Bulls hire Tiago Splitter! Why Blazers insider Sean Highkin loves it

New Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has finally hired his head coach, luring Tiago Splitter away from the Blazers after he helped lead the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time in five years. It seemed like bringing Splitter back was a no-brainer, but new Blazers owner Tom Dundon's cheapness got in the way. 

Longtime friend of the program and Blazers insider Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report and Rip City Radio 620 joins Ricky and Jason to talk all about Splitter's brief tenure in place of Chauncey Billups, who was arrested one game into the season due to his involvement in a bombshell gambling scandal. Splitter took over and overcame the tough circumstances to get Portland into and through the play-in tournament, giving Chicago the No. 15 pick before ultimately losing to the Spurs in five games. 

Highkin goes into detail about why Splitter isn't returning to Portland (Dundon is the main factor), the job he did with the Blazers, what he'll bring to the Bulls and what still needs to improve. It's a hire that makes sense for Chicago given the circumstances, with Splitter and Graham aligned on how to move forward with a rebuilding roster. Splitter was liked and respected by his Blazers players, and now he'll look to enact a culture change for this Bulls franchise. 

And could Walker Kessler be Splitter's new Donovan Clingan? A report from Sam Amick of The Athletic suggests Kessler isn't happy with the Jazz, which could open the door for the Bulls to make a run in restricted free agency. 
 

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