The Chicago Bulls have reached a tough point in NBA life:
They have too much talent to outright tank, but they’re not good or experienced enough to have expectations of being a playoff team.
Thus, they go into next season hoping they can grab a playoff spot behind a young corps fueled by guards.
New head coach Billy Donovan has a track record that gives the Bulls confidence he can be key in developing this group of players.
Chicago entered last season with the second-youngest roster in the league. Eleven players were between their rookie and third season in the league. Getting a coach who knows how to handle young talent was vital.
Donovan spent 21 years as a college men’s basketball head coach, 19 of which came at Florida. He had 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, four Final Fours and won two championships.
That success translated into the NBA. His first season in Oklahoma City, with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, was best, but after getting 47 victories the following year, the team’s winning percentage improved each of the next three seasons.
The 2019-20 year was arguably Donovan’s most impressive as Thunder head coach, as the offseason transformed the team away from superstars in the vein of Russell Westbrook and Paul George and forced the team into a well-rounded attack with a variety of scoring options.
Second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander flourished. The entire guard unit did, in fact. Thunder fans are well aware of this, but for Bulls fans who aren’t, the lineup that featured guards Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder and Gilgeous-Alexander had the best net rating in the league.
Young players like Darius Bazley, Lu Dort and Hamidou Diallo also flashed promise during the season and in the bubble.
With a track record of helping young players and the ability to make creative lineup decisions like the one with three groups makes Donovan an intriguing addition to the Bulls.
Chicago was not afraid to load up on guard talent. With Tomas Satoransky, Coby White, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, there are young guards that can be honed.
There’s potential to play three guards at the same time once again.
The lineup in Oklahoma City worked because the guards were so versatile. All were good defenders. Gilgeous-Alexander, 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, has enough length to guard bigger players.
Chicago has some similarities, though not the talent of those three Thunder players.
Dunn plays small forward. That is no issue, assuming the Bulls re-sign the restricted free agent. Satoransky is 6-foot-7 and can also bounce around defensive assignments. LaVine is 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. White will be stuck at the guard positions, but if Donovan can get defensive intensity out of the players beyond Dunn, that group can work.
Then we get to one of the more intriguing pieces: Lauri Markkanen.
Is there any Danilo Gallinari in Markkanen?
In Gallinari’s lone season playing under Donovan, the stretch-four had a very strong season. He averaged 18.7 points, third-best on the Thunder. He shot 40.5% from 3 on 7.1 attempts per game, 12th-best among all players in the league who attempted at least five 3-pointers per game.
Perhaps Donovan can give Markkanen lessons from Gallinari.
Beyond that, there’s wing Otto Porter Jr., center Wendell Carter Jr. and the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft.
With playoff hopes surrounding youth on the team, the Bulls hired a man who has not missed the postseason as an NBA head coach.
The organization certainly hopes Donovan’s streak won’t end in 2021.