Tom Thibodeau made a name for himself as the Chicago Bulls’ hard-nosed coach. He has had a good run from 2010-2015 which has seen him make a talented playoff list in each of his five seasons.
So he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and fought before he was fired in his third season. The veteran coach is now connected to work on the New York Knicks and one thing that is often referred to is his career .589 hit percentage. Yet this does not tell the whole story.
Thibodeau would join a team that hasn’t had a winning season since the 2012-13 campaign. There is no Derrick Rose or Jimmy Butler about the Knicks who can take over a game and simplify his work. The coach essentially introduces himself and tries to establish a completely new system for a young team that is still developing its identity.
Mike Miller is the current manager after taking over from David Fizdale, who was fired last December. While hiring Thibodeau would bring a coach successfully to the bench, the team has yet to demonstrate an inability to attract top players to the free agency.
A system can only do so much if the talent isn’t there. The first Bulls of 2010 were some of the most talented teams in the game that had been derailed by injuries to Rose from time to time. The Knicks are a mess and Thibodeau’s payout percentage is irrelevant. He would have faced the toughest job of his career and even getting closer to the .500 brand would be a big improvement for the franchise.