Doc Rivers thinks Chicago Bulls should offer extension to Tom Thibodeau before season commences – NBA News
Doc Rivers was a guest on the “Waddle and Silvy” show on ESPN 1000 Friday night and talked about the current state of contract of Tom Thibodeau, his once assistant and now the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
Thibodeau is a good friend of Rivers serving under him at the Boston Celtics from 2007 to 2010. He got his opportunity to be head coach in 2010 when Chicago Bulls parted ways with Vinny Del Negro after two seasons and decided
to hire him. Thibodeau has since led the Bulls to the best regular season record in the league in two consecutive seasons.
However, the wily coach is still without an extended contract, and Rivers hoped that Thibs would get a new contract and be paid the amount that he deserves as a head coach.
“Tom is a great friend of mine. I don't want to get him in trouble or anyone else in trouble but clearly he is one of the elite coaches in this league and he hopefully will be paid like that,” said Rivers while on the Waddle and
Silvy show.
The Bulls picked up their option earlier this summer on Thibodeau’s third and final year on the contract, which will see him coaching them through the 2012-2013 season. However, his future beyond that is still uncertain as no news
of a contract extension has yet been released by the Bulls management.
Thibodeau has publically stated that he is fine with where his contract is at the moment, and not worried about his job with the Bulls.
However, reports surfaced during the 2011-2012 season that Thibs was unhappy that the Bulls had not offered him a contract extension. Bulls General Manager Gar Forman said at the time that negotiations for an extension will follow
after the 2011-2012 season, but so far no word has surfaced about any possible extension.
Rivers said he hoped that the two sides decide on an extension before the season started in October, as it is very difficult for a coach to enter a season not certain about his future.
"I went through it two years ago. I just think that you get your job done during the summer. That's why I'm hoping that they can get it all signed up before the season starts because once the season starts, at least coaches --
and I guarantee Thibs is the same way -- we really want to focus on being a coach and just that,” added Rivers.
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