The Chicago Bulls have been inconsistent this season and while they are one of the top teams in the east, head coach Tom Thibodeau has been on the hot seat and reports say he could be fired after the season and that could spark the team to look at some trade deadline options, as names like Greg Monroe, Wilson Chandler, Roy Hibbert, Gerald Green or Norris Cole could be targets for Derrick Rose support as Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy deal with injuries.
There have been reports about friction between Thibodeau and the Bulls front office for the past couple years and now the two sides reportedly could part ways in the near future. According to Pro Basketball Talk, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune writes that sources have said that the relationship between Thibodeau and the front office is "beyond repair" and that it has been "deteriorating" over time. The report says that while the Bulls don't want to replace Thibodeau mid-season, they could look at doing it after the season is over.
Thibodeau would be a massive target for teams if he is let go, as the Warriors, Lakers and Knicks have all previously checked in on him in the past couple years. The uncertainty with Thibodeau could get the front office to make some moves, as Noah has been injured along with Mike Dunleavy and Doug McDermott. Players like Greg Monroe, Wilson Chandler, Roy Hibbert, Gerald Green or Norris Cole could be potential fits.
This issue with Thibodeau could end up being compared to the Jim Harbaugh situation and the San Francisco 49ers: as the Bulls have a winning head coach that sometimes rubs players and the front office the wrong way. But he is a winner and has built a winning team over the past few years, meaning the front office has to weigh that with their priorities for the team. The Niners replaced Harbaugh, now the Bulls may do the same.
Heading into the trade deadline there are some big names that the Bulls and other teams may look at, including Wilson Chandler, Arron Afflalo, Gerald Green, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Bass and Roy Hibbert, as those names could be on the move. Teams like the Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, OKC Thunder and LA Lakers could be interested in making moves, while the Cavaliers may not be done, as they are looking for a backup for Kyrie Irving down the stretch.
The time before the deadline is often called the silly season by reporters who cover the NBA, but this year could see some real movement. The Knicks are motivated to make trades after already dealing Iman Shumpert and JR Smith, while the Celtics have made big moves with Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green. The Knicks reportedly are looking to trade more and names like Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani or Tim Hardaway Jr. could be next in line to move.
The Washington Post put together an article with some names that could get traded, including Wilson Chandler, Arron Afflalo, Gerald Green, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Bass and Lance Stephenson. The article picked teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Clippers, Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat as potential options for some of those names and as the deadline gets closer, things could start to heat up and the Bulls may look at making deals as well.
