All signs continue to point to this being Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau's last season with the team. The latest report claims a Thibodeau-Bulls split is "all but imminent" at the conclusion of the 2015 NBA playoffs, with the Orlando Magic said to be willing to trade a draft to Chicago for him.
Never mind Thibodeau has led Chicago to the playoffs in each of his five seasons as head coach, including two seasons without superstar Derrick Rose. The purported friction between Thibodeau and the front office seemingly outweighs the coach's accomplishments, and the latest report on the matter indicates a divorce between the two sides is imminent.
"The rift between the two sides has been well chronicled and a divorce seems all but imminent; the question becomes 'when' the two will part ways, not 'if,'" Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler wrote Tuesday.
Kyler has written before that a trade is the most likely scenario in which Thibodeau leaves, and his report Tuesday confirmed that and provided a list of possible destinations.
"The Orlando Magic are said to be in a holding pattern, waiting on the outcome of Thibodeau's situation," Kyler wrote. "Sources close to the situation say not only would the Magic give the Bulls compensation (likely a second-round pick or two) for the chance to get at Thibodeau, sources also said the Magic would meet the expected $7-8 million per year coaching salary Thibodeau likely commands in his next deal.
"The Magic are not the only team keeping an eye on the Thibodeau situation. The Denver Nuggets and potentially the New Orleans Pelicans, if they make a change, are said to have Thibodeau high on their wish list."
Kyler published his report prior to New Orleans firing coach Monty Williams on Tuesday, increasing the odds of the Pelicans pursuing Thibodeau as Williams's replacement in the offseason.
There've been rumors about Thibodeau and Chicago splitting for almost two years now, but the quantity of such rumors has increased since January. A report in May from Yahoo Sports indicated the Bulls "can't wait" to get rid of Thibodeau, and in April Bleacher Report claimed Thibodeau had already begun exploring other coaching options, including the Magic.
Chicago is one game away from elimination against the Cleveland Cavaliers, meaning Thibodeau's fate could be sealed as early as next week.
Other interesting tidbits from Kyler's sources: Derrick Rose has voiced concern about how the organization is handling Thibodeau's situation; Jimmy Butler's free-agency decision doesn't hinge on what happens to Thibodeau; Golden State Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry is considered a frontrunner to replace Thibodeau; and Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg could still be a possibility.
