In the wake of the devastating season-ending knee injury to Derrick Rose, Bulls watchers have speculated on whether the Bulls would break up the core of the team. Since he has an expiring contract, Luol Deng is the most talked about trade candidate. Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, and Joakim Noah have also been mentioned in possible trades.
However, maybe the best trade would be their never-say-die coach Tom Thibodeau. One thing that we know about Thibodeau is that he pushes his teams hard and never quits. His Bulls team overachieved last year without Rose and clearly Thibodeau knows how to get the best out of his players. So why would you trade such an asset as Thibodeau?
The reason to trade Thibodeau is the same reason that makes him such a good coach. He is always trying to win – often to the detriment of the health of his players. It has been speculated for the last couple years that his players are too tired and injured at playoff time – Deng and Noah in particular.
When Phil Jackson coached the Bulls teams, he always kept the playoff run in mind during the regular season and rested his players where he could. Gregg Popovich has done such a good job resting his players during the regular season in anticipation of a deep playoff run, the NBA fined him last season for sitting four starters in a game against the Miami Heat.
Also, Thibodeau toiled as an assistant coach for so many years. He is fifty-five-years old and he wants to make the most of his chance as an NBA coach. Thibodeau doesn’t have years to wait for a complete rebuild of the Bulls. It seems doubtful that Thibodeau would be supportive of a complete rehab of the Bulls team and angle for the NBA draft lottery this year.
If the Bulls could trade Thibodeau to a talented team in need of an experienced coach the Bulls should consider it – maybe the Oklahoma Thunder, the New York Knicks or even the Brooklyn Nets. All three teams could use an upgrade at coach to get the most out of their talented, but underachieving players.
Let’s face it. As talented, likable and as hardworking as Derrick Rose has been, he is unlikely to be the same player when he returns. The current run with the core players is over. The Bulls need to reload and rebuild around Rose as a very good player, but not necessarily the franchise player anymore. Taking such pressure off Rose will likely benefit not just the team, but Rose as well.
The Bulls and Chicago would miss Thibodeau for sure. Good coaches are hard to find. However, trading Thibodeau could be the best option for both the team and Thibodeau himself. Let Thibodeau guide another team that is ready to win now and bring in a rebuilding coach for the Bulls.
Thanks for Reading. You can follow me @LASTWORDgcp as well as the LWOS basketball department on twitter – @NBAAnalystFaro, @TrendingTristan, @KaineElmy, @lwosjbjatty, @LWOSJoshHoath, @aFishCalledMatt, @NBAFantasyInfo, @fourpoint_play, @matttheballer23, @caulfieldhoops, and @hoops_scoop. While you’re at it, give the site a follow too – @lastwordonsport and like our Facebook Page.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
