Billy Donovan gets contract extension

[Jcool0]

5 seasons. 4 of them, including the last 3, with a losing record. Overall, 10 games under .500 despite the team being 10 games over .500 4 seasons ago. OKC got rid of him after 5 seasons with a .608 record over a 5 year stretch and 5 straight playoff appearances...with 4 straight first round exits.

Lets give him his 2nd extension.

Or we could have a totally unproven coach next summer when we're trying to attract free agents with huge cap space. We agree that Billy isn't a good tactician for a coach, but he's definitely liked by players and is a hall.of famer. A pretty good factor in free agent appeal IMO. Not sure OKC "got rid of him". Can't remember the details but I think he wanted to move on and were willing to pay him well.

What FA are you worried about the Bulls not signing next year with an unproven coach?

[Bulliever2020]

I don't have any problem with this. Billy is the least of our problems.

[sco]

Billy is probably a 2nd quartile coach. I'm fine. When our roster becomes a first quarter roster, I might think differently.

My biggest beef with Billy is that he seems hellbent on starting Vuc.

IMO Billy probably correctly assumes Vooch will become a problem if he’s asked to come off the bench.

IMO Vuc is a bigger problem on the court

[League Circles]

5 seasons. 4 of them, including the last 3, with a losing record. Overall, 10 games under .500 despite the team being 10 games over .500 4 seasons ago. OKC got rid of him after 5 seasons with a .608 record over a 5 year stretch and 5 straight playoff appearances...with 4 straight first round exits.

Lets give him his 2nd extension.

Or we could have a totally unproven coach next summer when we're trying to attract free agents with huge cap space. We agree that Billy isn't a good tactician for a coach, but he's definitely liked by players and is a hall.of famer. A pretty good factor in free agent appeal IMO. Not sure OKC "got rid of him". Can't remember the details but I think he wanted to move on and were willing to pay him well.

What FA are you worried about the Bulls not signing next year with an unproven coach?

No one in particular, but we can have big cap space, and that would plausibly be a factor for any player. Including our own FAs like Coby and possibly Giddey.

[Jcool0]

Or we could have a totally unproven coach next summer when we're trying to attract free agents with huge cap space. We agree that Billy isn't a good tactician for a coach, but he's definitely liked by players and is a hall.of famer. A pretty good factor in free agent appeal IMO. Not sure OKC "got rid of him". Can't remember the details but I think he wanted to move on and were willing to pay him well.

What FA are you worried about the Bulls not signing next year with an unproven coach?

No one in particular, but we can have big cap space, and that would plausibly be a factor for any player. Including our own FAs like Coby and possibly Giddey.

If we want to pay Coby and Giddey we will. Coaching wont be much of a factor into that. As for free agents... Bradley Beal, Mikal Bridge, Dyson Daniels, Kevin Durant, De’Aaron Fox, Draymond Green, LeBron James, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Kristaps Porziņģis, Norman Powell, Anfernee Simons, Austin Reaves, Andrew Wiggins and Trae Young. Not many franchise changing players... Some with player options, some 35+ years old & some will probably resign with there current teams... The one that want to leave will be sign and traded.

[League Circles]

What FA are you worried about the Bulls not signing next year with an unproven coach?

No one in particular, but we can have big cap space, and that would plausibly be a factor for any player. Including our own FAs like Coby and possibly Giddey.

If we want to pay Coby and Giddey we will. Coaching wont be much of a factor into that. As for free agents... Bradley Beal, Mikal Bridge, Dyson Daniels, Kevin Durant, De’Aaron Fox, Draymond Green, LeBron James, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Kristaps Porziņģis, Norman Powell, Anfernee Simons, Austin Reaves, Andrew Wiggins and Trae Young. Not many franchise changing players... Some with player options, some 35+ years old & some will probably resign with there current teams... The one that want to leave will be sign and traded.

I think maybe you're overthinking it. Bottom line, IMO we'll clearly be more appealing to the average player with Billy than with an unknown. Whether that's enough to tip any scales for any particular guys no one can know, but the advantage of stability and having a HOF, known players' coach to me outweighs a possible tactical advantage but having a guy who makes better in game decisions, at least for now.

[ChiefILL53]

billy isnt the root of our problems, but he's definitely one of them. It doesnt surprise me, but having more losing seasons than not and still getting an extension is not usual for nba coaches. Unless youre employed by the bulls.

[jnrjr79]

Billy is probably a 2nd quartile coach. I'm fine. When our roster becomes a first quarter roster, I might think differently.

My biggest beef with Billy is that he seems hellbent on starting Vuc.

IMO Billy probably correctly assumes Vooch will become a problem if he’s asked to come off the bench.

IMO Vuc is a bigger problem on the court

Yeah, but IMO that’s a front office issue. Just buy the dude out or whatever.

[sco]

IMO Billy probably correctly assumes Vooch will become a problem if he’s asked to come off the bench.

IMO Vuc is a bigger problem on the court

Yeah, but IMO that’s a front office issue. Just buy the dude out or whatever.

Amen bro

[lostonbase]

Same people, same results. Reinsdorf's unwavering loyalty to his people, winning be damned. #moneytrain

[bledredwine]

It's a sweet gig there is zero pressure to win .

[bledredwine]

Billy is probably a 2nd quartile coach. I'm fine. When our roster becomes a first quarter roster, I might think differently.

My biggest beef with Billy is that he seems hellbent on starting Vuc.

This was well said and the stance that I take in this situation as well.

[dougthonus]

Coaches aren't going to make this massive impact on winning with really poor rosters, so complaining about the Bulls record under Donovan as a shot at Donovan is silly. Name whomever you think the best coach in the world is, then really ask yourself how many more wins you think that guy gets with the rosters we've had.

I'd probably slot Donovan around the 8-15th best coach in the NBA range if I were to just take a guess. The odds of the Bulls firing Donovan and getting a better coach than him are extremely low, like maybe 5% or less. None of the for sure better coaches would even dream of coming to our situation, and so you'd be hoping to catch lightening in a bottle in a completely unproven guy, and any unproven guy is highly unlikely to be a top 10 guy, especially in their first gig.

The reality is it is highly likely that Billy Donovan is not only the best coach we could have right now, but probably the best coach by far that we are likely to have right now.

[WesPeace]

He's fine-seems like he's good with young players. Hopefully a better coach becomes our top priority soon

Soon, so you mean after 2027/2028 ? LoL

[Red Larrivee]

I've yet to see Billy Donovan coach a team that should have achieved more than it actually did. He's an average to above average coach. He either gets baseline seasons out of a roster or overachieves with them.

There are maybe 2-3 coaches in the league who have an impact on winning games that's comparable to a 9th or 10th man in a rotation. And you don't necessarily need one of those coaches to be successful.

I really don't have an issue with it. If a HC check the following things off:

- You're respected and valued by ownership.
- You're respected and valued by the front office.
- You're respected by the players and they still buy in to your message.

Then, I don't really see how there's a logical reason to fire them. If you do fire them, you now risk that the new coach will not check off all of those 3 things.

[Bulliever2020]

His son must be pumped. I'm assuming this means he gets an extension as well.

[Jcool0]

Coaches aren't going to make this massive impact on winning with really poor rosters, so complaining about the Bulls record under Donovan as a shot at Donovan is silly. Name whomever you think the best coach in the world is, then really ask yourself how many more wins you think that guy gets with the rosters we've had.

I'd probably slot Donovan around the 8-15th best coach in the NBA range if I were to just take a guess. The odds of the Bulls firing Donovan and getting a better coach than him are extremely low, like maybe 5% or less. None of the for sure better coaches would even dream of coming to our situation, and so you'd be hoping to catch lightening in a bottle in a completely unproven guy, and any unproven guy is highly unlikely to be a top 10 guy, especially in their first gig.

The reality is it is highly likely that Billy Donovan is not only the best coach we could have right now, but probably the best coach by far that we are likely to have right now.

Most seems to disagree with you, but its all subjective:

CBS Sports: 24. Billy Donovan, Bulls

The Big Lead: 16. Billy Donovan – Chicago Bulls

New Arena: 22. Billy Donovan — Chicago Bulls

Pro Football Network: 19. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Jacks Thoughts: 21. Billy Donovan - Chicago Bulls

MSM: 24. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Sir Charles in Charge: 16. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

[Evil_Headband]

His son must be pumped. I'm assuming this means he gets an extension as well.

Or a promotion to the big league.

[Red Larrivee]

Coaches aren't going to make this massive impact on winning with really poor rosters, so complaining about the Bulls record under Donovan as a shot at Donovan is silly. Name whomever you think the best coach in the world is, then really ask yourself how many more wins you think that guy gets with the rosters we've had.

I'd probably slot Donovan around the 8-15th best coach in the NBA range if I were to just take a guess. The odds of the Bulls firing Donovan and getting a better coach than him are extremely low, like maybe 5% or less. None of the for sure better coaches would even dream of coming to our situation, and so you'd be hoping to catch lightening in a bottle in a completely unproven guy, and any unproven guy is highly unlikely to be a top 10 guy, especially in their first gig.

The reality is it is highly likely that Billy Donovan is not only the best coach we could have right now, but probably the best coach by far that we are likely to have right now.

Most seems to disagree with you, but its all subjective:

CBS Sports: 24. Billy Donovan, Bulls

The Big Lead: 16. Billy Donovan – Chicago Bulls

New Arena: 22. Billy Donovan — Chicago Bulls

Pro Football Network: 19. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Jacks Thoughts: 21. Billy Donovan - Chicago Bulls

MSM: 24. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Sir Charles in Charge: 16. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Let's be real. If Billy Donovan was coaching the Celtics, they would still have the same success and be champions. I'm not entirely convinced that Joe Mazzulla would replicate what Donovan has done here.

Yet, he's 13 spots higher?

There's just way too much subjectivity about coaches in a league where results objectively correlate to player talent. This isn't the NFL.

[dougthonus]

Most seems to disagree with you, but its all subjective:

CBS Sports: 24. Billy Donovan, Bulls

The Big Lead: 16. Billy Donovan – Chicago Bulls

New Arena: 22. Billy Donovan — Chicago Bulls

Pro Football Network: 19. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Jacks Thoughts: 21. Billy Donovan - Chicago Bulls

MSM: 24. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Sir Charles in Charge: 16. Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Maybe some of these sources are great, but to be honest, the only one I've ever even heard of is CBS sports, and depending who wrote the article that isn't saying much. Most ranking articles are just low analysis clickbait.

Generally, I view most analysis of coaches as fundamentally flawed and correlates way too much with win total and very little with coaching. It's understandable because gauging on that second thing is extremely difficult and would require immense expertise and time and dedication to the league as a whole, and I think very few media guys actually do that vs trying to find storylines and generate clicks etc...

I don't say this as if I'm some genius of analyzing coaches, I'd guess that it's more fair to say that I really don't trust most analysis out there rather than that I'm positioned to provide something much better. The things I want to know, I glean from post game pressers, comments from players about coaching, whether the team visibly has buy in and stays together through hard situations, etc... But those things are only a proxy, because I think it would take a lot more time than I have to give to be a really great analyst of coaches.

That said the above is still miles better to me than most commentary about the Bulls being mediocre and it being Billy Donovan's fault. Even though I disagree with him on many of his arguments, I think stratmaster has put the most effort in putting together a meaningful list of complaints specifically about Donovan beyond just saying the Bulls are mediocre, so Donovan must be mediocre (or bad).