Report: Third Parties Connected To Tom Thibodeau Are Exploring Potential Options Elsewhere
(CBS) Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau's future with the organization has been one of the biggest off-the-court storylines in the NBA this season. As the playoffs near, there's a widespread belief that the playoffs will provide a reckoning of sorts between Thibodeau and the front office that he has a rocky relationship with, and if the postseason doesn't end well for Chicago, a mutual parting of the ways between Thibodeau and the Bulls would surprise no one.
If that's the case, expect the Orlando Magic to be a serious suitor of Thibodeau's. Third parties connected to Thibodeau are exploring his options elsewhere should he and the Bulls choose to part ways, Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher reported Friday, and the Magic are an interested party.
"There's little doubt that Thibodeau, with all that he's accomplished, would be at the top of the list for the Orlando Magic, ahead of Scott Skiles, ahead of Mark Jackson, certainly ahead of Billy Donovan, if they were to go in that direction and he was available," Bucher said in a video posted on Bleacher Report.
"League sources say that third parties connected to Thibodeau have been exploring what his potential other options would be, including the Orlando Magic."
Thibodeau is under contract through the 2016-'17 season with the Bulls. Bucher added that "no Bulls sources ... have confirmed that they are indeed ready to move" toward a parting of ways with Thibodeau. That matches the local reporting around here. No decision has yet to be made on Thibodeau's future, the Tribune's K.C. Johnson has reported.
The Magic fired coach Jacque Vaughn in early February and are currently led by interim coach James Borrego. Orlando is also seeking to extend the contract of general manager Rob Hennigan, according to the Orlando Sentinel. That likely move is viewed around the league as a sign that any new coach wouldn't be allowed to have personnel control, Bucher reported.
Thibodeau has previously told reporters that he has no desire to have personnel control of a team, though that's also the standard answer you'd expect him to give during a season in which he's had so much friction and public scrutiny about his relationship with his own front office.