NBA fans were watching ESPN’s “The Last Dance” and marveling at the dismantling of the Michael Jordan-Chicago Bulls dynasty, which was some believed to be caused by owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s refusal to spend." data-reactid="16">Months ago, NBA fans watched ESPN’s “The Last Dance” and marveled at the dismantling of the Michael Jordan-Chicago Bulls dynasty, which some believed was caused by owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s refusal to spend.
History can now repeat itself, but with the opposite effect.
Is that why the Bulls keep Jim Boylen?
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, there is “growing thought” that current Bulls manager Jim Boylen will keep his job due to the Reinsdorf family’s financial worries.
Boylen, who was promoted to head coach midway through last season following the layoff of Fred Hoiberg, has just finished a 22-43 season with the Bulls. His .317 win rate with the team was only surpassed by Tim Floyd for the worst in franchise history, and his tenure has also seen numerous incidents that have challenged his decision-making.
Boylen’s name has been a fixture in hot-spot training all season, and his team has done little to reverse the narrative that he won’t be around every time the team becomes a contender again. .
Jim Boylen may reportedly stick around. (AP Photo / Paul Beaty, File)
basketball operations, received negative feedback on Boylen from key Bulls players after taking over and was poised to let go Boylen and several members of his staff. He even reportedly reached out to Philadelphia 76ers assistant Ime Udoka and Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as potential replacements for Boylen." data-reactid="37">Cowley reported that Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations, received negative feedback on Boylen from key Bulls players after hiring and was ready to let Boylen and several of his staff go. He also reportedly approached Philadelphia 76ers assistant Ime Udoka and Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as potential replacements for Boylen.
NBA’s finances were flung into chaos." data-reactid="38">And then the pandemic ended the league and the NBA’s finances were thrown into chaos.
NBA head coaches, to pay another coach while eating whatever money might be left on his multi-year contract might not be so palatable. There’s also the uncertainty of next season, as there’s no telling when fans will be allowed into NBA arenas again." data-reactid="39">Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago White Sox, told USA Today that his losses are currently in the nine-figure range between his two teams. So the thought of firing Boylen, whose $ 1.6 million salary is on the low end of NBA coaches, to pay another coach while eating money that may be left on his multi-year contract may not be so palatable. There is also the uncertainty of the upcoming season, as it is unknown when fans will be able to enter the NBA arenas again.
Boylen is reportedly confident he will keep his job, which makes sense as “Jerry Reinsdorf’s cheapest option” has always been a good position to fill, especially in the event of a pandemic. That doesn’t mean Bulls fans will be happy, though.
