Tom Thibodeau Has Support From Leon Rose, Jalen Brunson To Return As Head Coach

[RealGM Wiretap]

Tom Thibodeau has the backing of Leon Rose to return as the head coach of the New York Knicks next season, according to James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz of The Athletic.

Thibodeau also has buy-in from Jalen Brunson, who added that he wants the Knicks to keep the core together for next year.

Thibodeau and the coaching staff were cautious about their futures heading into the playoffs and understood that an early exit against the Pistons or Celtics could result in a change.

The coaching staff also had tension with Mikal Bridges this season after Bridges said he was playing too many minutes. 

Via James L. Edwards III & Fred Katz/The Athletic

[pushfloater]

Let go of Toppin for no reason. Look at him now off the bench. Thibs has reached his ceiling… they need somebody to make the offense more dynamic and less Brunson heavy. And of coarse better rotations involving the nonstarters.

[FeatheryTouch]

Let go of Toppin for no reason. Look at him now off the bench. Thibs has reached his ceiling… they need somebody to make the offense more dynamic and less Brunson heavy. And of coarse better rotations involving the nonstarters.

Depending on your viewpoint Thibs may or may not deserve some criticism for the Knicks losing the series, but getting rid of Toppin falls on the GM(Rose) and not the coach unless you have information that Thibs specifically asked management to get rid of him.

[pushfloater]

Let go of Toppin for no reason. Look at him now off the bench. Thibs has reached his ceiling… they need somebody to make the offense more dynamic and less Brunson heavy. And of coarse better rotations involving the nonstarters.

Depending on your viewpoint Thibs may or may not deserve some criticism for the Knicks losing the series, but getting rid of Toppin falls on the GM(Rose) and not the coach unless you have information that Thibs specifically asked management to get rid of him.

Thibs definitely played a big role. Toppin was the 8th pick but barely got minutes, even when he played well. They clashed in front of everybody after that Miami series, and the Knicks shipped him off for two 2nds. The real issue is Thibs doesn’t trust guys outside his starting five. It’s hard to get better if you barely play.

[3ptLion]

His ceiling though, was taking this squad to the ECF.

Cavs, Boston, OKC, & the Pacers all have cores with one or more years together before this season. The Knicks on the other hand have two new starters.

Plus, Brunson and KAT are the team's scorers and neither is a good defender, in fact KAT is typically close to awful. There are only so many opportunities to swap out bad defenders for real defenders then swap back. Making it to the Conference Finals with such huge holes for offenses to pick apart is a pretty high ceiling. This team over achieved.

Lastly, when you want a new car you don't sell the old one and walk to the dealer. You have to have a replacement; or you are going to walk. Who is going to replace Thibs? If you are a lottery team you might roll the dice on an assistant coach somewhere or a rookie. If you have a team that went to a CF, has two All-NBA players you have to lateralize or improve, I can't think of what candidate is available. Who would that be?

Let go of Toppin for no reason. Look at him now off the bench. Thibs has reached his ceiling… they need somebody to make the offense more dynamic and less Brunson heavy. And of coarse better rotations involving the nonstarters.

[CaHgO]

His ceiling though, was taking this squad to the ECF.

Cavs, Boston, OKC, & the Pacers all have cores with one or more years together before this season. The Knicks on the other hand have two new starters.

Plus, Brunson and KAT are the team's scorers and neither is a good defender, in fact KAT is typically close to awful. There are only so many opportunities to swap out bad defenders for real defenders then swap back. Making it to the Conference Finals with such huge holes for offenses to pick apart is a pretty high ceiling. This team over achieved.

Lastly, when you want a new car you don't sell the old one and walk to the dealer. You have to have a replacement; or you are going to walk. Who is going to replace Thibs? If you are a lottery team you might roll the dice on an assistant coach somewhere or a rookie. If you have a team that went to a CF, has two All-NBA players you have to lateralize or improve, I can't think of what candidate is available. Who would that be?

Let go of Toppin for no reason. Look at him now off the bench. Thibs has reached his ceiling… they need somebody to make the offense more dynamic and less Brunson heavy. And of coarse better rotations involving the nonstarters.

I'm not a big fan of his, but I think Budenholzer might be a good fit and do a good job with the current roster.