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Chicago Bulls rumors: What does the Jim Boylen extension mean?

By Luke Askew

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 09: Head coach Jim Boylen of the Chicago Bulls reacts as his team takes on the New York Knicks at the United Center on April 09, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Knicks defeated the Bulls 96-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 09: Head coach Jim Boylen of the Chicago Bulls reacts as his team takes on the New York Knicks at the United Center on April 09, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Knicks defeated the Bulls 96-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bulls are reportedly finishing up a 3-year extension with head coach Jim Boylen. What does the extension mean for the future of the franchise?

According to the Chicago-Sun Times, the Chicago Bulls and Jim Boylen are nearing a 3-year contract extension to keep Boylen as the head coach.

Boylen, who took over for Fred Hoiberg on December 3, has posted a 17-41 record in his short stint as head coach. Since Boylen got promoted, the Bulls are in the bottom-5 in win percentage, points per game, assists per game and plus/minus. The Boylen era hasn’t been all bad, though.

Lauri Markkanen took a giant step forward this season, especially once Boylen encouraged him to start pushing the ball up the floor after hauling in rebounds. Boylen also seems to have a nice rapport with the team. For example, Zach LaVine offered to pay Boylen’s fine after he was ejected during a game in March. I can’t think of many players that would offer to pay a fine for a coach he detests. If nothing else, LaVine seems to respect Boylen.

Boylen also threw aside his old-school approach in favor of experimenting with a small-ball lineup where Markkanen plays the five and Otto Porter Jr. plays the four. I’d like to see more of this lineup in the future, but Boylen experimenting with it at all shows he’s finally coming around to modern basketball. Of course, the Bulls taking the fewest 3-point shots in the league since Boylen took over suggests he might still be stuck in the past.

If the Bulls and Boylen do come to terms on an extension – and it appears they will in the near future – it doesn’t necessarily mean that Boylen will be around for the entirety of his contract. If the team continues to be a disaster, the front office will be forced to explore letting him go – even if it means paying him to leave.

The worst part about this decision by the Bulls’ front office isn’t that Boylen will be back, it’s that they won’t be able to go after a guy like recently fired Dave Joerger.

Joerger is coming off an incredible season with the Sacramento Kings where he helped them shatter expectations. De’Aaron Fox took a huge step forward, Buddy Hield came into his own as an offensive weapon and Marvin Bagley III had a phenomenal rookie season. Joerger is exactly the kind of guy that could’ve helped get this Bulls team on track.

Despite all of Boylen’s flaws, it’s obvious how much he cares. He might care about being the head coach of an NBA team more than any other coach in the league.

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It’s scary to think about the possibility of Boylen halting the development of Chicago’s key young guys, but at least they don’t have to worry about him being apathetic. At the very minimum, Boylen will give his all to the city of Chicago and the young men that make up their NBA team.

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