NEWSLETTER
Tom Thibodeau is bound to have a job by the start of the 2020-21 season.
The New York Knicks were the first team to reportedly have him at the top of their candidate list, but now the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets have their eyes locked on the former Bulls coach. The New York Posts’ Marc Berman has reported both Houston and Brooklyn have “strong interest” in Thibodeau’s services, and the no-nonsense head coach has an interest in all three openings.
Unsurprisingly, we have yet to see the Bulls name enter the chat. You up? I want you back, sweet thang. Part of this is likely attributed to the fact the team has yet to officially move on from Jim Boylen, but this also just feels like an unlikely reunion in general. With the Bulls headed in an entirely new direction, it’s hard to imagine them reconnecting with an ex-coach – no matter how talented. Believe the validity of that reasoning all you want, but I certainly think it would play a factor in the decision-making process. In addition, while Thibodeau doesn’t appear to hold any grudge against his former organization, he isn’t necessarily known for his innate ability to connect with young talent.
With all of that said, I’ve always loved his style of coaching, and I think it meshed well with the Chicago brand of basketball. I wouldn’t hate to see the Bulls have him on a list, but I’m also not holding my breath.
The more likely scenario is the Bulls go after a high-ranking assistant coach like the Toronto Raptors’ Adrian Griffin or Philadelphia 76ers’ Ime Udoka. A development-focused mind like former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is worth speculation as well.
All would (probably) be a major improvement considering the current situation, but on the foundation of pure fun, I’d also like to argue for one other name: Mike D’Antoni.
The Rockets did not offer a contract extension to D’Antoni last season, which gave everyone a good reason to believe the 2019-20 season would be his last in Houston. And, as recently as April 20th, The Athletic’s David Aldridge said he still believes D’Antoni will hit the market this offseason. How much interest D’Antoni would actually have in a gig with Chicago beats me, but the Bulls should have all kinds of interest in him.
Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley have both mentioned their longing to play a fast and exciting brand of basketball. And what better way to establish that style of play than by hiring the man who basically brought it to the NBA in the first place?
Sure, D’Antoni has gotten away from his own pass-heavy, quick-moving philosophy over the past couple of seasons, but he’s kind of been forced to with James Harden on the roster. Plus, since he took over in 2016, Houston has still been second in offensive efficiency each season. Through stops in Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, and Houston, D’Antoni has been able to carry the same offense-first mentality, but tweak it to fit the roster he’s given. Through his two-decade-long career, he holds a 668-523 record. He wins.
With a young group that’s currently headlined by two gifted offensive talents in Zach LaVine and Coby White, D’Antoni could be the perfect guy to help establish the look of the future for the Bulls.
The glaring problem: I’m not sure he has the patience. At 68-years-old, the guy might just want to grab himself a ring or two and get the heck out. The only option that could fit that need (right now) would be the Nets with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but if that organization looks elsewhere? Hey, maybe the Bulls could be the next best option?
Even if D’Antoni doesn’t stick around long enough to see a full revamp of this Bulls franchise, he can be an incredibly stable bridge that helps this team get to the other side. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like the worst situation for either party. Something to think about, at least, right?
