So they are going to drag it out until there are no other coaching openings and then shit-can him? Pretty dirty. Of course he probably couldn't prove it but that would be worth a grievance against the team if so.
What doesn't make sense about that is, the Bulls owe him about 9 million over the next 2 years. If they fire him now, and he signs on for 4-5 million to coach a different team, they basically are off the hook for his salary, with it offsetting. If they wait until there are no jobs, they have to pay him for the season. A personal vendetta that'll cost them 4.5 million dollars. Brilliant.
More: What I don't get about this is why "waiting for the vacancies to fill" is supposed to keep him out of a job. Plenty of teams would gladly fire their current coach to get Thibs. It's certainly not unprecedented. Larry Brown got positions that way.
It was reported that Orlando was willing to pay him $8M-$9M/year and give him personnel decisions. Bulls management is so arrogant they don't want to look like they're firing a guy making $4M who's worth $9M everywhere else and in high demand.
Thibs really ought to just go on the offensive, start making public comments about Bulls' management, or even publicly state that he'll refuse to coach in Chicago next season. Basically give Reinsdorf no option except to fire him ASAP.
If termination of the contract leads to a new deal with a new team for significantly more, he'd come out ahead.
He's taking the high road while the Bulls take the low one. I think teams would rather hire a gentleman than one who blasts his bosses. The Bulls have earned a terrible reputation - they can't get the big name free agents to come to the 3rd biggest market with a storied (oops dynasty) past. Maybe they figure it doesn't matter anymore, people see they're just milking the team for as much profit as possible.
I have some emotional investment in the players and Thibs. I've been a Bulls fan since the 1960s, before the current ownership and management. I hope those guys are gone ASAP...
If it's not Thibs I'd guess it would be one of the following: 1. Spoelstra 2. Carlisle 3. Vogel 4. Wittman 5. Casey (with a chance of Stotts or Hollins)
I don't believe that is correct. If the Bulls fire him they have to pay his whole contract and they don't get any offset back if he signs with another team. If they "trade" him for a draft pick they don't have to pay his contract.