In what’s building up to be a hectic offseason in terms of personnel changes in the NBA, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is one of several coaches being courted. Thibodeau is inevitably expected to be released by the Bulls in just a matter of time, making him a top option for teams with head coaching vacancies, mainly the Orlando Magic.
The Los Angeles Lakers currently have a head coach, Byron Scott. He has one year left on his contract, but Jordan Shultz of the Huffington Post reports that Thibodeau will indeed be pursued by LA when he becomes available:
Being told that the Lakers will be pursuing Tom Thibodeau. Byron Scott has just the one year left. Lakers would be paying four head coaches.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 20, 2015
I would assume Thibs would be interested in Laker job but don’t know either way. Have to think #2 pick in the draft helps.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 20, 2015
Being told Thibs taking his time: wanted to see draft lottery, etc. Still employed by Bulls, who are waiting on Fred Hoiberg.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 20, 2015
The Lakers sought permission to interview Thibodeau before they hired Scott last year, and Kobe Bryant made it known that Thibs had his blessing.
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This isn’t surprising for the Lakers, who are still paying their last two head coaches before Scott (Mike D’Antoni and Mike Brown). With the no. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft and a wide free agency pool this summer, the Lakers are going to make their best attempt at the quickest turnaround possible. Upgrading their head coach from Byron Scott to Tom Thibodeau would be just that, an upgrade, and a steal to acquire one of the top defensive coaches in the league. Assuming the Lakers can put anything close to a championship-caliber team on the floor next season or anywhere in the near future, there clearly isn’t sheer confidence that Byron Scott could lead them to the promised land.
Of course Thibodeau’s hard-nosed, toughness-oriented approach appeases Kobe Bryant, and maybe it’s what the Laker franchise would need to start getting back on track. That style earned Thibs a heap of criticism in Chicago along with an underwhelming ability to coach offensive basketball. Between Orlando and LA, Thibodeau has options waiting for him in warmer locations and with different degrees of potential.
