Bulls’ Billy Donovan adds Wes Unseld Jr as new assistant coach

The Chicago Bulls are coming off a middling 2023-24 NBA season. Chicago finished the season with a 39-43 record, which placed them ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. Nevertheless, Billy Donovan and the team have made a decisive move on former Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr.

Unseld Jr. has agreed with the Bulls to become Billy Donovan’s top assistant coach for the 2024-25 season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Wes Unseld Jr. spent the past two-plus seasons as the Wizards head coach after six years on Michael Malone’s Denver Nuggets staff. His experience and expertise should help take the Bulls to the next level.

Chicago is coming off a disappointing finish in the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament. The Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks 131-116 in the first game for a chance to earn an official playoff spot. Chicago then faced the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler but unfortunately lost 112-91.

The defeat marked the second straight season the Bulls have missed the NBA Playoffs. Chicago is now entering a pivotal offseason. The team can trade some of its key players, or run things back. There are arguments for either way, but the reason Chicago should strongly consider waiting one more year to tear things down is Lonzo Ball.

Ball has missed two straight seasons with a knee injury; however, when healthy, he is a true game-changer. The former 2017 lottery pick helped the Bulls attain a first-place Eastern Conference standing during the first part of the 2021-22 season. He averaged 13.1 points, 5.4 rebounds,  and 5.1 assists per game. In addition, he shot a career-high 42.3 percent on three-pointers along with 1.8 steals per contest.

Lonzo Ball is taking steps to return healthy for the 2024-25 season and will completely change the dynamic of the team. There is another player the Bulls have a key decision on going into the 2024 offseason.

Bulls look to bounce back with revamped squad for 2024-25

DeMar DeRozan is another leader of the Bulls who will largely affect the team’s success going forward. DeRozan is an impending unrestricted free agent in the upcoming summer, but signs point towards him resigning.

In mid-April, DeRozan set the record straight on his desire to stay with the Bulls ahead of his contract negotiations.

“This is where I want to be,” DeRozan said, per NBC Sports Chicago. “I love ownership. I love everything about the city and the franchise, top to bottom–the front office, the staff we have. It’s one of those places that gives me motivation to see everybody get what they deserve and feel what winning is like again.”

The 34-year-old forward has been instrumental in keeping the Bulls afloat during their tough bout with injuries over the last two years. DeRozan has played 74 games or more since 2021-22 and continues to provide stout offensive production.

He averaged 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game in 79 games in 2023-24. Keeping DeRozan next to Lonzo Ball, Zach Lavine, and Chicago’s other contributors could be huge.

Still, the team needs to continue to find support for the roster to clean up its weaknesses. With the arrival of Ex-Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr., the return of key players, and the addition of supportive pieces, Billy Donovan’s Bulls could surprise the NBA in 2024-25.