The departure from the Los Angeles Clippers may already be underway. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Sunday that Clippers associate head coach Dan Craig is leaving to join the Chicago Bulls as one of the top assistants under head coach Billy Donovan.
Craig, who spent the past four seasons with the Clippers, was responsible for the team’s defense and often stepped in as acting head coach when Tyronn Lue was unavailable. Before his tenure with the Clippers, Craig spent seven years as an assistant with the Miami Heat and led the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League affiliate, to a championship in 2016.
This is a significant acquisition for the Bulls, who ranked 19th in defensive efficiency this season. Craig joins their coaching staff as the latest high-profile addition following their recent hiring of a former NBA head coach.
For the Clippers, losing Craig is a substantial blow. They are already facing a challenging offseason, with Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook potentially leaving as free agents. Head coach Tyronn Lue also has only one guaranteed year left on his contract.
Despite these challenges, the Clippers may have some promising candidates available to fill Craig’s role as lead assistant.
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