Chicago Bulls Executive Search: Billy Donovan’s Role and Josh Giddey’s Future

The Chicago Bulls ownership group has dismissed executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley. Following the removals, President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf has established that retaining head coach Billy Donovan is a non-negotiable condition for the team’s next head of basketball operations.

The decision to retain Donovan comes as the organization begins a search for a new top executive. According to reports from April 10, 2026, the Reinsdorf family has doubled down on its commitment to the head coach, making his continued employment a primary requirement for any candidate seeking the vacant executive roles.

Critique of the Previous Administration

During a news conference held on April 7, 2026, Michael Reinsdorf provided a frank assessment of the failings of the administration led by Karnišovas and Eversley, referred to as the AKME era. Reinsdorf specifically challenged the previous organizational narrative regarding the team’s trajectory.

Reinsdorf stated that he did not believe the 2021-22 roster was built to compete sustainably at the top of the Eastern Conference. This admission marks a significant shift from the previous official position, which suggested the team had simply lost its way due to misfortune affecting that specific roster.

Beyond roster construction, the CEO criticized the prior administration for its internal operational habits. Reinsdorf highlighted a perceived inability to make decisions quickly and cited poor communication habits as key failings of the previous leadership team.

Vision for the New Era

As the Bulls seek new leadership, ownership has outlined a shift in priorities for the front office. While Reinsdorf did not specifically criticize individual trades or acquisitions during the previous tenure, he emphasized that the new era of Bulls basketball will prioritize talent identification and development.

The search for a new head of basketball operations is the fourth such search in the team’s history. Ownership has indicated a commitment to change as they look for a candidate who can align with the mandate to keep Billy Donovan in place while implementing a more efficient decision-making process.

Player Status and Reactions

Amidst the front office turmoil, the Bulls announced on April 10, 2026, that guard Josh Giddey will miss the remainder of the season. The team decided to shut down Giddey’s season to avoid further aggravating a left hamstring injury that has recurred multiple times.

Giddey spoke on April 10, 2026, regarding the dismissals of Karnišovas and Eversley. He described the moves as a consequence of the professional environment of the NBA, noting that such changes occur when ownership feels a shift is necessary.

I understand the business side of basketball and, just like players when we’re not performing or living up to expectations, kind of the nature of the business. Obviously, I built a relationship with [Karnisovas] and Marc while they were here, and I appreciate everything they did for me — bringing me here, extending me. So [I’m] very grateful for my time with them. But it’s part of the business, and that’s how it goes sometimes.

Josh Giddey

Giddey added that while the human aspect of the firings is sad due to the relationships formed, he views the decisions as standard business operations. When questioned about the future of Billy Donovan, Giddey stated that such decisions are handled by those higher on the totem pole, though he noted that Donovan has been awesome since Giddey joined the team.