Billy Donovan Negotiated Out Clause In Bulls' Extension During 2025 Offseason

The deal, however, contained an immediate out at Donovan's sole discretion, a provision sources say reflected a shared understanding between Donovan and Bulls staffers that a rebuild was the franchise's most likely direction. The 60-year-old leveraged that organizational uncertainty to obtain terms that ultimately put him back on the open market entirely on his own terms. Chicago had been willing to retain Donovan at virtually any cost, with expanded player personnel responsibilities among the incentives available to him. Despite that, Donovan chose to exercise his option and walk away, mirroring his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the Thunder's 2020 rebuild. With Taylor Jenkins hired in Milwaukee and Michael Malone departing for North Carolina, Donovan now stands as the top available head coaching candidate in the league. League sources anticipate he will draw serious interest from prominent positions, including some that have not yet officially become available, depending on playoff outcomes.