Mike D’Antoni is off the board, so the Chicago Bulls remain on the clock. A new week means a new round of interviews as the search for a coach continues.
Next up?
It could be Avery Johnson. Or broadcaster Mark Jackson, or a hot assistant such as Boston’s Tom Thibodeau or Detroit’s Michael Curry. Or it could be somebody else.
Whoever gets hired will have to reconnect a fractured team that expected to contend in the Eastern Conference but fell into the lottery.
Johnson, Thibodeau and Curry are known to preach defense, which is favored by Bulls general manager John Paxson.
Johnson went 194-70 and led Dallas to the NBA finals in three-plus seasons before getting fired two weeks ago after players tuned him out. He’s owed $12 million over the next three seasons unless another team hires him, and he’s reportedly considering sitting out a year.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers has said he won’t grant teams permission to speak to Thibodeau because he doesn’t want the distraction during the playoffs. The Pistons might not let teams talk to Curry, a possible heir apparent to Flip Saunders.
And Jackson, who has no coaching experience, was thought to be the front-runner for the New York Knicks job that went to D’Antoni. He has interviewed with Chicago.
