NBA news: Bulls hit a home run with the hire of Bill Donovan as head coach

Thunder head coach Billy Donovan during game against the Wizards

Aug 9, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan reacts on the sideline during the first half of a NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards at AdventHealth Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise that the Chicago Bulls fired head coach Jim Boylen after two substandard seasons on the bench.

Boylen’s Bulls posted a 22-43 record during the truncated 2019-20 NBA season. He was seemingly in a rift with star wing Zach LaVine throughout the coach’s two-year run in the Windy City.

With that said, Chicago was able to pull off a major hire on Tuesday. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Chicago has replaced Boylen with respected former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan.

Related: Previewing Bulls 2020 NBA Draft

It was absolutely shocking to hear that Donovan and the Thunder mutually agreed to part ways following a surprising 2019-20 season that saw him lead the organization to a 44-28 record and a playoff appearance. The 55-year-old Donovan remains one of the most-respected basketball minds and is a tremendous hire. Here’s why.

Billy Donovan’s Thunder team surprised everyone in 2019-20

It’s not just that Donovan had success with a mix of young players and veterans this past season. It’s about a whole lot more than that when determining the Bulls hit a home run with this hire.

Billy Donovan has worked with some big egos

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Chicago Bulls roster fits well with what Billy Donovan does

Bottom line: Billy Donovan is the perfect hire for the Bulls

Fresh off a third consecutive season without a playoff appearance, the Chicago Bulls needed to make a home run with this hire. New general manager Marc Eversley set forth to do just that.

In the process, it appears that Chicago beat out a more attractive potential option in that of the Philadelphia 76ers following their decision to fire Brett Brown.

We have no idea if this pairing will work. It could be akin to fitting a square peg into a round hole. That’s the nature of the beast in today’s NBA.

What we do know is that Chicago went for the home run and hit it out of the park. This could help the long-downtrodden franchise become relevant on the broader NBA stage once again.

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