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Donovan isn’t the only widely respected, veteran head coach who’s hoping for a return to the sidelines, though, as league sources say Tom Thibodeau is also very interested in a comeback. The 68-year-old was fired from his Knicks post last summer but is looking for the right fit for his coaching future again. And yes, league sources say, that includes the prospect of a Bulls reunion if the Reinsdorfs and new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham, who was hired away from the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, had interest.
There is an anticipation that Mark Williams, like Detroit's Jalen Duren and Utah's Walker Kessler, will attempt to generate interest from Chicago in restricted free agency since the Bulls are projected to wield some $65 million in salary cap space. Projecting the Bulls' offseason intentions with certitude will naturally be easier once they've installed a new head of basketball operations, but Chicago's lack of a proven center on the current roster is undeniable.
Last week, the Chicago Bulls interviewed Celtics assistant general manager Dave Lewin, league sources told HoopsHype. Lewin will now join Matt Lloyd, Graham, and Lindsey in advancing to the next stage of Chicago’s interview process. During Lewin’s 14-year tenure in Boston, the Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals six times and the NBA Finals twice, including winning the 2024 NBA championship. Meanwhile, as Chicago progresses in its executive search process, there’s an early coaching candidate to keep in mind. If the Bulls hire Lloyd as an executive, Timberwolves lead assistant coach Micah Nori would be a strong candidate for Chicago’s head coaching vacancy, league sources told HoopsHype.
As he had done in Game 3 (25 points), Dosunmu shredded the Nuggets’ interior defense when he wasn’t scoring over it from the arc. He has proven to be one of the league’s best acquisitions at the trade deadline, and has earned a happy spring after another drab fall and winter in Chicago. “I won’t take this one for granted. Because I understand how long and how hard it is to get here,” Dosunmu said. “I’m enjoying it, I’m blessed and I give all the credit to Jesus Christ.” He also pledged his performance to Edwards and DiVincenzo, while calling it the best of his basketball life. “I’m just living in the moment. Having fun,” he said. “I’m competing with my teammates each and every possession, doing whatever it takes to help my team win.”
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Deni Avdija: “Everybody thought Chicago was going to take me at No. 4. It made the most sense. Then, when Chicago drafted Patrick Williams, it was a surprise because nobody really thought about him going fourth. Once that happened, the draft got messy. It became, ‘He’s available, he’s available,’ and you know how it is. I ended up thinking, ‘Man, I’m really going to New York at No. 8.’ As a Jewish guy in New York, that could have been crazy. Then they chose someone else, and I was like, ‘Okay, D.C., here we go.’ I don’t know if I would have wanted New York in my first year. There would have been a lot of distractions, I think.”
Bobby Marks: With Portland advancing to the playoffs, Chicago will now have their first-round pick. No. 9 and possibly No. 15
Tyler Sloan: 149-128 the final as the Mavs demolish the Bulls. 23 assists with 15pts and 9reb for Ryan Nembhard, 17pts 20reb for Moussa Cisse
Mavs PR: With his 21st assist of the contest tonight vs. Chicago, Ryan Nembhard has set a new franchise record for assists in a regulation-length game. The team record for assists in any game is 25 by Jason Kidd in a 2OT game vs. UTA (2/8/96).
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Some names have begun to emerge as potential candidates for Chicago’s lead executive position. Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, who began his career working for the Bulls, is a rising executive who’s been on the radar of several teams over the years. One factor to consider is whether the Bulls would want to hire another one of Tim Connelly’s right-hand executives after hiring Karnisoves, who worked for Connelly in Denver. Ironically, Tim’s brother, Pat, also remains on staff as Chicago’s assistant general manager.
The Bulls don't just want Billy Donovan to stay as their coach. I'm told he could well be granted some level of influence in Chicago's decision on its next lead basketball executive. Yet I'm also told that Donovan — who landed a contract extension last summer after the Bulls denied the Knicks permission to speak to him after Tom Thibodeau's dismissal — is expected to draw interest from other NBA teams this spring that could try to test Chicago's resolve in terms of keeping him. One factor that would seem to work in Chicago's favor here: Sources say Donovan steadfastly refused to interview for the North Carolina opening that ultimately went Monday to Malone until after the Bulls' season ended.
NBA on ESPN: "My understanding is the Bulls want to keep [Billy Donovan] as long as he wants to be there, in Chicago." @Shams Charania gives more insight on the Bulls' offseason plans after they fired their EVP of Basketball Ops and GM.
"My understanding is the Bulls want to keep [Billy Donovan] as long as he wants to be there, in Chicago."@ShamsCharania gives more insight on the Bulls' offseason plans after they fired their EVP of Basketball Ops and GM. pic.twitter.com/z563bimZZ5
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 6, 2026
Ian Begley: Knicks will improve to 50-28 with tonight's win over Chicago. They've reached 50 wins in three straight seasons for the first time since the mid 1990s. They hit or surpassed 50-win mark all four seasons between 1991-92 and 1994-95.