Tom Thibodeau might be willing to leave the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose for his "dream job" with the Knicks, according to BleacherReport.com.
The 56-year-old Thibodeau previously served as an assistant to Jeff Van Gundy in New York and the website suggests the veteran coach still holds a supreme fondness for the organization where he spent some of his earliest days as an NBA coach.
Having just concluded his fourth season in Chicago, Thibodeau's troubles with Bulls' management are almost as legendary as his coaching prowess has become. And things don't appear to be getting any better, with several media outlets recently reporting Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman were both on hand at last week's NBA Combine in Chicago and appeared to go the entire day without so much as speaking with one another.
It's fueled speculation that the former NBA Coach of the Year's days could be numbered in Chicago, despite the franchise's growing excitement that All-Star guard Rose is rumored to be ahead of schedule from knee surgery and the team has two first-round picks in next month's NBA draft. The Lakers and Grizzlies have also been open in expressing their desire to speak with Thibodeau should the Bulls be inclined to grant permission.
Would Bulls let Tom Thibodeau go?
Thibodeau's problems with management date back to as far as early last year when the team terminated the contract of top assistant and confidante Ron Adams. Thibodeau was also angered by management's decision to trade player-favorite Luol Deng at the trade deadline this year without so much as getting any rotation players in return for the already undermanned team.
Earlier this week, Hall of Fame forward and outspoken TNT analyst Charles Barkley blasted the franchise as the league's "stupidest organization" for not showing the decorated coach more respect.
Do you think Tom Thibodeau would leave Chicago? Tell us @SportsWN
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.