According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “Though no official announcement will come until after [Tom] Thibodeau serves as associate head coach for the Celtics in the NBA Finals, multiple sources confirmed the longtime assistant accepted a three-year deal worth roughly $6.5 million.”
Honestly? I am stoked.
I think this is a fantastic choice and a great hire for the Bulls. Thibodeau may not have NBA head coaching experience per se, but he’s got about as much pedigree as any non-head man could possibly have. Check out his profile on NBA.com. Tibbs has 18 years of NBA coaching experience with various organizations, has helped his team finish in the NBA’s Top 10 in team defense 14 times, has coached over 100 NBA playoff games (including this season), and made a trip to the 1999 NBA Finals as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks.
As far as rookie head coaches go, he’s sort of — no offense — the anti-Vinny Del Negro.
By all accounts, Thibodeau is a workaholic and basketball junkie who is well-liked and highly respected by his peers and (more importantly) his players. Basically, there’s nothing not to like about this move. Well, unless you’re a member of the Boston Celtics, that is.
But for the Bulls, this is a great first step in one of the biggest summers in franchise history. Now the front office can focus all of their energy on bringing in the right free agents.
I agree with you Matt. This is definitely a great hire for the Bulls and something we can all be excited about as fans. I believe he’ll be a great influence on the team and we should see a definite improvement with the talent that is already on the roster.
Now if/when we add a key free agent……
I’ll be STOKED, if a few more things happen.
#1.) They hire Mo Cheeks as Associate Head Coach.
#2.) They hire Ron Adams as an Assistant Coach.
#3.) They hire Scottie Pippen as a Special Assistant.
#4.) They sign either DWADE or LBJ via free-agency.
#5.) They do a S&T for Chris Bosh.
#6.) They move up in the draft and get PAUL GEORGE.
* Hinrich to Indiana could be a good trade up to #10.
The NBA is a PLAYER’S LEAGUE.
Therefore, a coach is only as good as the players he has on his roster and the coaches he has to help develop those players.
Unless those steps above get done, this hire will go down as a MISTAKE.
Lost in all of this is the fact that He just hired an agent from World Wide Wes’s agency. LBJ is with the same agency……kinda funny how that played out and how last minute this seems to be by the Bulls.
With WWW being connected to so many people throughout the league it isn’t to surprising that Thibs has some ties to him but it’s still a good sign. I also saw over at RealGM that Yahoo is reporting WWW is telling people that LeBron is leaning heavily in Chicago’s favor, lets keep our fingers crossed that information is accurate.
Re: ctw724
Mr. Happy strikes again!
CTW… let’t not say things we can’t take back. You’re saying if we sign LeBron, don’t get Bosh, but still win multiple championships, this coaching sign is a mistake? What if we land David Lee and Joe Johnson, and win a championship in the next few years… is it still a mistake? Those are some pretty high demands set by you. I am not so sure we absolutely need LBJ/Wade AND Bosh for TT to be a good sign
Lebron James can care less if Tom is from the World Wide Wes’s agency or not. He still would rather stay with Cleveland. (that is just my opinion again)
As for Tom Thibodeau as the Bulls new head coach, hopefully the Bulls GM’s get him an excellent offensive assistant coach with players that can balance out their team.
I am just worry that they mate fall in love with to much defense and less offense if they sign only defensive players like Ben Wallace for example lol. Eventually they will start struggling again to score more points, just like they did in the past with Scott Skiles in 07-08 when they did not make the playoffs.
Sure their were some key injuries with Deng and other players but, that does not explain the fact why couldn’t they score more points with a talented roster they had in 07-08.
Wes is one of his top advisers in his camp. I don’t think it will hurt the Bulls chances “if” he leaves Cleveland. I know some people can’t think positive but after watching that Larry King interview, I don’t think he really plans on staying in Cleveland. That team is not going to get anyone to do a sign and trade for top talent. Why would other teams shoot themselves in the foot to help keep LBJ in Cleveland?
It is a fact that the only money they have is to resign LBJ and then that leaves I think about 11 million to sign mid level players. They have shown they cannot win with mid level type talent.
A defensive minded coach is exactly what the Bulls need. Especially D.Rose. Defense is the biggest weakness in his game. Rondos was at one time as well. I hope Tom can make him a lock down defender in the next two years. Noah will benefit and so will Lebron if he comes.
Sounds like Russia to me. Same agent, same this same that, let’s try to lure in everyone if possible. It’s not really a collective deal, it’s a more of a case of you know me and I know you so we will go there or here because I know the guy we would work for and we will get the x amount of money. I would be shocked if the Bulls don’t get Lebron in July, really shocked, seeing the recent developments, and it seems like front offices are hiding something and just playing out the drama for the fans. I have been spewing pessimism since the Bulls lost the series to the Cavs, because a lot of people have been drooling over Queen James and how he is the greatest person that ever lived. I will repeat my older comments, Lebron is not the only free agent available right now. Seriously, it’s not life or death if Lebron doesn’t come here. Get that through your thick heads, some of you bandwagon Lebron fans, lol. I love how some say oh we have such a great young core and this and that, yes we do have a nice core, but the same people also suggest we go get Lebron, Bosh and Wade at the same time. Sounds like that’s a nice core isnt’ it? Where are some of the old core gonna go if that happens? If Noah, Deng, Gibson and Hinrich are traded with money for the new players, what would you say then? Woops, the core that we have been gloating about just left town. OK, enough from me.
People seem to forget that the MJ Bulls had 2 1st team all-defensive players (Jordan & Pippen) and 2 2nd team all-defensive players (Grant & Cartwright) during their first 3-peat. That team was built on defense to create the offense.
Just want to state that I don’t ‘hate’ Lebron. I have no idea what kind of person he is, but on the basketball court and the way he carries himself, he seems like a real stuck up jerk. He did an interview in New York and he cheekily said he wants a championship, rather than a label of being called the best ever. Yeah, right. I don’t respect his attitude. I wonder how Noah will get along with him, should he play for the Bulls. Once again, just my personal feelings. I choose Kobe, if I had to choose. I just hope we get a good deal and we get a championship. The only way you do that is if everyone contributes and plays the way they are supposed to, i.e. Bulls 1991-98.
I hope we don’t get Chris Bosh. I think the guy is Pu$$y and if he quit on the Bulls like he quit o the Raptors Noah would pimp slap him. Fu## Wade!! I hope they body check him into the press table for the shit he was talking about the Bulls. I hope that the Bulls sign LBJ outright. I also hope we trade Hinrich to the Lakers and then sign Ray Allen to a two year deal with a option for three.
I don’t know if we should sell the farm for a PF because Taj is going into his second year after building a solid foundation in his first year. Noah is only going to get better on offense and he works hard. If for some reason the Bulls find the need to try and get David Lee then so be it.
Whatever happens it is exciting and I cannot wait to see how it all plays out. As long as we get better and keep building towards a title I will be happy.
Great Hire!!! Exceptional basketball mind, highly respected, workaholic, players love him, plenty of experience, record of success, solid demeanor… heck, he even has a good coach name! Perfect Choice. Having Cheeks too would be sweet. July 1st is coming. The nest is looking very comfortable. Someone is going to be smart. Cant wait 2 see who!!!
I agree with many things said on here, but I have one thing to add: in Chicago, TT stands for Tyrus Thomas NO LONGER! I am ecstatic! I already feel like Thibodeau is boosting my expectations to an unreasonable level!
I agree with bullsfan22, it is not the end of the world if the Bulls do not sign Lebron James this summer. Their are other good talented players out their this summer like: Chris Bosh, David Lee, Rudy Gay, Ray Allen and other that fix well with Rose and Noah.
Bill Rudy Gay is a Restricted Free Agent and according to the Grizzles Blog the club is planning on matching any offers made to him. So you and DJ can give up on that dream now……..In other news World Wide Wes has been telling everyone he thinks Lebron is going to sign with the Bulls. So if that happens I guess you and DJ will be telling everyone that you knew it all along…
No Lawrence Frank!?! I just peed myself a little bit. Thibs is solid with roots coaching at Harvard for 4 years – I remember someone called him a ‘meathead.’ From what JVG says, the guy knows his offense just as much as defense – he has just specialized in defense for the Celtics these past 3-4 years.
Celtics fan here, if Doc Rivers somehow retires after the season and we already lost Tibs to the bulls I’ll be very upset. Guy seems to to be a fantastic coach, Celtics are gonna really miss him.
I like the hire. Especially when I heard Juice Box Frank’s name brought up. Thibs has a ton of experience including coaching on the championship level and has the respect of the super star players he coaches. I agree with the statement above that good D helps make offense especially transition offense much easier. They got him for pretty cheap and I think he will prove to be and outstanding NBA head coach. Great hire!
Sorry what was that Max? I still have faith just like you do with James that the Bulls can land Rudy Gay this summer as plan B, even if he is a Restricted Free Agent that does not matter (Hint: like I keep saying thousand times, they can do a sign and trade deal for Deng and J.J for Gay dumb ass). I still think that the Lebron James plan will fail and if I am wrong then I will be happy fan just like everyone else and it is not the end of the world if we do not get Lebron James this summer. Their are lots of talented players out their that fix well with D. Rose and Noah. (So get off L.J nuts.)
Your comment Max:
So if that happens I guess you and DJ will be telling everyone that you knew it all along…
The only thing I will be saying Max is that: “I told you so that Lebron James was not coming to Chicago this summer”!