The Chicago Bulls have moved very slowly on contract extension talks with head coach Tom Thibodeau despite two first-place finishes in the Eastern Conference and one Coach of the Year win in 2010-11, but the Bulls and Thibodeau have reportedly resumed talks on a new deal. The team has formally picked up Thibodeau's option for the upcoming 2012-13 season on his original three-year, $6.5 million contract, but there is no doubt that Thibodeau deserves more money and now a report from Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago says the two sides have started talking about a contract extension again.
Former head coach Jeff Van Gundy says he could get the deal done in 25 seconds:
"If I was (the Bulls) and Tom agreed to what (Oklahoma City's) Scott Brooks got (a reported four-year deal worth approximately $18 million), the whole thing would take 25 seconds. It's a no-brainer ... My thing is he's an elite coach and should be paid like one."
Thibodeau's hard-nosed defensive style has worked well in Chicago, and there is little doubt that he deserves to be paid like an elite head man, but Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has earned a reputation for being a very tough negotiator. Thibodeau was reportedly unhappy that he didn't get a new deal during the 2011-12, and now 2012-13 sets up as a big challenge as the team jettisoned Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, John Lucas, Brian Scalabrine(sort of) and C.J. Watson during the offseason.
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