5 possible candidates for the next Chicago Bulls head coach

Here are the top five candidates to become the next Chicago Bulls head coach if new executive Arturas Karnisovas moves on from Jim Boylen.

1. Adrian Griffin

The most obvious candidate deserves the top slot in our power rankings. Griffin has been linked to the Bulls job since the moment Chicago decided to overhaul its front office. He played for the franchise in separate stints in the mid-2000s and also worked in Chicago early on in his coaching career as an assistant from 2010-2015.

As an archetypal journeyman during his time in the NBA, it’s no surprise Griffin has developed a reputation for stern, effective player development as a coach. Griffin was part of incredible Thunder coaching staffs from 2016-18 then moved onto Toronto, where he helped build the program that won the 2019 NBA championship. Aside from a forgotten stint with the Magic, Griffin has been part of great team after great team. That, combined with his track record with the franchise, make Griffin an excellent candidate.

New executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas was Griffin’s teammate at Seton Hall back in the early 1990s as well, which provides a degree of familiarity that will be important as Karnisovas attempts to overhaul the Bulls’ brand and on-court product. Griffin still appreciates his Chicago days, too.

“A lot of memories here obviously — five years coaching, three years playing, D. Rose MVP year. All that stuff comes back when I walk in this building,” Griffin told Raptors media this season.

Griffin has to be the odds-on favorite to land the job if the Bulls part ways with Boylen.