The Chicago Bulls are still on the hunt for their next head coach. In all likelihood, new lead executive Bryson Graham has a distinct vision for who he wants to take on the role.
As of now, the general sense is that Graham would prefer to go with a younger assistant, such as San Antonio's Sean Sweeney, to take the helm of the rebuild. Given Graham's emphasis on player development and analytically-inclined practices, this would undoubtedly be the best move.
But there was always the danger that the Bulls, like many teams, would cave to the pressure of bringing in a more proven coaching candidate, even if it was one that fell short at their last stop. There's rumors, for example, that Tom Thibodeau would be open to a reunion if the Bulls were to open their doors.
Neither Graham nor anybody in the Bulls organization has given credence to these rumors or any others. But with the New Orleans Pelicans' hiring of Jamahl Mosley on Sunday, the last re-tread candidate the Bulls could even consider has been taken off the table.
It's good news for Bulls fans who want to see the organization continue their shift in a more innovative direction.
Jamahl Mosley takes the last of the re-tread coaching candidates off the table for the Bulls
Mosley's hiring by New Orleans was not necessarily the wrong decision. He did major work bringing the Orlando Magic from the cellar of the NBA to playoff contention during his tenure there. But he simply failed to get over the hump of playoff success, and the notable struggles of the team's offense during his tenure ultimately led to his firing. The Pelicans are in a position where they simply need someone to instill a respectable culture in their building.
But it is an underwhelming hire in the context of Mosley's failures. This season, the Pelicans ranked 20th in the NBA in offensive rating. The Magic ranked 18th.
It would've been a similarly underwhelming hiring if he had ended up in Chicago.
It's not as though head coaches who have fallen short at previous stops can't find success at their next destination. But the Bulls, more than anything, need fresh blood and fresh ideas. Mosley, and the rest of the re-tread candidates who have been on the market, couldn't have provided that.
Thankfully, Mosley's hiring signifies the end of that worry. Taylor Jenkins is slated to head to Milwaukee as their next head coach. Michael Malone will head to the college ranks to coach the University of North Carolina. Thibodeau is, frankly, not an option this new front office would even consider. Neither, obviously, is Donovan.
The flip side of the coin is that, in hiring Mosley, the Pelicans left a number of assistants on the table for Chicago. Throughout their coaching search, they were connected to many of the league's premier assistants, including Sweeney. Micah Nori of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dave Bliss of the Oklahoma City Thunder are also still floating on the market.
The Bulls have now been left with virtually no other choice than to target someone like Sweeney to be their next head coach.
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