Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau may be coaching his final season with the team. The fifth-year head coach reportedly is considering leaving Chicago after the season and is exploring his options, one of which is believed to be the Orlando Magic.
Rumors of friction between Thibodeau and the Bulls front office have been going on for a while, with the latest chapter in the Thibodeau-front office drama added on Friday. According to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, Thibodeau is mulling over his options for next season and has been linked to the coaching vacancy in Orlando.
"While there's been much speculation that Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, will not be with the franchise beyond this season, there have been no Bulls sources that have confirmed (the team is) indeed ready to move in another direction. However, league sources say third parties connected to Thibodeau have been exploring what his potential other options would be, including the Orlando magic," Bucher said Friday.
There could be one snag, though.
"Now this is where it gets interesting because the Orlando Magic just extended the contract of general manager Rob Hennigan and the feeling around the league is that was a signal that if any coach is interested - Thibodeau included - in coming in and running the Magic, you will only do so as a head coach," said Bucher. "You will not be given personnel control."
Bucher went on to say Orlando would certainly be interested in Thibodeau if he became available, but the question is - given the clashes Thibodeau has had with Chicago's front office - whether Thibodeau would be willing to accept a new job that doesn't give him personnel control.
It's a pretty big question. It wouldn't make sense for Thibodeau to bolt from a playoff-contending team to a less talented one without a promotion that would give him, say, personnel control. But maybe things are bad enough between him and the front office that any move - even a lateral one - would be welcomed at this point.
Thibodeau could probably force his way out of Chicago if he really wanted. There's a difference between a disgruntled player and a disgruntled coach. Given the huge influence a head coach wields over his players and his staff, no front office is going to leave a malcontent - somebody who's raising a stink and who clearly doesn't want to be there - at the helm.
