Can Tiago Splitter Bring the Bulls Out of Playoff Futility?

The Chicago Bulls are looking to end their more than decade-long playoff drought by hiring a new head coach. Enter Tiago Splitter, the interim coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, who accepted the position on Monday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Bulls' coaching position was left vacant after Billy Donovan announced his resignation on April 21 following a series of discussions with ownership. In a surprising move, the team's ownership decided to allow the new leader to build out the staff without constraints. This change in leadership brings some optimism for the team, who have been plagued by inconsistent success since 2014.

Donovan's departure was likely fueled by a growing disconnect between the front office and the rest of the organization. The front office, led by executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, believed they were working under the constraints of ownership, which prevented them from making necessary changes to the team.

This disconnect, along with the team's reluctance to tank in order to prioritize a high draft pick, hindered the team's chances of success. Despite this, CEO Michael Reinsdorf expressed his support for Donovan, stating that candidates for the front office jobs had to be aligned with the coach. However, it appears this was not enough to keep Donovan on board.

Splitter, who led the Trail Blazers to the playoffs last season, brings some much-needed momentum to the Bulls. However, his success will depend on his ability to work with the team's young players and draft capital. With a new vice president of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, helping make decisions, the team is looking to make some necessary changes to ensure their success.

Only time will tell if Splitter will be able to bring the Bulls out of their playoff drought. With his experience as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets, he has the skills to be a successful head coach.

The Bulls are staring at their own playoff drought and hopes Splitter is the one to fix it. With some promising young players on the roster and a new VP of basketball operations, there is reason to be optimistic. However, the team still needs to figure out how to build a winning roster and create a cohesive team dynamic.