Chicago Bulls: Billy Donovan hire proves Arturas Karnisovas is for real

The Chicago Bulls have their next head coach in Billy Donovan, and new vice president Arturas Karnisovas proved he’s not messing around.

The Chicago Bulls moved on from former head coach Jim Boylen just about five weeks ago, and new vice president Arturas Karnisovas went right to work in finding his replacement. For a few weeks now, the Bulls have mulled over several options to fill Boylen’s shoes.

This week, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Bulls were down to four finalists including Darvin Ham, Wes Unseld Jr., Ime Udoka and Kenny Atkinson.

Karnisovas shocked Bulls fans with a name which that list did not include, yet was linked to the Bulls recently. Chicago is bringing in former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan.

You read that right. Believe it. Chicago is bringing in a head coach with prior experience at the position. Not only does Donovan have head coaching experience, but he’s been one of the better coaches in the league for a few years now.

This move proves the Bulls are indeed heading into new waters; a brighter future, if you will. Karnisovas was known for his roster construction and scouting while with the Denver Nuggets, and did not have any previous relationship with Donovan. Still, he must have made one heck of a sales pitch to Donovan.

Considering the Bulls were paying Boylen next to nothing, this hire speaks volumes. Donovan doesn’t come cheap, and he wasn’t going to be unemployed for very long.

The fact that he wanted to take the Bulls’ job is actually pretty astounding. Someone with Donovan’s history typically wouldn’t have projected as a guy to take on a rebuilding project like the Bulls, but if anyone can get the most out of this young core, it’s Donovan.

This past season, Oklahoma City was given roughly a one percent chance to make the postseason after trading away Paul George and Russell Westbrook, but Donovan’s leadership and scheme worked. They made it in, surprisingly.

When the Thunder and Donovan agreed to mutually part ways after not coming to an agreement on an extension, his name immediately surfaced as one the Bulls would be interested in. However, we didn’t hear much after that first couple of days. Most rumors still included the prior candidates while Donovan’s name didn’t make any big-time headlines in Chicago.

Yet, it was Donovan who got the job in the end. Karnisovas must have worked behind the scenes to get this deal done and shock Bulls fans everywhere.

Now, with a highly-respected head coach who will have players’ buy-in from Day 1, along with a vice president who isn’t messing around, the Bulls are headed in a new and exciting direction.