Here's an April 19 version of the latest Chicago Bulls news after a handful of first-round playoff games, including an update on Billy Donovan's expanding influence, Braylon Mullins' draft decision and some intriguing options for free agent guards like Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons.
Bulls seem desperate to keep Billy Donovan
When the organization shook up the front office by firing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, it seemed like Billy Donovan's exit was a natural next step.
Not so fast.
CEO Michael Reinsdorft made it clear that any new head of basketball operations would need to be comfortable keeping Donovan as head coach. The Hall of Famer has been influential in developing Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, and both of the Bulls' cornerstones have vouched for him.
Still, it would create an odd dynamic as most GMs prefer to choose their own head coach. That may not be a problem in Chicago.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer via The Stein Line (subscription required), the Bulls not only want to keep Donovan entrenched as head coach, but they also want him to "have a strong voice" in the search for a new lead executive.
Donovan is a smart, well-respected coach who's been dealt a series of bad rosters in Chicago. With the right person, a partnership like this could work. But it's a risk.
Braylon Mullins forgoes the NBA draft and returns to UConn
Braylon Mullins' 35-footer to beat Duke in this year's Elite Eight will live forever. The clutch heave showed off his range, pristine shooting form and confidence.
The Connecticut star this season proved he's an elite movement shooter comfortable firing off screens, pin-downs and dribble handoffs. At 6-foot-6, he's an underrated athlete and smooth mover who can make an impact defensively and on the glass.
He has the look of a future NBA player in the mold of Duncan Robinson, AJ Green or Grayson Allen, though he's more of a complete offensive player than any of those three.
Mullins would've been in play for the Bulls with their second first-round pick at No. 15. Instead, he'll return for another season with the Huskies (and a bunch of NIL money).
Could Simons, Sexton, other free agents re-sign in Chicago?
Bulls fans are understandably focused on what their team could add in free agency this summer. The departure of trade-deadline acquisitions like Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton seems inevitable to enter the offseason with $60 million in cap space and a clean slate.
As Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests, though, it may not be such an open-and-shut case.
If the Bulls use the draft to attack the front court, bringing back Simons and/or Sexton could make sense if it's at an affordable price. On the other hand, if Chicago adopts a best-player-available approach and grabs two guards, perhaps Zach Collins and Nick Richards return.
Starting over from scratch seems like the smart option this summer. But maybe it's not that simple.
Add us as a preferred source on Google