North Carolina's coaching search may bail out Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls finally traded veterans this season and accepted their need for a rebuild. Now, a prime college coaching opportunity may force them into more badly-needed changes.

North Carolina fired head coach Hubert Davis after two straight first-round exits from March Madness. To replace him, the Tar Heels are interested in Bulls coach Billy Donovan, who ClutchPoints reports would "seriously consider" taking the job.

Billy Donovan had greater success in college than the NBA

Chicago's head coach joined the team in 2020, after five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he reached the Western Conference Finals in 2016 and won Coach of the Year for the 2019-20 season. He spent the last six seasons with the Bulls, going 46-36 and making the playoffs in 2021-22, but losing in the play-in tournament the next three years.

He was a superstar coach in college, winning national titles in 2006 and 2007 with the Florida Gators. Donovan went to the NCAA Tournament 14 times in his 18 seasons in Gainesville, with a program that had made only five appearances before he arrived. Donovan won six SEC titles, four SEC tournaments and reached four Final Fours.

Despite 32 years as a head coach at the college and pro level, Donovan is still just 60 years old. But he might not want to be around for what looks like an extended rebuilding effort in Chicago. After all, he ended up with the Bulls in the first place when he and the Thunder chose to mutually part ways after OKC decided to tear down their roster, trading four veteran starters, including Chris Paul.

Losing Billy Donovan could be financial boon for Bulls and Tar Heels

Donovan signed a long-term extension with the Bulls last summer, a move that felt like Chicago committing to a continuation of their years of mediocrity. The team did trade some veterans, like Alex Caruso and Zach LaVine, but never added extra first-round picks in the process.

Now the Bulls have a chance to get out of Donovan's big contract and get a coach who is more committed to developing young players. For North Carolina, hiring an NBA coach means they can avoid paying a large buyout to poach a high-profile college coach.