This man just might be the next coach of your Chicago Bulls.
Bulls fans are getting a little antsy about the team’s search for a new coach…but apparently management isn’t. As far as anybody can tell, Chicago’s front office is in no particular hurry to make a decision. It’s starting to feel like waiting for a pizza delivery that won’t show up until the pie is cold and soggy.
But stuff is happening. I guess.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes: “On the coaching front, the Bulls continue to plan to talk to some candidates at this week’s predraft camp in Chicago. One likely interviewee is former Nets coach Lawrence Frank, who also has interviewed with the Hornets and is helping run drills this week. Rockets assistant Elston Turner has told people he will talk to Bulls management this week, although he isn’t considered a leading candidate. Mo Cheeks is, though it’s uncertain when he’ll interview. … Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, still coaching in the Eastern Conference finals, is expected to draw interest at some point.”
Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald adds: “Unless Phil Jackson or Doc Rivers gets involved, the Bulls’ coaching search looks like a two-man race between Maurice Cheeks and Lawrence Frank.”
Cheeks and Frank? Really? Well, if that’s the case, I hope Frank cleans up his potty mouth first. As for Mo, his 284-286 coaching record may not be that impressive, but he was always a class act:
But what about all those rumors about the Bulls going after LeBron James, and therefore letting James more or less choose the team’s next coach?
ESPN’s Ric Bucher has some thoughts on that subject: “Anyone believing the Chicago Bulls would promise James he could hire his head coach doesn’t know owner Jerry Reinsdorf or the franchise’s history during Jordan’s era. Jordan, after all, didn’t want Jackson to replace Doug Collins as head coach, despised the deal that sent his good friend Charles Oakley to the Knicks for Bill Cartwright and had legendary contempt for GM Jerry Krause. ‘Jerry will never, ever turn the franchise over to a player,’ said one former Bull. ‘Ever.'”
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Of course, Bucher also added this: “That leaves the Cavs, or anyone else, searching for an unproven coach with the potential to command James’ respect by the sheer force of his personality and basketball IQ — in essence, a young Phil Jackson. And there’s nothing wrong with asking James who that might be. He very well might have someone in mind who makes sense. That’s why there haven’t been any coaching hires by New Jersey or Chicago and why Riley floated the idea that he’d be willing to step in for current coach Erik Spoelstra.”
So the wait might be for LeBron. Or it might be a case of waiting for the right coach. Or it might be that Bulls management is being very, very careful. At any rate, I hope you enjoy waiting on pins and needles. The team might not have a new coach for another month or so.
For what it’s worth, it looks like Doug Collins could end up coaching the Philadelphia 76ers, so I’m guessing he’s off the Bulls’ coaching board for the foreseeable future.
Maurice Cheeks is the perfect fit for Derrick Rose.
Hire the man already!!!
Not to make excuses for Maurice Cheeks, but he sure dealt with a lot of MALCONTENTS and INJURIES during his time in Portland and Philly.
I challenge people to look deeper at the rosters he had.
*** A lot of his so-called “best players” got in trouble with the law or were out for most of the season at several points during his coaching career.
That doesn’t help the win/loss record.
Both Cheeks and Frank would be a HUGE disappointment. I honestly would consider not watching a single game if either of them are hired. I would choose Cheeks over Juice Box Frank but don’t take that as my ringing endorsement. “Frankly” pun intended I would rather have VDN than either of the aforementioned coaches. Neither of those coaches would attract top free agents and the Bulls front office BETTER get at least one good FA. If they manage to screw this up and end up giving a guy like Lee a max deal and hire a juice box guy as coach I am not sure I would want to watch a single game. The front office has screwed up so badly in the past, they are a huge market enticing to both top rated coaches and players. The only thing the front office has going against them is themselves. Paxson has been a worthless piece of excrement as a GM. Why else would he get booed in his own stadium?
If we actually have a chance at LBJ you HIRE THE COACH HE WANTS just to get him here. You can always fire the coach and player will still be under contract. The main point is if you don’t hire who he or top Free Agents would like to see at the very LEAST hire a big name/successful coach such as Scott or Johnson. If the front office screws this off-season up I am not sure how much more I can take. I have been a fan for over 2 decades and it is high time to start competing for a Championship. The front office better pull their heads out of their asses and GET IT DONE!
man, that was a class act.
what a nice guy; i’m glad the girl didn’t get booed off the court.
Nice job Mo!
I’ve never had love for Mo Cheeks, but after watching that video my heart was warmed.
I know Savage smells what we are stepping in… in case anyone missed it, I posted this just after Vinny was fired.
Not to be too insensitive, but I would prefer Anne Frank over Lawrence Frank myself. I bet the guy still wears Spider man whitie tighties.
Other notable Franks I would rather see coaching the Bulls – Frank Zappa, Frank Stallone, Frank Lucas, Frank Sinatra, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Frank “The Big Hurt” Thomas.
ALL I can say Byron Scott is the Bulls guy!!!
The comments about Paxson are retarded…think about what was here before he came in and cleaned house..U must have really enjoyed those Khalid El Amin, Marcus Fizer, Ron Mercer, Eddie Robinson days..f’in stupid!
hopefully we can get phil jackson with Lebron James
What is retarded Trm3 is yours and many others hollow defenses for an under performing GM/President. It has been well over a decade since we won a championship and what do we have to show for it???? A couple first round exits. He gets VERY luck getting the first pick that was in my mind hard to screw up. Before Rose we had a team that no super star wanted to join and a team that did not have a bright future (past the first round). With Rose we have hope but you want to credit Paxson for a luck #1 pick. Just because the front office before him sucked does not mean that he is a good GM or front office man because of that. I can see your are not a man/woman of reason so I doubt your baseless opinion will change either way. Fact is we would be a better team/organization without Paxson’s useless ass. And I hope you saw when he got booed at home over a year ago to see that many fans feel the same way I do. If he screws this up and hires a juice box guy as coach and fails to get a star I can just hear your excuses now.
@Trm3, I re-read my prior post and want to make sure I added a little to it. I know that everyone has their own views and that there is no way to scientifically prove who is right on this one. I was so adamant solely because I believe very strongly that Paxson is the problem not the solution to the Bulls future success. You as a fan have an absolute right to your opinion and I think all opinions within reason should be welcome here. I just felt your critique was a little inadequate given the strong wording of my statement being “retarded”. But its all good, either way I root for the Bulls now and in the future. LETS MAKE OUR TEAM BETTER THIS OFFSEASON!
I don’t like Paxson all that much but he says that Gar Forman is running the show now so we shall see. The problem I have against Forman is he looks like Jerry Krause after having his stomach stapled and I hate that son of a bitch!!!
Yea, the only problem is Gar seems like Pax Version 2 same old philosophy of being mediocre while making the owner and front office money hand over fist. But like you said we will have to see, it’s too early to make a judgment like that.
cheeks would be better than frank. bosh and johnson would be better to go for in FA than LBJ. lebron will wait forever to sign. if we dont get him, we will have nuthin
What the hell? Cheeks and Frank r in the race to be the Bulls new head coach? r u F***ing kidding me??? The Bulls should hire a coach that fix well with their point guard system in case Lebron James does not sign with the Bulls, which mostly likely he won’t like: Byron Scott or Rick Adelman is a perfect fix with the Bulls new updated roster.
I agree with Garcia….
I agree totally think it should be Scott without a doubt. I have no idea why Bulls front office is totally ignoring him. That is why the front office is out right frustrating. They seem to close doors on things very quickly, why wouldn’t a team looking for the best coach available not give Scott, Avery, and Adelman interviews?? Makes no sense to me at all.
I agree as well, our front office is stupid as hell with choosing new head coaches. It’s like saying: Lebron James and D. Wadre are overrated lol
I don’t get it as well, why don’t the Bulls also give a chance to: Scott, Avery, and Adelman for coaching interviews??? it makes no sense to me as well their are the best coaches you can get right now!
D. Wade*