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NBA Rumors: Tom Thibodeau leaving Chicago Bulls for Orlando Magic?

By Patrick Schmidt

Mar 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau smiles before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau smiles before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tom Thibodeau is exploring his options and could leave the Chicago Bulls for the Orlando Magic.

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and the team’s front office have had a very public battle over the roster, the management of the roster and his coaching staff that he could be on the way out and the Orlando Magic could be his destination.

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Thibodeau and general manager Gar Forman and team president John Paxson have clashed for what seems like the moment he was hired off Doc Rivers’ staff when he was an assistant with the Boston Celtics and his time in the Windy City could be coming to an end if the Bulls don’t make a deep run in the playoffs.

He may need to take the Bulls to at least the Eastern Conference Finals to retain his job in Chicago, which is certainly possible, but he may decide to leave on his own and according to Ric Bucher of the Bleacher Report, the Orlando Magic could be the best option for him to land.

Thibodeau is in his fifth season on the Bulls bench and has the team in the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference after a thrilling comeback win against the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

He has a 252-139 record with the Bulls (.645 winning percentage) and made the playoffs every year. He led the Bulls to the NBA’s best record with a 62-20 record 2010-2011 but lost to the Heat in the conference finals in five games. The Bulls lost in the first round in 2011-2012 and last year as the Bulls struggled without former MVP Derrick Rose on the court.

Rose battled injuries again this year and so did All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler, but with Rose returning to the lineup this week and the Bulls having the full complement of their roster, Thibodeau won’t have any excuses for an early playoff exit this time.

Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson tweeted that no definitive decision has been made on Thibodeau who still has two years left on his deal, so unless he’s fired, the Magic would have to trade for the head coach just as the Los Angeles Clippers did for Rivers a few years ago.

James Borrego is the team’s interim head coach after they fired Jacques Vaughn earlier in the season. The Magic would love to hire an experienced coach like Thibodeau to oversee their young roster full of talent like Victor Oladipo and 2014 first round pick Aaron Gordon.

Would the Magic be willing to part ways with their lottery pick this year for Thibodeau?

He is one of the best coaches in the NBA and the Bulls would be foolish to fire him because he and the front office arent best friends, so if he’s not coaching in Chicago next year, some team will have to give the Bulls some assets to a have a chance to pry him away.

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