The Chicago Bulls are in a brand new period, and Tiago Splitter will probably be main it because the franchise’s subsequent head coach. The Bulls employed Splitter on Monday after a powerful stint because the Portland Path Blazers’ interim head coach this previous season, the place he led the crew to its first playoff berth in 5 years after taking up for Chauncey Billups following his arrest as a part of a sprawling FBI probe into unlawful playing. Splitter did nicely beneath powerful circumstances, and now he’s earned a brand new job.
Splitter is 41 years outdated. As a participant, he was a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ 2014 championship crew, and he moved immediately into teaching after retiring in 2018. Splitter was an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets from 2019-2023, then spent a season with the Houston Rockets, then turned head coach at Paris Basketball, the place he led his crew to a French Cup championship and certified for the EuroLeague playoffs. Splitter left Paris Basketball after one season to take a job on Billups’ employees in Portland, and he was unexpectedly thrust into the top teaching seat within the second sport of the season after Billups’ arrest. He’s the second tallest head coach in NBA historical past at 6’11.
Why didn’t the Blazers retain Splitter as head coach? New proprietor Tom Dundon reportedly needed to chop prices on his subsequent head coach nicely under league requirements. Dundon’s cheapness became a possibility for the Bulls.
The Blazers had not made the playoffs since 2021, however Splitter helped get them again there regardless of not having his start line guard Scoot Henderson for a lot of the season resulting from harm. Deni Avdija made an All-Star leap beneath Splitter as he took on a extra heliocentric position as an offensive creator by spamming pick-and-rolls because the handler. The Blazers closed the common season with a 32-20 file over their last 51 video games, and posted a top-10 protection over that point. Portland earned its method into the playoffs by means of the play-in event, they usually have been knocked out by the San Antonio Spurs in 5 video games within the first-round of the playoffs.
Splitter is taking up a Bulls group in flux. Chicago fired Arturas Karnisovas and changed him with former Atlanta Hawks exec Bryson Graham earlier this offseason. Hiring Splitter is Graham’s first huge choice, and there are extra to come back. The Bulls decide at No. 4, No. 15, No. 38, and No. 56 in subsequent week’s 2026 NBA Draft, and the Bulls are projected to have probably the most cap area within the NBA with simply shy of $60 million obtainable.
It will likely be fascinating to see how Graham places his stamp on the roster. Chicago is projected to take Caleb Wilson at No. 4 in our newest 2026 NBA mock draft. Wilson could be a greatest participant obtainable choice, however he does have some overlap with the prevailing roster. Chicago’s lottery picks the final two years, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, each have related measurement and talent units to Wilson. The crew enters the offseason needing a rim defending heart, and plenty of capturing. There’s two strong level guards already on the roster in Josh Giddey and Tre Jones, which will probably be a welcomed sight for Splitter after he had horrible ball dealing with in Portland.
It feels protected to mission Buzelis on the three, and really possible Wilson on the 4 in subsequent yr’s lineup. Jalen Smith had a terrific yr as a hybrid huge man, and could possibly be the crew’s beginning stretch 5 in 2026-27. Will Graham commerce Giddey or Jones? What is going to he do along with his cap area? Graham and Splitter will now work to create a shared imaginative and prescient to form the following iteration of the Bulls.
Chicago employed Splitter over Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, and incumbant Wes Unseld Jr. as the opposite finalists for the job. Below Splitter, the Blazers completed No. 20 in offensive effectivity and No. 14 in defensive effectivity. Portland chucked threes with out good shooters, ending third in three-point charge regardless of being No. 28 in three-point share. The Blazers turned the ball over greater than any crew within the league, however that was resulting from expertise greater than scheme. Portland was an elite offensive rebounding crew (No. 2 in o-board share), and it completed No. 7 in turnover share defensively.
I assumed Portland wanted to crank up the tempo and aggression defensively given their lifeless halfcourt offense. The Blazers ended twenty first in seconds per possession after a defensive rebound, and twenty third after a turnover. Granted, Portland’s ball dealing with was so unhealthy that it’s attainable Splitter simply didn’t belief his crew to push it on the break.
The Blazers ranked No. 29 within the halfcourt offense factors per play. Is that due to expertise or scheme? Splitter put the ball in Avdija’s arms and let him be a battering ram going to the rim. The offense was bland, however they didn’t actually have the creators to do rather more. Splitter additionally ranked lifeless final in ATOs — after timeout performs — in line with Steph Noh.
Will Splitter attempt to make Giddey or Buzelis his new Avdija? Will Giddey be traded? How will he use Wilson, assuming he’s the decide at No. 4, early in his profession? There are such a lot of questions for the Bulls going ahead that it’s exhausting to make any huge takeaways from this rent but. Chicago could be smart to prioritize the longer term over the current, and put a heavy emphasis on improvement of its younger items, fairly than counting on veterans who can instantly assist them win video games. Graham talked about taking the long-view in his opening press convention, however the NBA’s new lottery adjustments take tanking off the desk for all groups.
I assumed Portland’s offense was boring beneath Splitter, however not having your level guard will try this to a crew. He’s a younger head coach, and coaches can enhance over time like gamers. Splitter undoubtedly did a pleasant job in guiding the crew to the playoffs beneath powerful circumstances. Given the opposite finalists, this looks as if a very acceptable rent. The Bulls simply have much more work to do.
Bulls grade for Tiago Splitter rent: B
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