NBA Rumors: Bucks, Jon Horst, Taylor Jenkins, Kings, Blazers, Tiago Splitter

It was a messy NBA season for the Bucks.

They finished 32-50. There were injuries galore. And let’s not forget the noise around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Oh, they also need a head coach, with Doc Rivers stepping down and hinting he may be done on the sidelines altogether.

So naturally, the question becomes who’s next? Not at coach. In the front office.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, early signs suggest GM Jon Horst isn’t going anywhere.

There’s been chatter. There’s always chatter after a season like that. But Horst is under contract through 2027-28 and has already started reaching out to agents as the coaching search gets underway.

That’s usually not the move of someone on the way out.

Bucks Coaching Search

This will be a big one. Horst hasn’t led a full search since 2018, when Milwaukee landed Mike Budenholzer. Since then, things have been a little more… directed.

Adrian Griffin was widely viewed as Giannis’ preferred choice. Rivers came in with ownership backing. Now it’s back to Horst.

Names to know? Taylor Jenkins and Darvin Ham are in the mix, but Fischer notes Milwaukee is casting a wide net.

One complication. Any candidate walking in doesn’t really know what the roster will look like yet. After all, everything still circles back to Giannis.

Jenkins Drawing Interest

Jenkins might be the hottest name out there. He’s already been linked to the Wizards and Magic, though neither situation is straightforward.

Washington has publicly backed Brian Keefe. Orlando still has Jamahl Mosley under contract.

Still, interest is interest, and Jenkins has plenty of it.

Kings Staying Put

Out West, the Kings are keeping Doug Christie. Part of that is belief. Part of it is practical, Fischer notes.

He has one year left on his deal, and Sacramento isn’t exactly projected as a playoff team next season. Paying two coaches doesn’t make much sense.

Sometimes it’s that simple.

Blazers Going Cheap?

Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter has done about as well as anyone could’ve expected after Chauncey Billups was arrested and placed on leave.

But apparently, that doesn’t guarantee anything.

New majority owner Tom Dundon is believed to be looking to spend around $1.5 million annually on a head coach. That’s… low.

It’s actually more in line with top assistants than established NBA head coaches. That is why, as Fischer reports, Portland has already had exploratory conversations with about 20 college and international candidates.

That tells you where this might be headed.

Front Office Movement

The Bulls are bringing in help for their search, hiring TurnkeyZRG to lead the process for a new head of basketball operations.

Coach Billy Donovan is expected to have a strong voice in that decision, assuming he remains in place.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are going the other way. No search firm, as owner Patrick Dumont is leading it himself, Fischer reports.

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