Bulls Seek New GM, But Want to Keep Coach Donovan

Chicago's next top basketball executive must be sold on retaining the team's current head coach, raising concerns about organizational alignment.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball court and players, conveying the complexities of aligning a new front office with an existing head coach.The Bulls' search for a new GM who will keep their existing coach highlights the challenges of building a sustainable winner in the NBA.Chicago Today

The Chicago Bulls have fired their top basketball executives and are now searching for a new general manager. However, the team's CEO has stated that the next GM must be sold on keeping current head coach Billy Donovan, who has a successful track record but was not hired by the previous front office. This arrangement, where a new GM inherits an existing coach, has historically led to issues with organizational alignment and long-term success in the NBA.

Why it matters

The best-run NBA franchises typically allow new general managers to hire their own head coaches, as this promotes organizational cohesion and gives the GM full autonomy to build the team as they see fit. Forcing a GM to keep an existing coach they did not select could limit the pool of top executive talent interested in the Bulls' job and create potential conflicts down the line.

The details

The Bulls' CEO, Michael Reinsdorf, has stated that if a GM candidate is not sold on keeping Billy Donovan as head coach, they are likely not the right fit for the organization. A similar situation is playing out in Dallas, where the Mavericks are seeking a new GM but want them to retain Jason Kidd as head coach. These arrangements, where a new executive inherits an existing coach, have historically led to issues, with around one-third of such partnerships dissolving after the first year.

  • The Bulls fired top executives Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley on Monday, April 8, 2026.
  • CEO Michael Reinsdorf made his comments about the next GM needing to be sold on keeping Donovan during a video call on Tuesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Michael Reinsdorf

The CEO of the Chicago Bulls, who has stated the next GM must be committed to keeping head coach Billy Donovan.

Billy Donovan

The current head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who has a successful track record including college championships and deep playoff runs in the NBA.

Jason Kidd

The current head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, who the team's new GM will also be expected to retain.

Nico Harrison

The former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, who was hired at the same time as head coach Jason Kidd but was later fired after making a controversial trade.

Sam Quinn

The author of the original article, a sports journalist covering the NBA.

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What they’re saying

“If Billy wants to be our coach and someone's not interested in that, then they're probably not the right candidate for us.”

— Michael Reinsdorf, CEO, Chicago Bulls

“We want to win, but we don't want to win if it's not sustainable. I don't want to be just good for one or two years. I want it to be year in, year out, we have a chance to be competitive and win. And maybe some of those years, we can go all the way.”

— Michael Reinsdorf, CEO, Chicago Bulls

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.