Jayesh Pagar
Billy Donovan just stepped away from the Chicago Bulls after six seasons, and the coaching market is already paying attention. He is not done coaching, and with multiple jobs open around the league, the next few weeks could get very interesting.
According to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, speaking on 104.3 The Score’s Mully & Haugh Show, Donovan is one of the most respected free agent coaches available right now, and his name will be showing up in searches soon.
“Certainly well respected. I mean, his name is going to be involved in these job searches that could be coming up around the league just based on playoffs, exits, and different things that happen over the next few weeks.”
That trail of passed-up opportunities is what makes his situation now so worth paying attention to.
Billy Donovan Turned Down the Knicks and UNC Before Leaving the Bulls
Charania revealed that Donovan had real conversations about the New York Knicks head coaching job last summer, and also fielded serious interest from North Carolina during the season. Both times, he stayed put.
“He could have had the New York Knicks job last summer. And his conversations with Michael and Jerry Reinsdorf basically led him to decide to stay, honor his commitment, honor his contract, and keep this going. And in season, he could have had the UNC job. But he never engaged with UNC, as many back-channel efforts as the program made for him.”
Two different opportunities. Two different moments. And both times Donovan chose to honor what he signed up for in Chicago, even as the Bulls were clearly heading toward a rebuild.
“So he had multiple opportunities to kind of bail out of his contract with the Bulls, potentially. But he decided to continue on. And so I think we’ll see what jobs open up.”
That is just who he is. He is not someone who chases the exit the moment things get uncomfortable. He waited for the right moment, and now that he is free, teams around the league will line up.
When asked specifically about which jobs he sees as realistic fits, Charania was measured. The three current openings, Chicago, Milwaukee, and New Orleans, are not where he sees Donovan landing. The more interesting scenarios come later.
“Right now, it’s Chicago, it’s Milwaukee, it’s New Orleans. I don’t see him involved in these jobs. But we’ll see what happens around the league, like what happens in New York, what happens in Orlando.”
New York and Orlando are two very different situations. The Knicks are in the middle of a playoff run with Mike Brown on the hot seat. The Magic have Jamahl Mosley in place but his future is not guaranteed either. Both are worth watching as the playoffs progress.
And through all of it, Charania was clear about one thing. Donovan did not leave Chicago because something better was already waiting.
“There’s going to be multiple other situations that could arise this year. So I don’t think he made the decision, or at least I know he didn’t make the decision based on a job already being lined up.”
Donovan spent five seasons in Oklahoma City, making the playoffs every single year, won two national championships at Florida, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last September. Wherever he lands, the job will be better for having him.
