Just days after being awarded the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers could soon be ushering in a new era by targeting Tom Thibodeau.
Since Phil Jackson left after the 2010-11 season, the Lakers have struggled to find a head coach capable of maintaining their status as one of the most elite franchises in the NBA. However, this could soon change as reports have recently surfaced that the Lakers could be looking to make current Chicago Bulls coach Thibodeau the 26th head coach in their franchise’s history.
Being told that the Lakers will be pursuing Tom Thibodeau. Byron Scott has just the one year left. Lakers would be paying four head coaches.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 20, 2015
After a second successful run under Jackson – which included two NBA Championships – the Lakers have gone through four head coaches in the past four years. After Jackson left, the Lakers have featured Mike Brown, Bernie Bickerstaff, Mike D’Antoni and Byron Scott at the helm, but none of them had the ability to make the Lakers one of the league’s best teams.
While he still under contract, it has been no secret that the Bulls no longer want Thibodeau as their head coach. However, since they still owe him money, the Bulls are currently looking to trade Thibodeau – a situation that is similar to the one between the Boston Celtics and Doc Rivers during the summer of 2013. The Lakers may still owe Scott at least two years’ worth of salary, but having the opportunity to acquire Thibodeau is one they need to seize.
Not only would he give the Lakers a head coach they can market to potential free agents both this summer and next — such as Jimmy Butler, Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love and Kevin Durant — but Thibodeau would also be able to turn around the team’s defense which ranked towards the bottom of the NBA in many statistical categories this past season.
By bringing in Thibodeau, the Lakers would be able to exit the nightmare that has been the last four seasons and enter into a new era in franchise history. With Thibodeau in charge, the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, plenty of salary cap flexibility and Kobe Bryant entering the final year of his franchise handicapping two-year, $48.5 million contract, the Lakers will be able leave the past behind and once again ascend to their rightful spot atop the NBA.
Greg Sacidor is a Feature Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Greg_Sacidor or add him to your network on Google.