Thibodeau: Report Of Early Deal To Coach Knicks Is 'Ridiculous'

[RealGM Wiretap]

Tom Thibodeau responded on Sunday to a report by the New York Daily News that stated there is word the head coach could already have an agreement to become the Knicks' next coach.

"That stuff is ridiculous," Thibodeau said. "First I was being traded. … I couldn't care less about that stuff. I love the fighting spirit of this team. That's all I'm thinking about.''

Thibodeau is in the first season of a four-year contract with the Chicago Bulls.

Via K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

[TheBallDoLie]

Ridiculous isn't even the word. How can the Knicks talk to him anyway? He is under contract so wouldn't it be illegal for New York to even discuss this with him.

[Gunntros]

Ridiculous isn't even the word. How can the Knicks talk to him anyway? He is under contract so wouldn't it be illegal for New York to even discuss this with him.

I think it would have been legal to do a 'trade' like the doc rivers one before this season. For that trade, the Celtics released rivers from his contract and l.a. signed him to the same contract while the clips gave their 2015 first (i think).

Either way, I don't think there are any good coaches who are itching to go to the knicks, because they seem like a long term mess right now, while Chicago actually has assets and draft picks (and three from other teams in the next two years).

[Championships]

Ridiculous isn't even the word. How can the Knicks talk to him anyway? He is under contract so wouldn't it be illegal for New York to even discuss this with him.

I think it would have been legal to do a 'trade' like the doc rivers one before this season. For that trade, the Celtics released rivers from his contract and l.a. signed him to the same contract while the clips gave their 2015 first (i think).

Either way, I don't think there are any good coaches who are itching to go to the knicks, because they seem like a long term mess right now, while Chicago actually has assets and draft picks (and three from other teams in the next two years).

Both teams are in the position they're in now because of injuries.

[The59Sound]

Ridiculous isn't even the word. How can the Knicks talk to him anyway? He is under contract so wouldn't it be illegal for New York to even discuss this with him.

I think it would have been legal to do a 'trade' like the doc rivers one before this season. For that trade, the Celtics released rivers from his contract and l.a. signed him to the same contract while the clips gave their 2015 first (i think).

Either way, I don't think there are any good coaches who are itching to go to the knicks, because they seem like a long term mess right now, while Chicago actually has assets and draft picks (and three from other teams in the next two years).

Both teams are in the position they're in now because of injuries.

The Knicks are in the position they're in now because they suck and Carmelo is not a legitimate #1 option on an elite team.

[MalcolmXing]

Ridiculous isn't even the word. How can the Knicks talk to him anyway? He is under contract so wouldn't it be illegal for New York to even discuss this with him.

I think it would have been legal to do a 'trade' like the doc rivers one before this season. For that trade, the Celtics released rivers from his contract and l.a. signed him to the same contract while the clips gave their 2015 first (i think).

Either way, I don't think there are any good coaches who are itching to go to the knicks, because they seem like a long term mess right now, while Chicago actually has assets and draft picks (and three from other teams in the next two years).

Both teams are in the position they're in now because of injuries.

We lost our #1 & 2 option, our 3rd option in Jimmy has been consistently injured..what's the Knicks excuse?

[br7knicks]

We lost our #1 & 2 option, our 3rd option in Jimmy has been consistently injured..what's the Knicks excuse?

Jimmy Dolan.

[Pukovnik]

Tom Thibodeau is the best coach in the NBA, what he managed to bring out of this wounded Chicago Bulls the last two seasons is nothing short of incredible. In times like this you can see a true quality in a coach.

[TheBallDoLie]

Ridiculous isn't even the word. How can the Knicks talk to him anyway? He is under contract so wouldn't it be illegal for New York to even discuss this with him.

I think it would have been legal to do a 'trade' like the doc rivers one before this season. For that trade, the Celtics released rivers from his contract and l.a. signed him to the same contract while the clips gave their 2015 first (i think).

Either way, I don't think there are any good coaches who are itching to go to the knicks, because they seem like a long term mess right now, while Chicago actually has assets and draft picks (and three from other teams in the next two years).

I know trades are legal, but it said Thibodeau had an agreement to become head coach of the New York Knicks. How can he agree to that when he is under contract was my point. But since this is all BS, it doesn't matter.

[themeccamsg]

Every party usually denies like this when it's true. Thibodeau tried a bit too hard there to deny it, so there is a good chance he is in conversations with the Knicks to take over as head coach but someone leaked the conversations. Understandable he would feel this way, because he wouldn't want the rumor to become so big that the Knicks decide not to hire him anymore, which wouldn't be what he wants.

Props to the Knicks for being proactive about improving the team. This is the right start and will hopefully help convince Carmelo to stay, and another free agent to sign here.

[TheBallDoLie]

Every party usually denies like this when it's true. Thibodeau tried a bit too hard there to deny it, so there is a good chance he is in conversations with the Knicks to take over as head coach but someone leaked the conversations. Understandable he would feel this way, because he wouldn't want the rumor to become so big that the Knicks decide not to hire him anymore, which wouldn't be what he wants.

Props to the Knicks for being proactive about improving the team. This is the right start and will hopefully help convince Carmelo to stay, and another free agent to sign here.

You actually believe this? If Thibodeau really wanted to leave Chicago he would have never signed an extensiona year ago.. He could have easily received just as much money if not more else where if he wanted cause he has had a ton of success early on in his career.

But let's say Thibodeau wants to leave cause of recent injuries to Rose or for whatever reason had a fallen out with the front office, why New York? New York's situation isn't any better? Some would argue it's worse. Not to mention New York's best player can opt out and leave next year. While Chicago best players(Noah/Rose) are locked up. Chicago also has a ton of draft picks coming up, not only from the Deng trade but they still own a protected 1st round pick from Charlotte. So their situation is looking up more than New Yorks.

And someone might have to correct me but New York can not have discussions with Thibodeau without Chicago's consent. Thibodeau is under contract with Chicago so any discussion with New York would be illegal. Only way this is true is if Chicago's front office is trying to trade Thibodeau, and THEY have been in discussion with New York. But that is not confirmed and unlikely true.

This all seems to be a big load of you know what...

[themeccamsg]

Every party usually denies like this when it's true. Thibodeau tried a bit too hard there to deny it, so there is a good chance he is in conversations with the Knicks to take over as head coach but someone leaked the conversations. Understandable he would feel this way, because he wouldn't want the rumor to become so big that the Knicks decide not to hire him anymore, which wouldn't be what he wants.

Props to the Knicks for being proactive about improving the team. This is the right start and will hopefully help convince Carmelo to stay, and another free agent to sign here.

You actually believe this? If Thibodeau really wanted to leave Chicago he would have never signed an extensiona year ago.. He could have easily received just as much money if not more else where if he wanted cause he has had a ton of success early on in his career.

But let's say Thibodeau wants to leave cause of recent injuries to Rose or for whatever reason had a fallen out with the front office, why New York? New York's situation isn't any better? Some would argue it's worse. Not to mention New York's best player can opt out and leave next year. While Chicago best players(Noah/Rose) are locked up. Chicago also has a ton of draft picks coming up, not only from the Deng trade but they still own a protected 1st round pick from Charlotte. So their situation is looking up more than New Yorks.

And someone might have to correct me but New York can not have discussions with Thibodeau without Chicago's consent. Thibodeau is under contract with Chicago so any discussion with New York would be illegal. Only way this is true is if Chicago's front office is trying to trade Thibodeau, and THEY have been in discussion with New York. But that is not confirmed and unlikely true.

This all seems to be a big load of you know what...

Wrong, that rule only applies to players under the CBA (anti-tampering). Coaches are like any other employee of any other company, where they are free to discuss employment with another company, but will have to come to some agreement to end a contract.

DRose is done. He will either be too injured to play again or will demand a trade out of anger for the rebuild. Bulls don't have a "ton of draft picks" - they basically have 3 second rounders from the Deng trade, which are not worth much, and Charlotte and Chicago's draft picks are nothing spectacular. The Bulls still have the albatross contract of Boozer, have no good SF now that Deng is gone. Noah has not reached his potential, Gibson is essentially a good bench player, and people keep boosting Butler and Dunleavy like they have the potential to be huge stars. They are, at most, average starters or 6th men. The owners never want to spend despite being a big market. This to me is enough evidence to say the Bulls will not contend in the near future. At least with the Knicks, superstars have shown they want to play there and Dolan is willing to spend when it comes time go into the tax and add the final pieces to a championship winning roster.

[your boy]

Every party usually denies like this when it's true. Thibodeau tried a bit too hard there to deny it, so there is a good chance he is in conversations with the Knicks to take over as head coach but someone leaked the conversations. Understandable he would feel this way, because he wouldn't want the rumor to become so big that the Knicks decide not to hire him anymore, which wouldn't be what he wants.

Props to the Knicks for being proactive about improving the team. This is the right start and will hopefully help convince Carmelo to stay, and another free agent to sign here.

You actually believe this? If Thibodeau really wanted to leave Chicago he would have never signed an extensiona year ago.. He could have easily received just as much money if not more else where if he wanted cause he has had a ton of success early on in his career.

But let's say Thibodeau wants to leave cause of recent injuries to Rose or for whatever reason had a fallen out with the front office, why New York? New York's situation isn't any better? Some would argue it's worse. Not to mention New York's best player can opt out and leave next year. While Chicago best players(Noah/Rose) are locked up. Chicago also has a ton of draft picks coming up, not only from the Deng trade but they still own a protected 1st round pick from Charlotte. So their situation is looking up more than New Yorks.

And someone might have to correct me but New York can not have discussions with Thibodeau without Chicago's consent. Thibodeau is under contract with Chicago so any discussion with New York would be illegal. Only way this is true is if Chicago's front office is trying to trade Thibodeau, and THEY have been in discussion with New York. But that is not confirmed and unlikely true.

This all seems to be a big load of you know what...

Wrong, that rule only applies to players under the CBA (anti-tampering). Coaches are like any other employee of any other company, where they are free to discuss employment with another company, but will have to come to some agreement to end a contract.

DRose is done. He will either be too injured to play again or will demand a trade out of anger for the rebuild. Bulls don't have a "ton of draft picks" - they basically have 3 second rounders from the Deng trade, which are not worth much, and Charlotte and Chicago's draft picks are nothing spectacular. The Bulls still have the albatross contract of Boozer, have no good SF now that Deng is gone. Noah has not reached his potential, Gibson is essentially a good bench player, and people keep boosting Butler and Dunleavy like they have the potential to be huge stars. They are, at most, average starters or 6th men. The owners never want to spend despite being a big market. This to me is enough evidence to say the Bulls will not contend in the near future. At least with the Knicks, superstars have shown they want to play there and Dolan is willing to spend when it comes time go into the tax and add the final pieces to a championship winning roster.

Not everyone's like melo. Why would rose want to force a trade? He's from Chicago you unbelievable idiot

[themeccamsg]

You actually believe this? If Thibodeau really wanted to leave Chicago he would have never signed an extensiona year ago.. He could have easily received just as much money if not more else where if he wanted cause he has had a ton of success early on in his career.

But let's say Thibodeau wants to leave cause of recent injuries to Rose or for whatever reason had a fallen out with the front office, why New York? New York's situation isn't any better? Some would argue it's worse. Not to mention New York's best player can opt out and leave next year. While Chicago best players(Noah/Rose) are locked up. Chicago also has a ton of draft picks coming up, not only from the Deng trade but they still own a protected 1st round pick from Charlotte. So their situation is looking up more than New Yorks.

And someone might have to correct me but New York can not have discussions with Thibodeau without Chicago's consent. Thibodeau is under contract with Chicago so any discussion with New York would be illegal. Only way this is true is if Chicago's front office is trying to trade Thibodeau, and THEY have been in discussion with New York. But that is not confirmed and unlikely true.

This all seems to be a big load of you know what...

Wrong, that rule only applies to players under the CBA (anti-tampering). Coaches are like any other employee of any other company, where they are free to discuss employment with another company, but will have to come to some agreement to end a contract.

DRose is done. He will either be too injured to play again or will demand a trade out of anger for the rebuild. Bulls don't have a "ton of draft picks" - they basically have 3 second rounders from the Deng trade, which are not worth much, and Charlotte and Chicago's draft picks are nothing spectacular. The Bulls still have the albatross contract of Boozer, have no good SF now that Deng is gone. Noah has not reached his potential, Gibson is essentially a good bench player, and people keep boosting Butler and Dunleavy like they have the potential to be huge stars. They are, at most, average starters or 6th men. The owners never want to spend despite being a big market. This to me is enough evidence to say the Bulls will not contend in the near future. At least with the Knicks, superstars have shown they want to play there and Dolan is willing to spend when it comes time go into the tax and add the final pieces to a championship winning roster.

Not everyone's like melo. Why would rose want to force a trade? He's from Chicago you unbelievable idiot

So what if he is from Chicago? Ultimately he wants a championship and if that means going to another team, he will do it.

[The_Hater]

Not everyone's like melo. Why would rose want to force a trade? He's from Chicago you unbelievable idiot

So what if he is from Chicago? Ultimately he wants a championship and if that means going to another team, he will do it.

So true. And when the superstars all get together and try and pick a team to join to win a championship, they almost always pick one that's currently on pace for 31 wins and still owned by James Dolan.

[Manhattan Project]

Thibs going to channel his inner JVG, we need a stop and a score.

[themeccamsg]

Not everyone's like melo. Why would rose want to force a trade? He's from Chicago you unbelievable idiot

So what if he is from Chicago? Ultimately he wants a championship and if that means going to another team, he will do it.

So true. And when the superstars all get together and try and pick a team to join to win a championship, they almost always pick one that's currently on pace for 31 wins and still owned by James Dolan.

Why is something I wrote in your signature???? Creep. Get rid of it.

[The_Hater]

So what if he is from Chicago? Ultimately he wants a championship and if that means going to another team, he will do it.

So true. And when the superstars all get together and try and pick a team to join to win a championship, they almost always pick one that's currently on pace for 31 wins and still owned by James Dolan.

Why is something I wrote in your signature???? Creep. Get rid of it.

You should take pride in what you write, you definitely have a astute mind to go with a special sense of logic.

[TheBallDoLie]

Every party usually denies like this when it's true. Thibodeau tried a bit too hard there to deny it, so there is a good chance he is in conversations with the Knicks to take over as head coach but someone leaked the conversations. Understandable he would feel this way, because he wouldn't want the rumor to become so big that the Knicks decide not to hire him anymore, which wouldn't be what he wants.

Props to the Knicks for being proactive about improving the team. This is the right start and will hopefully help convince Carmelo to stay, and another free agent to sign here.

You actually believe this? If Thibodeau really wanted to leave Chicago he would have never signed an extensiona year ago.. He could have easily received just as much money if not more else where if he wanted cause he has had a ton of success early on in his career.

But let's say Thibodeau wants to leave cause of recent injuries to Rose or for whatever reason had a fallen out with the front office, why New York? New York's situation isn't any better? Some would argue it's worse. Not to mention New York's best player can opt out and leave next year. While Chicago best players(Noah/Rose) are locked up. Chicago also has a ton of draft picks coming up, not only from the Deng trade but they still own a protected 1st round pick from Charlotte. So their situation is looking up more than New Yorks.

And someone might have to correct me but New York can not have discussions with Thibodeau without Chicago's consent. Thibodeau is under contract with Chicago so any discussion with New York would be illegal. Only way this is true is if Chicago's front office is trying to trade Thibodeau, and THEY have been in discussion with New York. But that is not confirmed and unlikely true.

This all seems to be a big load of you know what...

Wrong, that rule only applies to players under the CBA (anti-tampering). Coaches are like any other employee of any other company, where they are free to discuss employment with another company, but will have to come to some agreement to end a contract.

DRose is done. He will either be too injured to play again or will demand a trade out of anger for the rebuild. Bulls don't have a "ton of draft picks" - they basically have 3 second rounders from the Deng trade, which are not worth much, and Charlotte and Chicago's draft picks are nothing spectacular. The Bulls still have the albatross contract of Boozer, have no good SF now that Deng is gone. Noah has not reached his potential, Gibson is essentially a good bench player, and people keep boosting Butler and Dunleavy like they have the potential to be huge stars. They are, at most, average starters or 6th men. The owners never want to spend despite being a big market. This to me is enough evidence to say the Bulls will not contend in the near future. At least with the Knicks, superstars have shown they want to play there and Dolan is willing to spend when it comes time go into the tax and add the final pieces to a championship winning roster.

False, this rule also implies to coaches. The Miami Heat were discovered to have tampered with Pat Riley in 1995 by negotiating with Riley while he was the head coach of the New York Knicks. The Heat "settled," and avoided league-imposed penalties, by compensating the Knicks with $1 million and their first round draft pick in 1996.

This rule still implies. Also your Chicago Bulls roster break down is bit misguided. Boozer will be amnestied. That Charlotte pick has potential to be unprotected in 2016. To say it is nothing spectacular I think is off. Rose is done? Maybe.. We will see. The owner don't want to spend? That is not entirely true. Before the Deng trade they were top 5 in the league with team salary 2 years in a row. Just because they don't spend dumb like the Nets doesn't mean they don't spend.

[Jvaughn]

Wrong, that rule only applies to players under the CBA (anti-tampering). Coaches are like any other employee of any other company, where they are free to discuss employment with another company, but will have to come to some agreement to end a contract.

100% false.

Thibs is not allowed to talk to other teams without permission from the Bulls. And even if he was to leave. Bulls would have to waive his non compete for him to be able to coach another team in the NBA within the next three years. He can't just leave and become another teams coach unless he is fired.