The Chicago Bulls and head coach Tom Thibodeau are expected to part ways this offseason, and several teams are reportedly interested in acquiring the defensive-minded bench tactician, including the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans.
Thibodeau went under fire after the Bulls were eliminated by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Even before losing to the Cavaliers, reports indicated that his days in Chicago are numbered because Thibodeau is not seeing eye-to-eye with their front office executives.
According to Gary Woelfel of Racine Journal Times, the Magic are preparing to make a strong push to acquire Thibodeau once he becomes available. Sources said the Magic are planning to make Thibodeau the highest-paid coach in the league by offering a yearly salary of $7-9 million, while also giving him inputs on basketball decisions.
Aside from the Magic, ESPN also reported that the Pelicans are also interested in hiring Thibodeau, who is also allegedly intrigued about coaching in New Orleans. Sources said that the Pelicans and Thibodeau are both open to discussing the coaching vacancy.
Thibodeau, who led the Bulls to five consecutive playoff appearances, still has two years left in his contract worth around $9 million. The Bulls hold the aces as reports revealed that could seek compensation such as draft picks before releasing the 57-year-old from his contract.
The Bulls are reportedly eyeing Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg and current assistant coach Adrian Griffin to take the job that is expected to be vacated by Thibodeau later in the offseason. But while Thibodeau's firing is now close to being a sure thing, Bulls superstar Derrick Rose is still hoping that his coach will return next season.
"Thibs, we grew a bond together," Rose said of Thibodeau via ESPN. "With him being on USA Basketball, him coming out to LA to check up on me after my surgeries when I was working out there, I think we really have a bond, so it's not up to my decision. I loved him as a coach."
If the Pelicans fail to lure Thibodeau from the Bulls, they will reportedly reach out to Kentucky coach John Calipari. Recent reports revealed that Calipari is interested in the job because of his former players Tyreke Evans and Anthony Davis, but he took to Twitter to deny reports linking him to the Pelicans.
"Even though Anthony and Tyreke are in NOLA, I have no interest in the Pelicans or any other job. I have a great job and I'm happy at UK," Calipari wrote on Twitter.
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