What’s With All These Secret Extensions!? And Other Bulls Bullets

Billy Donovan screams from the sideline.

Two seasons after winning the NBA Finals and weeks after finishing the year with the best regular season record, the Milwaukee Bucks kicked Mike Budenholzer to the curb. And, to be honest, I’m not all that surprised.

Tough decisions are always going to follow when an organization loses to a No. 8 seed in five games. This is especially true when your team blows double-digit leads in both Game 4 and Game 5.

  • Let’s also not forget that Budenholzer’s job was seemingly on the line before the team won the NBA Finals in 2021. If the franchise had squandered their chance at the Larry O’Brien Trophy, there is a good chance he would have been shown the door. Still, firing someone who has found as much success as Budenholzer has in Milwaukee is always a risk. And he now joins both Frank Vogel and Nick Nurse as free-agent coaches with a recent ring on their finger. In fact, his release means that three of the past four championship-winning coaches are currently without a job.
  • In some ways, I wish that the Chicago Bulls held themselves to as high of a standard as these other organizations. In other words, I wish they didn’t hand extensions to their head coach after one measly five-game playoff exit! Let me make it absolutely clear that I don’t think Billy Donovan should be fired right now. While he undoubtedly deserves blame for how this season panned out, I think it’s almost more an indictment of how poorly the roster was built by the front office. But what I do think is that Donovan – nor anyone, for that matter – has earned longer-term security.
  • Donovan originally signed a four-year deal with the franchise ahead of the 2020-21 season. This means the final year of this original contract wouldn’t be until next season. So the Bulls opted to hand him an extension – one that The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported as adding “several years” to the original deal – after his SECOND season. Why!? Don’t you need more proof!? Not to mention, set a higher bar for everyone than a non-competitive first-round exit!
  • Also, it wasn’t just Donovan who received the kind of support that not even championship-winning personnel can receive. We learned a few months back that practically his entire coaching staff and several front office members were handed fresh contracts, per the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley. The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry also reported on Thursday that Arturas Karnisovas was, in fact, one of those people to put pen to paper:
  • As mad as the actual extensions make me for a franchise that has proven nothing, it’s the secrecy that really sets me off. If you have that much faith in these people, why not support them publically? Why not publish a few 100 words in a press release to explain why the decision was made? At the end of the day, this is why the previous regime fell into the trap of settling for mediocrity. I’m not saying that people need to feel like their job is on the line – that also doesn’t create a very healthy work environment. But there shouldn’t be handouts for doing the bare minimum. Whether it’s conscious or not, that is telling people that low expectations are acceptable expectations.
  • Sorry to pile on, but the secret extensions only make that much more sense when we read Jerry Reinsdorf’s comments from earlier this week …
  • The Athletic’s John Hollinger name-dropped the Bulls when addressing possible landing spots for Dillon Brooks. To be clear, he wasn’t reporting an actual connection but rather pointing out an on-paper fit. And, as I stated in our original post about Brooks, I have to agree. There are a handful of teams around the league that can use a talented wing defender with a streak 3-point shot, and the Bulls are surely one of those teams. With that said, the last thing the Bulls should do is drop too much money on adding him into the mix. Brooks feels more like the last piece of a puzzle to a championship contender than someone the Bulls should strongly consider in their “retooling.”
  • Patrick Williams is still really freakin’ young!
  • More recent thoughts on Williams’ future …
  • The Warriors punched the Lakers in the mouth last night.
  • That’s a lot of rookies!
  • That’s a good thing, right!?
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

    more bulls news

    We Now Know Where the Chicago Bulls are Picking in the 2024 NBA Draft

    The ping pong balls have spoken. The Bulls didn't budge during Sunday afternoon's drawing in Chicago. The team will remain at the No. 11 spot in the lottery this June after having just a 2.0 percent chance to steal the...

    What are the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery Odds?

    The NBA Draft Lottery has arrived. Despite the lackluster nature of this year's prospect pool, this remains a highly-anticipated day for teams around the league. The truth of the matter is that the opportunity to snag a high pick is...

    Release the Ping Pong Balls, Second Round Picks, MJ’s 3-Point Shooting, and Other Bulls Bullets

    If there was an Equipment Manager of the Year award, I think my aunt might deserve it. Having to leave at about 5 a.m. to drive to my sibling's college graduation on Saturday, I may have kinda sorta broken my...

    Missing Meaningful Basketball, Ant & MJ, Epic Pacers & Knicks Series, And Other Bulls Bullets

    These NBA Playoffs have been a lot of fun. The Knicks and Pacers have given us three straight phenomenal basketball games with electric crowds. Anthony Edwards' emergence in Minnesota has been unreal to watch. Night after night we just get...

    If the Bulls Get Some Lottery Luck, These Names Are Worth Considering

    The Chicago Bulls are only a couple of days away from learning their draft lottery fate. The team will enter Sunday night's drawing with the 11th-best odds in the NBA. This means they have just a 9.4 percent chance to...

    Chicago Sky Tickets Won’t Come Cheap This Season!

    Checking out the Chicago Sky's new draft picks isn't going to come cheap. According to Bookies dot com, the Sky will be the third-most expensive WNBA game to see this season. Adam Thompson mapped out the price of admission for...

    Draft Lottery Rep, Is Anyone Untouchable? Next Star to be Traded? And Other Bulls Bullets

    Rumor has it that if you put a ping pong ball under your pillow, the Chicago Bulls will win the lottery on Sunday. Might as well try! The team announced on Friday morning that second-year forward Julian Pillips will represent...

    Suns Reportedly Set to Hire Mike Budenholzer as Next Head Coach

    The Phoenix Suns are reportedly close to hiring their new head coach. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported on Friday morning that Mike Budenholzer is expected to work out a deal with the franchise. The contract could be approaching the eight-figure...

    Why You Should Keep Your Phone on Silent

    Luka Doncic's postgame press conference started off with a bang. On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks took down the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 to even up the series. Sitting down to address reporters after the game, a very...

    Patrick Beverley’s Punishment Handed Down by the NBA

    Following his inappropriate antics after the Bucks' Game 6 and series loss to the Indiana Pacers last week, the NBA has punished Patrick Beverley. The former Bulls' guard has been suspended for four games by the league for throwing a...

    Latest News

    Astros vs. Athletics: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In a series opener on Monday, Spencer Arrighetti will take the mound for the Houston Astros (15-25) against Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics (19-23), with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park.Keep reading to see...

    How to Watch Brewers vs. Pirates: Live Stream or on TV

    William Contreras and the Milwaukee Brewers (24-16) host Connor Joe and the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-23) on Monday, with first pitch at 7:40 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Milwaukee take on Pittsburgh live.When...

    How to Watch Rangers vs. Guardians: Live Stream or on TV

    The Texas Rangers (22-20), led by Marcus Semien, host Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians (25-16) on Monday at 8:05 PM ET.The article below will provide you with everything you need to watch Texas take on Cleveland.When is Rangers vs....

    How to Watch Braves vs. Cubs: Live Stream or on TV

    The Atlanta Braves (24-12), led by Marcell Ozuna, host Nico Hoerner and the Chicago Cubs (24-17) at 7:20 PM ET on Monday.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Atlanta-Chicago matchup below.When is Braves vs. Cubs and when does...

    Phillies vs. Mets: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Cristopher Sanchez takes the ball for the Philadelphia Phillies (28-13) when they visit starting pitcher Sean Manaea and the New York Mets (18-20) at 7:10 PM ET on Monday.The article below will give you everything you need to watch Philadelphia...

    How to Watch Nationals vs. White Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    C.J. Abrams and the Washington Nationals (19-20) visit Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (12-29) at 7:40 PM ET on Monday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch Washington square off against Chicago live.When is...

    Tigers vs. Marlins: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Detroit Tigers (20-20), with Kenta Maeda on the mound, host the Miami Marlins (11-31) who will hand the ball to Sixto Sanchez, at 6:40 PM ET on Monday in a series opener.Find out how to watch the Detroit-Miami matchup...

    How to Watch Orioles vs. Blue Jays: Live Stream or on TV

    Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles (26-13) host Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays (18-22) on Monday in a series opener, with first pitch at 6:35 PM ET.The article below will give you everything you need to know...

    How to Watch Red Sox vs. Rays: Live Stream or on TV

    In a series opener on Monday, Kutter Crawford will start for the Boston Red Sox (21-19) against Zach Eflin and the Tampa Bay Rays (20-21), with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET at Fenway Park.If you're planning on watching...

    Celtics vs. Cavaliers Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4 – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Cleveland Cavaliers are 8.5-point underdogs heading into Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday, starting at 7:00 PM ET on TNT. The Celtics are up 2-1...

    more bulls news