It's becoming more of a lose-lose proposition for the Chicago Bulls and coach Tom Thibodeau.
The Sporting News is reporting that the Chicago Bulls have told some of their players that Thibodeau will not return as coach in 2015-16 according to two anonymous sources.
Chicago Bulls ready to fire Tom Thibodeau if Fred Hoiberg agrees to become their coach?
Thibodeau has two years remaining on his contract, and the Bulls still would owe him $9 million. The Sporting News added that Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf doesn't like having to pay coaches who aren't working for him.
The Bulls either would have to fire Thibodeau or trade him to another team to get compensation. It could be a ploy by Chicago to signal executives in New Orleans, Orlando and Denver that Thibodeau still would be available in a trade.
Tom Thibodeau says he's not quitting in Chicago; it's up to the Bulls whether to keep him
But The Sporting News suggests that Thibodeau's in-limbo status has had a hand in delaying the other teams looking for coaches from going after candidates until they learn about Thibodeau's status.
"There has been a little more slowness to the process," one person told Sporting News, requesting anonymity in the sensitive situation. "You have one big name out there who is not really out there yet, and so there has not been the big flood of interviews you would expect to see. It's been a holding pattern."
ESPN reported earlier in the day that the Bulls were learning toward firing Thibodeau, who has a .647 winning percentage with the franchise since the 2010-11 season. He took the bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals that season but has not been past the second round since.
"The Chicago Bulls are giving increasing consideration to firing coach Tom Thibodeau and absorbing the corresponding financial hit, according to league sources," according to ESPN.
"Sources told ESPN.com that the prospect of Chicago simply terminating its highly successful but often contentious relationship with Thibodeau, as the days pass, is growing in likelihood, even with nearly $9 million left on the coach's contract over the next two seasons."
But if the Bulls are hoping to land a college coach, such as Iowa State' Fred Hoiberg, their treatment of Thibodeau may make him or any other college candidate think twice about leaving for the Windy City.
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