As discord seems to be growing between Tom Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls, reports are those close to him are looking into the Orlando Magic’s opening.
Ric Bucher of Bleacher/Report reports third parties close to Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau are exploring their options should Thibodeau be relieved of his duties in Chicago. He specifically cites one of those options as the Orlando Magic.
As Bucher states, no Bulls sources have confirmed they will let Thibodeau out of his contract and move in another direction. He may not actually be available.
However, Bucher reports third party sources close to Thibodeau are exploring his options. Right now, only two teams are without a permanent head coach — the Magic and the Nuggets. It makes sense that the Magic would be one of the options these sources are looking into.
Tom Thibodeau’s future with the Chicago Bulls is reportedly very unsettled these days. Questions from management about his minutes usage and the injuries that have piled up with key players like Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler throughout his Bulls tenure have left his future in doubt despite multiple years left on his contract.
With a third season now where Derrick Rose has faced knee surgery and questions about his usage of his former MVP superstar reigning, the noise surrounding Thibodeau is growing louder and louder.
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This report may have started sounding the alarms in Bulls headquarters and alerting and connecting the Orlando Magic to the former Coach of the Year with the Bulls.
There is another caveat which Bucher, and many other, are sure to point out.
The Magic are reportedly in talks to extend general manager Rob Hennigan. Magic CEO Alex Martins also recently told Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel that Hennigan is thriving in his role. It would seem unlikely the Magic are willing to give up personnel decisions or power in their front office to a new coach.
That could be something Thibodeau is after in his next job as management seems to be the root of some of his problems in Chicago.
For now, the whole point is moot. The Bulls are about to begin the Playoffs and with the Eastern Conference the way it is, they could be playing for a few rounds. The Magic would not be able to make a move on Thibodeau until the Bulls decide what they will do with him and he becomes officially available on the market.
Where there is smoke, there is fire. And the smoke appears to be billowing with yet another report of discord among the Bulls’ top brass.