California's battle for Chicago's finest appears on the verge of starting in earnest.
CSNChicago.com is reporting the Golden State Warriors have added Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau to their wish list of top candidates, joining the cross-state rival Lakers in pining for the services of the 2012 NBA Coach of the Year.
Tom Thibodeau leaving Derrick Rose?
And the field may prove even more crowded, as the Knicks have long been rumored to be interested in the 56-year-old Thibodeau, who could soon again emerge as the team's top overall candidate what with the Warriors also said to be interested in Phil Jackson's recent top target Steve Kerr.
All that is to say the veteran coach finds himself a wanted man, Chicago included, where with Derrick Rose expected to be back next season and the team slated to be active in summer free agency management believes the squad could just a full training camp away from competing for a title.
Knicks interested in Tom Thibodeau?
But first there seems the matter of the Bulls and Thibodeau being able to put aside their criticisms of one another that reignited when the Bulls released top assistant and Thibodeau confidante Ron Adams in 2013.
With their firing of the affable Jackson, the Warriors added their names to those who made coaching changes at a time some may have thought they never would. In his three seasons in Oakland, Jackson led the team to back-to-back playoff berths, including this year's 51-win season, the team's most single-season victories in nearly 20 seasons.
As for Thibodeau, he remains under contract with the Bulls for the next three seasons and to even speak with him, the Warriors, Lakers and anyone else who might grow interested, would have to get the Bulls permission beforehand.
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