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In a decisive move, the Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly reached an agreement to appoint Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach, marking the first team to fill a coaching vacancy this offseason. According to insiders Shams Charania and Ramona Shelburne from ESPN, Jenkins is set to take over from Doc Rivers, who parted ways with the Bucks at the end of the regular season.
While the Bucks have swiftly addressed their coaching needs, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Chicago Bulls are actively on the hunt for new leadership. The Pelicans have been searching since parting with Willie Green in November, and the Bulls have recently joined the search after Billy Donovan’s resignation earlier this week.
As the offseason unfolds, let’s take a closer look at the vacant coaching roles across the NBA. We’ll delve into the pros and cons of each position and speculate on potential candidates who might step into these roles.
For the Bucks, the 2025-26 season ended with a record of 32-50. With a fresh start under Taylor Jenkins, the team aims to improve its performance. Jenkins is finalizing his deal, succeeding Doc Rivers, who exited the position on April 12. Leading the executive team is Jon Horst, who has been with the organization since June 2017.
Let’s examine the positions currently available, the pros and cons of each situation and who could step in this offseason.
Hired jobs
Milwaukee Bucks
2025-26 record: 32-50
New coach: Taylor Jenkins (finalizing deal)
Previous coach: Doc Rivers (exited April 12)
Lead executive: Jon Horst (hired June 2017)
Positives of the job: In the event Giannis Antetokounmpo is still on the Bucks’ roster next season, it won’t hurt having one of the best players on the planet to build around. And if he’s not on the roster, that means he has been moved in a trade that could completely reshape both Milwaukee’s roster and asset sheet, giving Jenkins some intriguing options. Some lottery luck next month would certainly help.
Negatives of the job: The Bucks’ roadmap is full of challenges. With the $20 million from waiving and stretching Damian Lillard’s contract on the books for the next four seasons, plus a lack of draft capital because of the trade to acquire him, adding impact players to the roster will be difficult. If Antetokounmpo isn’t traded, it’s unlikely the Bucks fare any better next season amid the continuing saga.
What does the new coach bring? Jenkins won 250 games in five-plus seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, getting fired with a handful of games remaining last season as the team went from rising power in the West to hitting a franchise reset in the wake of Ja Morant’s on-and-off court issues. Jenkins has a proven track record of developing players, which will be critical as Milwaukee either rebuilds after an Antetokounmpo trade or re-tools with him still on the roster. Jenkins has familiarity with both Antetokounmpo and Horst after his one season with the Bucks on Mike Budenholzer’s staff in 2018-19.
Open jobs
Chicago Bulls
2025-26 record: 31-51
Previous coach: Billy Donovan (stepped down April 21)
Lead executive: None (Arturas Karnisovas fired April 6)
Why this job is open: After the season ended, ownership made it abundantly clear that if Donovan wanted, he would remain in the job. However, after a series of family situations he dealt with during the season and facing the prospect of a lengthy rebuild in Chicago, Donovan chose to step down from the job he has had since 2020, allowing the Bulls to move forward with a clean slate after firing Karnisovas two weeks earlier.
Positives of the job: A lot about Chicago’s situation should appeal to potential coaches: a huge market, a giant fan base and ownership that has proven to be patient. There should be total alignment with the front office, given the new head of basketball operations is going to be hired before a head coach. And in a deep 2026 draft, Chicago will pick twice in the top 15.
Negatives of the job: There is a definitive lack of talent on the roster. Josh Giddey is a below-average starting point guard, while Matas Buzelis is an intriguing long-term player who might eventually be an above-average starter. Outside of that, this group will take significant time to develop into a true factor in the East. With lottery reform coming, that task could become even more difficult.
New Orleans Pelicans
2025-26 record: 26-56
Previous coach: Willie Green (Fired Nov. 15; James Borrego named interim coach)
Lead executive: Joe Dumars (hired April 2025)
Why this job is open: It was one of the league’s worst-kept secrets that New Orleans would be looking to replace Green. The Pelicans have not yet completed a short list of candidates and might keep Borrego on a permanent basis heading into next season, Dumars told reporters on Tuesday. Borrego’s extended job interview showed he has the ability to still be an NBA head coach, coaxing wins out of this roster as the season progressed — and especially once some of the Pelicans’ injured veterans returned.
But there is significant work to do in New Orleans.
Positives of the job: There is talent here. Zion Williamson is coming off perhaps his best, and certainly most available, season. Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones are quality two-way wings.
Negatives of the job: There are questions about the lack of overall funding into the franchise by ownership, with discussions ongoing over much-needed investment in the team’s arena. The decision to trade a 2026 lottery pick, plus a first-round pick last season, for Derik Queen looked worse as he fell out of the starting lineup down the stretch. There’s still a ton of money tied up for next season in Jordan Poole and for the next two seasons in Dejounte Murray, both of whom are questionable fits. Getting this team back into a playoff spot in the West won’t be easy.
