The Chicago Bulls want to make trade runs at Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony this summer, but the team could have to tabs on their own head coach Tom Thibodeau, as Bill Simmons from ESPN writes that the Memphis Grizzlies may clean house this offseason to hire John Calipari, or they could try and work a trade for Thibodeau, giving him team president and head coach power like Stan Van Gundy in Detroit.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the team will be making a "substantial offer" to John Calipari and they also will be going after Thibodeau. While there have been no official reports of this move, Simmons wrote that if the Grizzlies clean house this summer, which they have started to do, the team could make a run at Thibodeau to be their next head coach. The team was not satisfied with what they did this past season after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round and now they could try to swing a trade for Thibodeau.
The Clippers pulled off the Doc Rivers move last season and this would be similar to that, except the Grizzlies likely would give Thibodeau full control over basketball operations. Simmons later wrote that if Thibodeau was traded, the team would go after Fred Hoiberg as their next head coach.
The Bulls have a number of moves they could look to make this offseason, including signing Carmelo Anthony or trading for Kevin Love. No matter what the team decides to do, they likely will have to trade or use the amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer, as he is making way too much money for any of those deals to go down. The Bulls have Boozer in on a $15 million salary this season and he is 32 years old and while he has been a productive player, this was his worst season for the team and that could mean he is on his way out of town most likely.
While many think Thibodeau leaving is not happening, people in Chicago know that Thibodeau has clashed with the front office at times and that could lead to a major shakeup in Chi-town as well. According to ESPN.com, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger is on the hot seat and now that Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien and assistant general manager Stu Lash are gone after being dismissed by owner Robert Pera and that could mean the team goes after Thibodeau next.
The NY Knicks and LA Lakers were reportedly interested in Thibodeau as well and depending on how these situations play out, he could be in the mix for those jobs. Thibodeau has led the Bulls to sustained success without Derrick Rose and one can only wonder what he could do with a fully healthy roster and control of the team. Simmons writes that Thibodeau has had his problems in the past with the Bulls front office and that he could be enticed to take the offer if he gets the chance to run basketball operations, which would be in line with some of the other top head coaches. Clearly in NY or LA that would not be the case and that could affect how Thibodeau views the situation and if he asks the Bulls to listen to any offers.