The Chicago Bulls are making changes even before the end of the 2025-26 NBA season.
On Monday, the Bulls announced that they are firing both executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons with the franchise.
The next domino is regarding head coach Billy Donovan. His name was linked to the North Carolina Tar Heels job, but former Nuggets coach Michael Malone was hired on Monday just before the Bulls fired the two executives.
Donovan’s future with the Bulls got an update from Jamal Collier of ESPN after the front office shakeup.
“Chicago remains high on coach Billy Donovan and plans to meet with him in the offseason to see how the team can retain him, sources told ESPN on Monday,” Collier wrote. “The team has made it clear, though, that they want him back in the organization as coach or in some capacity going forward, sources told ESPN.”
That sure sounds like Donovan is sticking around, whether it be as a head coach or in another role.
At the end of March, it was revealed that there was a “growing chance” Donovan would leave if Karnisovas stayed, so with him out of town, perhaps that helps the Bulls’ chances of keeping the head coach.
Donovan has a 224-254 record in six seasons as the Bulls’ head coach, although some questionable trades and roster decisions have made things very difficult on the staff.
With the North Carolina job filled and the Bulls making changes in the front office, it could mean Donovan is back for at least another season despite missing the postseason once again.
