5 possible candidates for the next Chicago Bulls head coach

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TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 12: Assistant Coach Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs passes the ball during warm up for an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on January 12, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

3. Becky Hammon

Long rumored to be in line for a head-coaching job, Hammon has settled into one of the Spurs’ top assistants in recent years. That leaves her at a crossroads for which the best parallel in sports might be Josh McDaniels with the NFL’s Patriots. As coaches like Etore Messina, James Borrego, Ime Udoka and even Boylen himself have left San Antonio for new opportunities, Hammon has remained, making her a logical replacement when, as expected, Gregg Popovich steps down in the coming years.

The potential for that transition was solidified this year in a roundabout way when, twice when Popovich was unavailable to coach, Tim Duncan served as his replacement. Popovich explained himself by curtly saying he was “not trying to make history.” That might sound like a hedge or an excuse, but as best I can understand, Popovich’s point is that he does not want the first female head coach in NBA history to work on some random one-off night in November.

Is revamping the Bulls the right kind of opportunity to persuade Hammon to leave the comfort of San Antonio? Working with Popovich and the tremendous job security that comes with that is a great gig. For nearly a decade, being the Bulls head coach has been… a bad gig.

Hammon is clearly capable of bringing steadiness and consistency to a franchise that sorely needs it. Will the Bulls pull the trigger on such a momentous move, or prefer relationships and the status quo?

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