Tom Thibodeau, Pelicans have ‘unquestioned mutual interest’
By Josh Hill
The Chicago Bulls are more than likely going to part ways with Tom Thibodeau in the near future, and the New Orleans Pelicans are already waiting to scoop him up.
Well before the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the postseason by the Cleveland Cavaliers, there were loud rumbles that a divorce between the front office and Tom Thibodeau was brewing. Those rumbles will turn into earthquakes soon as the Bulls prepare to move on from Thibodeau and to a head coach more easily controlled by the front office.
But with Thibs on his way out, the question is now where will he land next?
One landing spot that has popped up in recent days is the New Orleans Pelicans job. Monty Williams was mercilessly fired after taking the team to the postseason this year and many believe it was a move made to make room for the hiring of Tom Thibodeau.
According to Marc Stein from ESPN, there is ‘unquestioned mutual interest’ between the Pelicans and Tom Thibodeau.
"NBA coaching sources say there is unquestioned mutual interest between Thibodeau and the Pelicans, with Thibs naturally said to be very intrigued by the possibility of coaching Davis full-time after working with him last summer as a Team USA assistant alongside Williams under Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski."
To be fair, New Orleans isn’t the only place that Thibodeau is coveted, but it’s the most likely landing spot for the head coach. The Orlando Magic are a possibility and you can’t count out Phil Jackson making a play for Thibodeau even with Derek Fisher under contract.
But Thibodeau’s connections with Anthony Davis are too deep to ignore, and it might offset the fact that Thibs would be leaving one bad front office situation for potentially another.
Dell Demps has a totalitarian way of running the Pelicans, as he mad this ruthlessness known when he axed Monty Williams this week. That’s what Thibodeau is dealing with in Chicago and it’s the primary reason he’s probably going to get traded before the NBA Draft next month.
But if it all ends to Thibodeau coming to town, then it would be worth it and it looks like we may hear trade talks between the Bulls and Pelicans heat up in the very near future.