The Orlando Magic want Tom Thibodeau as their next head coach and the franchise is ready to pay him big if they can get to him to agree to a contract, as reports have the team offering the coach 7-9 million per year to sign if he leaves the Bulls.
Thibodeau's future has been rumored about since during the season, with reports from Yahoo Sports and other media outlets saying he will be let go by the front office. Yahoo reported that Thibodeau would be out no matter how for the Bulls got in the playoffs and reports had the Pelicans and the Magic interested if that happened. The Bulls may not just let Thibodeau go, as they could ask for trade compensation since he is still under contract.
According to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times, the team is willing to offer $7 million to $9 million per season to Thibodeau and that the job "is his for the taking". Thibodeau makes about $4 million annually with the Bulls and he could be in for a raise with Billy Donovan signing a five-year, $30 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder if he ends up moving. Thibodeau could end up as part of the GM process in Orlando and that could be appealing after the way things went in Chicago.
The Orlando Magic are fifth in the standings for the draft lottery behind the Lakers, 76ers, Knicks and Timberwolves and they could love to stay in the top five. The team took Aaron Gordon last year and the team would love to get their hands on someone like Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell or Willie Cauley-Stein. The team is looking to get Thibodeau and the rumors have persisted since late in the season that he is their main target.
The Bulls had a strong regular season, but they were bounced again in the playoffs and did not make it to the conference finals. Derrick Rose had a strong series against the Cavaliers, but LeBron James and the Cavs are now into the next round against the Atlanta Hawks. Pau Gasol had a great season and Jimmy Butler won most improved player, but Butler is about to get paid big as a restricted free agent. The Bulls likely will match any offers he gets.
