Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau's future with the team seems to be up in the air. While at least some in the NBA believe things are headed to an ugly end between Thibodeau and the front office, there's some who believe the reports about an impending messy divorce are blown out of proportion.
ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy accused Chicago's front office of undermining Thibodeau, seemingly by releasing anonymous reports to the media that paint Thibodeau in a negative light. Van Gundy's claim, which was made Friday night while calling the Bulls-Mavericks game, was the latest report to suggest friction between Thibodeau and the front office.
Things may not be that bad in Chicago, however. Bulls vice president John Paxson and Thibodeau both dismissed Van Gundy's claim, and Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler reported the supposed friction between the coach and the front office is being blown out of proportion.
"I take the sources for what they are - everything I have heard is that Thibbs is tough to deal with," Kyler wrote Monday. "The Bulls front office makes it work. They are not necessarily close, but its working and everyone is OK with it. Every time I ask about it, I am told its always made to be worse than it is. They have a working relationship and (it is) working.
"Could it be better? Maybe, but I think when you have a bull headed head coach, a bull head team president in Paxson, this is what you get. The Bulls have always had a very aggressive checks and balance type relationship."
Reports have surfaced since last year regarding the supposed friction between Thibodeau and Paxson, with two reports last summer even claiming Thibodeau was headed to the New York Knicks or the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade.
If Thibodeau is unhappy in Chicago, he isn't letting on.
"I'm fine. I don't get wrapped up in that stuff," he said of Van Gundy's comments, via the Chicago Tribune. "... I try to do my job. I'm just trying to work here. ... My job is to coach the team. That's what I worry about."
