NBA rumors have been swirling for weeks suggesting Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is on thin ice. Actually, the rumors have been lingering for far longer than that, but where there is smoke there is often fire.
Given that, it seems completely possible the relationship between Thibs and general manager Gar Forman is beyond repair and the head coach could be fired once the Chicago Bulls season comes to an end.
If that is the case, it’s possible former basketball player and current Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg could be named the Chicago Bulls head coach.
Per ESPN’s Marc Stein:
It is widely — and I mean widely — believed throughout the league that Fred Hoiberg, whose Iowa State Cyclones were bounced in the first round of the tournament Thursday by UAB, is the top choice of the Chicago Bulls to replace Tom Thibodeau in the event that the Bulls and Thibs indeed part company at season’s end.
While Hoiberg has never coached at the NBA level, he’s done very well at the college basketball level and appears to be beloved by his players – something not generally thought of when you run down Tom Thibodeau’s list of accomplishments. That has to be music to the ears of players like Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah.
For now it appears to be nothing more than a rumor, but a strong one at that.
