasn't winning 45 games this season under any circumstances. Give them perfect health, Zach being willing to play 5-10 minutes of defense per game, Vuc playing like he's worth $20million per season....all of it together wouldn't have gotten this team to 45 wins.
I don't mean to take pressure of Billy because it's obvious he's just a guy but this not-even-half-assed team wasn't going to win 45 games with Pop and Thibs coaching them.
True that is a slip of an Eastern Conference casual. Real heads know know to depress it to 35-40 wins and still be 'competitive for playoffs'
If the Bulls are even middling, I'll pretty much watch every game. I have a history with the franchise, and also they are my window into the NBA...I'm not logging into League Pass every night.
But I've checked out, which per above is doubly sad for me.
I actually don't think the Bulls, even with the current roster, should be in an irreparable position. However, with AK they definitely are. With this roster, big city opportunity, and even some of the history, an aggressive GM would 1) have the Bulls mentioned when stars opt-out, and eventually land one, or 2) chop of the big-three head and start over with at least something out of that purge plus a decent, not-horrible rebuilding starting point of Coby, PW, Ayo, maybe even Julian Phillips, ALL on cheap salaries, and then rebuilt on top of that.
AK can't or won't do either of those things. As for Billy, I could take him or leave, he's no great shakes but roster construction right now is 99% of the problem.
I think there are very few coaches in the NBA who positively impact winning. I'd put Spo, Kerr, and Thibs in that class. Probably about 80% of coaches are neutral. A handful are actively bad. Billy is definitely not bad, but he's also not in the top tier. The Bulls could do better, but they could also do way worse (Boylen, Boylan, Hoiberg, etc.). Would anyone have any confidence that the Bulls could hire a better coach? So long as AK is in charge, I'd much rather take my chances with Billy.
Billy Donovan's 58 years old and has already made enough money in his career to retire comfortably. Why on Earth would he want to go back to the grind of recruiting players in college when he can continue to coach a team whose front office refuses to set any sort of meaningful goals at the beginning of any season and then retire in a couple of years. Hell, if he keeps carrying water for the organization they might even kick him upstairs and make him a "senior advisor" or some other nonsense.
There's no way that recruiting high school kids is as difficult as actually coaching over twice as many games per year. And... having to put up with guys like Zach or Vuc who aren't going to play the way you want and make 10x as much as you.
This isn't even a contest. On top of it, Donovan will actually make more money going to college. He's making about $6M now. Caliperri made $7M at Kentucky for doing like 40% of the work of a pro coach.
Also consider cost of living! Gum is 40% cheaper at the Lexington Costco
Chew economics
Donovan would delegate recruiting and let his resume talk. He's a legitimately great college coach - 2 natties and a long string of success. If he'd stayed in the NCAA, he'd be in the Izzo, Self range of all-timers. He also successfully transitioned to coaching in the pros, which often torpedos successful college coaches - so recruits can count on him for real insight and connections on making it in the NBA. I can't think of a better capstone career move than becoming Emperor of the Commonwealth (the UK coach is royalty down there) while returning the Wildcats to glory. If you can do it well, the Kentucky job is arguably the most prestigious and rewarding basketball coaching job in the world. It's better, higher-paid and more secure than the Lakers or Celtics job, much less licking boots for Jerry and AK Inc.
Despite the additional games, coaching the Bulls seems like an easier job. Recruiting is a headache and you have almost complete roster turnover every year. There's also a lot of bureaucracy over a college coach that doesn't exist here. Billy pretty much only answers to ownership as opposed to an AD, school management, and donors. There's a ton of pressure to satisfy all of those people and the Bulls job is pretty much no pressure.
It's true, the Bulls operate like a team with 5 year seniors
There's also the fact that outside of everything else, he's reaching the end of an NBA coach's lifespan.
You can say the Bulls job is "no pressure", but an NBA coach, like 95 times out of a 100 is the first guy to get fired when it's expedient to "do something".
But it seems pretty clear that the Bulls are not a team that feels like they have to do something. Jim Boylen was allowed to be an embarrassment for nearly two years and he's clearly in the running for worst NBA coach of the 21st century. Donovan isn't embarrassing the franchise and seems willing to face the media when the GM won't, and that seems to be what the Bulls are looking for in a coach.
So long as the team is a step or two above the dregs of the league I'd bet Donovan will be allowed to stay as long as he'd like.
C'mon you don't actually believe this.
You talk around it can't bring yourself to actually say it.
The Bulls aren't going to be "a step or two above the dregs" forever. Missing picks, no cap space, no good young players, and a terrible GM running the show.
All things that are totally outside of Donovan's control. But he will be the easiest guy to blame and fire when they don't.
And that's not even getting into the fact that NBA coaches just don't stay that long in general. Donovan, at 4 years, his the 9th longest tenured guy with his current team.
There is virtually no chance he lasts another 5-10 years with the Bulls.
If he goes to Kentucky, there's about a 90% chance he lasts 5 years, and probably 75% he lasts 10. Making more money than he would as the Bulls coach.
This is, like, the easiest decision in the history of decisions.
Clearly not. It's being widely reported he turned Kentucky down.
Vooch getting poked in the eye with two minutes left in the game while the Bulls are up 26 with all their starters in. Classic Thibs...err Billy.
Kyle Tucker (covers Kentucky basketball for The Athletic) tweeted that Kentucky did reach out to Billy and Billy turned them down. I guess $5 million a year to put in minimal effort is too good of a deal.
Can't really blame Billy either. He's accomplished probably about everything he could have ever wanted to accomplish as a college coach and he's nearing 60. I could see him mailing in the remainder of his contract with the Bulls and then moving to a mansion in Florida where he'll happily live out the rest of his days. Must be nice.
What's interesting is we could potentially have three contracted guys doing the same thing. Billy could be finishing one final payday (his extension lasts two more years). Vooch is likely finishing one final payday. DeMar could possibly also cash in one on final payday this summer too. DeMar is less likely since I think he'll probably play more than three more years unless some sort of big injury cuts his career shorter than expected.
Regardless, it's cool to know that old guys can come to Chicago for one final overpay where they can put in minimal effort and still be rewarded for it. AK's such a team-first guy. Gotta love that about him!
Edit: I should add that I don't think DeMar is currently overpaid. And regardless of his next contract, I expect him to still put in full effort unlike Vooch. I just also don't know if Chicago should be giving him a big extension this summer, which I'm sure they will do.
What’s worse: having a college poach your coach or having them not even be interested in him?
At some point, even the hate dries up into a residue. The indifference, once confined to first order beliefs ("I don't care, and isn't that a little sad"), climbs up to the second order ("I don't care that I don't care"). It's a very ineffective entertainment product. Not much you can say or feel about that.
I do recommend League Pass. It's ludicrous and still has a million and one problems. But if you have the scratch I think it's worth it. I've really enjoyed watching a la carte NBA basketball this year.
Donovan did an excellent job this season. Bulls overachieved. No coach could have done much more with a starting lineup of Vucevic Caruso DDR Ayo and White. Not that talented and small. Donovan can only go with the roster that was given to him.