Tom Thibodeau and Gar Forman were in the same gym on Thursday, though neither seemed to so much as acknowledge one another, further fueling rumors that top members of the Chicago Bulls brain trust are still at odds and the former NBA Coach of the Year's days as Derrick Rose's coach could be numbered.
The Bulls coach and GM have openly feuded since last year after Thibodeau became angered by Forman's decision to terminate top assistant and confidante Ron Adams. Matters weren't helped this year, when at midseason Forman dealt Luol Deng to Cleveland at the trade deadline in a swap that brought the already undermanned Bulls no immediate assistance.
Tom Thibodeau leaving Chicago?
ESPN reports onlookers watched in stunned silence as Thibodeau and Forman worked the room of the NBA draft combine without once ever directly engaging one another.
Afterwards the two declined to speak on the issue, only further fueling speculation about Thibodeau's status in Chicago, particularly with Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant recently going on the record in asserting he would champion the idea of having Thibodeau as his coach.
Tom Thibodeau thinks Derrick Rose will bounce back
Before they moved to sign Steve Kerr earlier this week, the Golden State Warriors were also rumored to be seeking the Bulls permission to speak with Thibodeau about their opening. The point here is as long as the Bulls leave Thibodeau somewhat dangling the interest in a coach of his caliber won't go away.
In the past, Thibodeau's name has also prominently been mentioned as a possibility in New York, where he once served as an assistant to coach Jeff Van Gundy and Phil Jackson is now still seeking to make a splash in naming his first coaching hire.
It all has some wondering why the Bulls would be willing to play such a dangerous game with such a clearly important piece to their puzzle?
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