Expect Tom Thibodeau to be the next coach of the Chicago Bulls.

[nickagneta]

Per a story in the Chicago Tribune, expect Boston Celtics Associate Head Coach to be offered and to accept the position of Head Coach for the Chicago Bulls sometime next week.

Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf spent part of Friday at the Berto Center, where sources said positive discussions about Tom Thibodeau continued with executive vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman and that a formal offer is expected shortly.

The Celtics' associate head coach quickly emerged as the front-runner to succeed Vinny Del Negro as Bulls coach after Paxson and Forman flew to Los Angeles for a Wednesday night interview on the eve of the NBA Finals.

Two sources familiar with the Bulls' thinking continued to paint the situation as Thibodeau's job to lose and that an offer is expected to come this weekend.

Former Nets coach Lawrence Frank has been advised he's no longer a candidate.

Link

Given that Cleveland just had GM Danny Ferry leave the organization, the Cavs as a landing spot for Chicago is starting to look better and better. Looks like it could be a very successful landing spots for Coach Thibs if he does take the job. Good for him, he's earned it. Chicago is a great city and he could continue a rich, growing basketball tradition there.

[Mike-Dub]

Best of luck to Tom and I feel that Chicago would be a great place for him to coach.

Wish the teams could do this after the finals though. 

[GreenFaith1819]

wow - thanks for post, Nick. Sad (if this happens) to see Tom Thibedeau go. I hope we can send him out with Banner 18!

He will do well, if he goes. I wish him the best whatever he does.

[hpantazo]

does this mean the bulls are not going after lebron anymore? Because I thought Lebron wanted to pick his coach, and I don't think Thibs was at the top of his list.

[Who]

does this mean the bulls are not going after lebron anymore? Because I thought Lebron wanted to pick his coach, and I don't think Thibs was at the top of his list.

Yeah, I think Thibodeau hurts their free agency chances too.

I am surprised Chicago have chosen to go with another inexperienced Head Coach.

It is a great job though and they should still get a good player in free agency (Bosh/Amare/Boozer/JJ/Gay) ... someone who is good enough to make the Bulls a major player come playoff time next season. Great opportunity for Thibs.

[wiley]

Good luck to Tibs.  I hope he's got the inner strength, the kind of thing Doc and Jim O'Brien have in abundance, to get the respect of his players....

[LB3533]

This doesn't look good for us next year...sadly.

We could be losing Ray, Doc, and Tommy T.

[hpantazo]

This doesn't look good for us next year...sadly.

We could be losing Ray, Doc, and Tommy T.

if we lose those guys, Paul will leave too.

[Fafnir]

This doesn't look good for us next year...sadly.

We could be losing Ray, Doc, and Tommy T.

if we lose those guys, Paul will leave too.

I don't think that will happen. Paul will have to make his decision about his player option before Ray's FA is going to be settled.

Unless the C's renounce him right away (or say that they have no interest in resigning him), which would be pretty stupid.

[Jon]

This doesn't look good for us next year...sadly.

We could be losing Ray, Doc, and Tommy T.

if we lose those guys, Paul will leave too.

Ray isn't going anywhere.  No one will offer him more than the MLE.

As for Tom Thibodeau, while I think he's a fantastic defensive guru, do people think KG and Co. are just going to forget how to play defense when he walks out the door?  I think we owe Thibs a lot for what he's done here, but I'm not sure how much we lose at this point since all the players have likely learned most of what he has to teach.  

As for Doc, let's keep in mind that he's under contract for one more year and that the C's are in the Finals.  While I can very much see him walking away after next season, I really don't think it happens before then.  

[Drucci]

It's done but still not official :

The Bulls have a new coach, Tom Thibodeau of the Boston Celtics.

Thibodeau, according to reliable sources, agreed to a three-year deal early Saturday afternoon to become the 15th (not counting interims) coach in Bulls history.

Thibodeau currently is the associate head coach of the Celtics, who are down 1-0 in the NBA Finals.

NBA rules do not allow the announcement of significant transactions like a trade or coaching hire during the Finals so as not to distract from the league’s premier annual event.

I know. Apparently this memo never reached LeBron James.

So the Bulls declined comment.

But reliable sources close to Thibodeau confirmed that Thibodeau received the three-year offer worth some $6.5 million late Friday and agreed early Saturday.

Sources also said Thibodeau is trying to persuade Oklahoma City Thunder assistants Mo Cheeks and Ron Adams to join his staff in Chicago with holdover Pete Myers.

Thibodeau also is not expected to comment until the Finals concludes and under rules of the Celtics assistant coaches cannot do interviews with the media.

Source

I'm glad for Thibodeau, he deserved to be a head coach for years and he will have a good core to begin his career as a head coach.

It sucks for us but the future was kind of blur anyway.

[PAOBoston]

if this is true, this is great for him (stinks for us lol). i'm happy for the guy. he's been a solid member on the c's staff and he finally gets a head coaching gig somewhere.

we always hear about the "perfect" spot/situation to be in. i dont think it can get any better for coach thibs anywhere else other than chicago. rose, noah, deng, and possible a max free agent? talk about a perfect situation.

i wish him the best of luck. he definitely earned/deserved it.

[celticinorlando]

well deserved

[RJ87]

This doesn't look good for us next year...sadly.

We could be losing Ray, Doc, and Tommy T.

if we lose those guys, Paul will leave too.

Ray isn't going anywhere.  No one will offer him more than the MLE.

You're nuts.
I mean that in the nicest of ways.

I don't think Chicago hiring Thibs is gonna hurt them in free agency. Yea, he's an assistant but he's helped his team to the finals twice in the last 3 years. That's experience all in itself.

The key for Thibs is to hire a strong offensive mind, like Doc did with bringing him in for defense.

[Andy Jick]

I like Thibs in the 2nd chair, but not as the head man.  I'll bet my left arm he doesn't make it through this contract.  His game management skills are lacking - every time he's filled in for Doc he shows his lack of experience, most notably in his substitution patterns and late-game management decisions.