Let's Talk About These Tom Thibodeau To The Knicks Rumors

(Source) If you’re into looking for potential coaches for the New York Knicks, you’re advised to spend some time scouting the visitors bench Wednesday night.

Because …

While there’s no such thing as a safe bet in the unpredictable world of James Dolan, suggesting he’ll try someday to import Tom Thibodeau from Chicago to coach the Knicks is, at the very least, in the right zip code.

In the short term, rumbles in NBA coaching circles predictably send you in every direction, since these are the Knicks and since this is most definitely Dolan’s show as their enigmatic owner. You’re hearing a lot lately about how momentum seems to be building for Allan Houston to take over as Mike Woodson’s interim successor — despite the fact Houston has zero coaching experience — if only to ask Houston to get a banged-up team that looks like it’s checking out to play a lot harder than it has lately. Yet you likewise hear cautions from veteran Knicks-watchers about how Dolan stuck with Don Chaney and Isiah Thomas far longer than outsiders ever envisioned and how he could well do the same with Woody.

So this rumor has been floating around the past day. The Knicks silently courting Thibs and possibly going to make a move at him once the season is over. So let’s break this down in a rational approach. Why it could happen, why it won’t happen, and what does it mean for the Bulls.

Why Thibs Could Potentially Become The New Knicks Head Coach

1. The Bulls are a mess right now.

They are officially in NBA purgatory. With the Derrick Rose injury the team is not good enough to compete for a title and not bad enough to be at the bottom of the standings. At this point, whether we want to admit it or not, D-Rose is nothing more than a question mark. You can’t say, when he gets back the Bulls will compete again because we just have no clue. The clock has officially been restarted. Thibs leaving could simply be a wrong place wrong time situation, where the timing was just never quite right, sucks to say it but it could be the truth.

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2. Money

Don’t be a fan that doesn’t think money is the most important thing to many people. Everyone wants more money. Everyone. Thibs gets paid roughly 4.3 million a year. If the Knicks pay him Doc River or Poppovich money (not saying they should or will) roughly 1.5-2.5 mil more a year, he’ll probably take it. This is just being as realistic as possible. Everything has a price, don’t forget that.

3. Ties to the Knicks

Thibs coached for the Knicks from ’96-’03, he has ties to the area. He also doesn’t have a wife and kids which makes a move easier.

4. The spotlight

Being the guy to “save the knicks” so to speak has allure. Bringing basketball back in New York would be a big deal. Similar to Theo taking the Cubs job, there is a certain challenge there that is wholly unique to the Knicks.

Why Thibs Will Not Leave The Bulls

1. Loyalty

Not Thibs loyalty to the Bulls, Jerry Reinsdorf’s loyalty to every single employee he has ever had. Reinsdorf is without a doubt the most loyal owner in sports. If you’re in his crew you’re in it for life. Thibs knows this. He knows that the Bulls may be on the cheaper side when it comes to player acquisition and coaching contracts, the latter because Reinsdorf got burned paying Skiles and VDN to not coach, but he also knows Reinsdorf is ten times the owner James Dolan is. Do you want to go to New York and be constantly looking over your shoulder or stay in Chicago and know you have the trust and ability to do things your way.

2. On Court Talent

The Bulls have more on court talent, this is a fact. They will probably trade Deng and amnesty Boozer and they will still be in a better position than the Knicks who are paying two superstars, Melo and Amare, way too much money to finish with the 3-6 seed in the East every year. They’re in purgatory ten times worse than the Bulls right now.

3. Melo 

I just can’t see Thibs coaching a guy like Melo. Maybe I’m being harsh on him but when I watch Melo play he does two things that would drive Thibs BANANAS. 1) He takes possessions off on Defense and 2) He takes the team out of the game on Offense by holding the ball. Even with D-Rose’s injury concerns I think Thibs would much rather coach a guy like that than a guy like Melo.

4. Media

Newsflash, Thibs hates the media. He is cut from the Poppovich cloth. Talking to the media and sharing information about the team is probably his least favorite thing in the world. Very difficult to not play nice with the media in New York.

So there it is. If anyone is saying there is no chance Thibs walks away from the Bulls then they’re a liar and/or dumb. There is a chance, there is ALWAYS a chance a player or coach takes a different opportunity. But in my honest assessment the chance is slim. He has a ton of unfinished business with the Bulls and D-Rose. 10% he leaves, 90% he stays, hope I’m right.