The earliest Anthony Davis can become an unrestricted free agent is three seasons away, but that apparently doesn't matter to Tom Thibodeau. The ex-Chicago Bulls coach reportedly is uninterested in the New Orleans Pelicans' coach vacancy because he doesn't believe Davis will stick around for the long haul. The same report also suggested Thibodeau could end up sitting out next season if the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets remain the only other teams in need of a head coach.
Anthony Davis will become a restricted free agent after next season. Assuming he actually did want out of New Orleans and signed the team's qualifying offer, Davis wouldn't become an unrestricted free agent until the summer of 2017. Three seasons are an eternity and things change in the league every year, but Thibodeau reportedly believes Davis will leave New Orleans the first chance he gets. Thibodeau's certainty of this, according to longtime NBA writer Peter Vecsey, has the Pelicans off his list.
Vecsey also raised the possibility of Thibodeau sitting out all of next season.
"Tom Thibodeau has no interest, I'm told, in coaching Pelicans (feels Davis will leave when pact permits), Magic ([Scott]Skiles on tap) or Nuggets," Vecsey tweeted Friday morning.
As of now those are the only three job openings. Vecsey's report contradicts an earlier in May that claimed Thibodeau and New Orleans had a mutual interest in each other. Thibodeau's alleged thoughts on Davis's future aside, the two sides likely would have had a difficult time agreeing on a contract, given Thibodeau's purported desire for close to $8 million annually and input on personnel decisions.
Multiple reports, including ones from Vecsey and Yahoo Sports, indicated Skiles is a lock to sign with Orlando. As for Denver, Thibodeau likely doesn't see it as an attractive option given the team's lack of star power and the uncertainty about whether the front office will blow up the roster and undergo a rebuild.
