http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/report-lakers-want-interview-tom-thibodeau Maybe the Knicks want him, too. Woodson gone, like D'Antoni in LA. Would the Bulls letting Thibs go make any of us happy? Not me!
So here's the thing. I think Thibs is a brilliant basketball coach. His offenses are equally as good as his defenses. He's not the defense over offense kind of coach people seem to think he is. He started Boozer. Hell, he played Boozer. And Dunleavy. And DJ, and Korver, and Marco, and Nate, and even Rose. None ever were in the league for their defense. When asked if he prefers a stud defensive player or stud offensive player, he says he'd take the offensive player. The teams he's been given have been poorly constructed. Gaping hole at SG, guys not suited to get fast break easy baskets. No 2nd option to go with Rose. Guys with stone hands at the wings. He took us to a solid record and playoffs behind two rejects at guard (Kirk, DJ), a serviceable but one dimensional aged Dunleavy, Noah, and a couple of late 1st round picks. He's just brilliant.
Thibs is easily the best coach we've had since Jackson and one of the best coaches in the league. If we wants to work somewhere else, he'll be able to do so. If not next season, then when his contract is up. If he leaves, it will likely be because the organization dicked him around and he feels that another organization can get him the talent he needs to win a title. If you look at the rosters he's had to go to war with in the post season the last 3 seasons, its ridiculous, and kind of sad really, since we're wasting away the prime years of some of our players. Of course, the Rose injury is in many ways out of everyones hands.
If Thibodeau wants to go elsewhere, he should be given his wish, but the Bulls should get something in return ala Doc Rivers. My guess is that he'll want to stay here.
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-80094840/ Three years remain on a contract that pays Thibodeau a respectable $4.5 million annual salary, an extension the Bulls proudly announced in October 2012 after he had proven to be among the NBA's elite head coaches. Observers considered it another shrewd investment by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Analysts almost universally laud the way Thibodeau coaches more than the way Bulls management assembles the roster. ... Last Wednesday, Forman indirectly credited Thibodeau by telling reporters that he had studies to support that "grit is thes No. 1 factor in having success.'' If success is a first round exit, but!! winning a playoff game. The real translation is "grit is a substitute for talent, and enough to profit mightily."
Yeah, the recruitment of Thibs should be a reminder that to the rest of the league Thibs is a sought after prize. It's obvious when you think about it, but it's so easy to let familiarity breed contempt. I admit I find it disturbing that he's regularly being thrown into the coaching hat for every vacancy that opens up, although it's always difficult to tell how much of that is due to media speculation....perhaps some of it malicious. So far I think the only legitimate criticism is that he might run certain guys too hard in the moment. You can't judge that by minutes played, but by how he treats players in those moments of judgment, and he always seems hellbent on getting that next win. But it's also important to remember that when we had a team that was 10 deep no one was playing heavy minutes except for Luol Deng. We did have a bench mob, so it's not like he's averse to going deep into the roster. It's just that the guys at the end of our roster haven't been legit NBA players the last two years.
It's kinda funny to me. The media is having a ball with the "everyone wants to talk to Thibodeau" speculation and neither the Bulls nor Thibodeau seem interested in calming things down. Unlike many fans, I wouldn't charge the castle if Bulls management and Thibodeau decided to part ways because I'm not convinced that Thibodeau is a championship head coach. This said, I'd rather see him stay and find out.
I'm sure Tim Floyd is eager to coach the Bulls. Did I say Fred Hoiberg? I really meant Tim Floyd. How many decades does it take to realize management isn't championship caliber?
I think this is where I'm at too. Except I'd note that I think Thibs has shown he's a coach you could win a championship with if you had the right personnel. That ain't nothing. I think you can put a number of coaches in that category, but I'm not sure about Scotty Brooks and that dude coaches the most talented team in the league. So it comes down to price. What would you be happy with? I think I'd want a real asset, like a mid to late lottery pick or a young up-and-coming player. That's probably not going to happen.
It really doesn't come down to price IMO. It comes down to whether Thibodeau wants to stay with the Bulls. If he does, he stays...that simple (note: no one's going to make the Bulls "an offer they can't refuse" for Thibodeau). On the other hand, if Thibodeau either wants to leave or expresses indifference, I'd trade him for whatever I can get and if push came to shove, release him for nothing.
