The Chicago Bulls opened up their wallets, and then some.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Bulls organization handed Donovan a contract that’s worth over $6 million a year for the next four years.
Terms on Billy Donovan's Chicago Bulls head coaching deal: Four years and $24 million-plus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 24, 2020
Considering it was rumored the Bulls were paying Jim Boylen only a little over one million a year, this shows a huge willingness to spend what it takes to improve. Many have been critical of Chicago’s spending in recent history, especially considering the team is one of the most profitable in the NBA. The ongoing pandemic only added to the concern that ownership may not drop too large of a bag on the organizational overhaul. However, the hiring of Arturas Karnisovas – who surely didn’t come cheap – and now the signing of Donovan has proven otherwise.
As far as I know, this is technically the most Chicago has ever paid for a head coach. A lot of that has to do with the growing league revenue over the year, but it’s also true that Donovan is the first head coach hire with previous head coach experience since Scott Skiles in 2003. When you hire a proven NBA coach, the price tag is just going to be higher. Though it’s not exactly at the very top of the market, as we know.
Good for Donovan, and good for Bulls fans. The Bulls have handed this new front office the keys to the safe, which means we have another major reason to be optimistic about the organization’s future.