Bulls Reaching Out To PJ

[ZigZag]

Don't pretend Phil wouldn't think about it if LeBron went to the Bulls. That's just too good of an opportunity to pass up. They'd be able to wreck the Lakers because you KNOW another superstar would come too.

 

[Mexi]

like i said, he has what it takes to win with what he has right now.

the Bulls are very attractive. they're guaranteed a big name FA.
but they're full of young players. thats great and all, but it's going to take time teaching the Triangle to a bunch of young players. especially without his #1 assistant and inventor of the Triangle with him.


and he just said he has no desire to coach them.

it's either Lakers or retire

 

[elcheato]

If he gets a chance to coach LeBron before he retires, he will take it if he gets more money then he will in LA, which appears to be the case.

 

[elcheato]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson on Thursday called it an "extremely odd situation'' that the Cleveland Cavaliers might be consulting star forward LeBron James about their vacant coaching job when James likely will be a free agent July 1.

In an interview with FanHouse, Jackson, who becomes a free agent after the season, was asked if he would be interested in the Cleveland job. He said he hadn't thought about it, but said about the Lakers, "This is the place that I've coached the last 10 years and I anticipate doing it more.''

Asked if he anticipates returning to the Lakers, Jackson said, "Yeah.'' But when asked if this was any revelation Jackson was providing, he reverted back to what he has said previously, saying, "No. Like I've said, 90 percent chance that, if I'm coaching, I'll be back here.''

Jackson already has shot down a report linking him to the opening in Chicago, which Jackson led to six titles in the 1990s. But he now has not completely closed the door on jobs in Cleveland and New Jersey.

The Cavaliers, who fired Mike Brown earlier this week, are expected to look into the availability of Jackson. But, while Jackson's response to the Cleveland opening was "I haven't thought about it,'' he didn't appear to be enamored with how the Cavaliers might handle matters.

"It's an extremely odd situation,'' said Jackson, speaking after the morning shootaround at the Lakers' practice facility, preparing to play Phoenix on Thursday night in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. "Anybody who's in control of the decision making knows that you have to consult with LeBron, and consulting with him is kind of odd because July 1 he's a free agent (if James opts out of his contract). So there are no guarantees to that. He obviously wants to look at free agency. So he's more than likely going to have a choice on what he wants to have done as far as some coaching names, and that's not unusual in this game.

"As a coach, you really question whether you want to be a handpicked guy and then have to discipline and take care of somebody, the stuff you have to do. You have to coach players regardless of who they are. So that always makes some things issues. But I know my organization probably won't do it that way. But in (Cleveland's) situation, it's almost impossible not to.''

Jackson was asked if he anticipates the Cavaliers taking a long time to make a coaching decision due to the uncertainty over what might happen with James' free agency.

"I think a lot of teams are going to wait and see what happens in free agency, see what's going to be the draw there,'' Jackson said.

ESPN reported earlier this week the Bulls and Nets both have made "back-channel'' inquires about hiring Jackson, although New Jersey president Rod Thorn told FanHouse there has been no contact by his team and Thorn believes Jackson will stay in Los Angeles. While Jackson did not totally rule out the Nets and also hasn't done so with Cleveland, Jackson was asked why he said Tuesday he has "no desire'' to return to the Bulls.

"There's so much energy in Chicago because of my past with them that it's like it's almost unfair to them as an organization to keep that hanging out there. So I don't want to do that.''
- Phil Jackson on saying he has "no desire" to coach Bulls "There's so much energy in Chicago because of my past with them that it's like it's almost unfair to them as an organization to keep that hanging out there,'' Jackson said. "So I don't want to do that.''

Jackson coached the Bulls from 1989-98. He offered a rebuttal to Miami star Dwyane Wade, a Chicago native who likely will be a free agent this summer, having told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that the Bulls haven't been loyal to former stars. While Wade was primarily talking about Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen not being a part of the organization now, Jackson said many other players from Jackson's era are.

"(Wade) made some statement about the Bulls not being loyal,'' Jackson said. "However, he forgot that there are about six or seven people there (from Jackson's era) still with the Bulls like Bill Wennington and Stacey King (both broadcasters) and John Paxson (team executive) and on and on, Pete Myers (assistant coach), and so forth and so on. But I guess he was looking at Pippen and Jordan. I guess that was just the front of the Bulls.''

Jackson, who has been with Los Angeles since 1999 with the exception of the 2004-05 season, now has coached for one season more with the Lakers than with the Bulls. He has offered various accounts of his chances of returning next season to the Lakers, but Thursday's comments indicate those chances certainly haven't decreased.

Didn't rule out coaching the Cavs like he did Chicago, just called it odd.

 

[Mexi]

he's not going to the nets
and again, he said he's not coaching the Bulls.
LeBron is attractive, but so are Kobe and Pau and a team that has gotten to the Finals 3 straight years

if the lakers win this year, he'll be back
if not, he'll think about leaving (and by leaving, i mean retiring), but im guessing he'll be back again
he's getting a pay cut, but it's not the 12M to 5M that was reported earlier

 

[elcheato]

If LeBron stays in Cleveland, I would be willing to bet Phil coaches the Cavs in 10-11. Dan Gilbert would offer 12 mill, or maybe more per year while the Lakers are going to ask him to take a pay cut. And it's not about staying in LA with Kobe/Pau, its about having the chance to coach 4 of possibly the top 10 greatest players of all time.

 

[Mexi]

he's 65 though. i dont know if he wants to go to the cold weather with his bad hip and joints

and he's got a nice relationship with the FO
his girl friend is the owner's daughter. he's been with her for years. they may as well be a married couple

i just cant see him leaving. personally though, i dont care. i kinda want Brian Shaw as Head Coach

 

[Mexi]

cheato, this isnt a red flag?

"As a coach, you really question whether you want to be a handpicked guy and then have to discipline and take care of somebody, the stuff you have to do. You have to coach players regardless of who they are. So that always makes some things issues. But I know my organization probably won't do it that way. But in (Cleveland's) situation, it's almost impossible not to.''

 

[elcheato]

He obviously isn't a hand picked coach... He is on top of everyone's list.

 

[Mexi]

it would be hand picked

LeBron would obviously say, I want Phil.

 

[elcheato]

Everyone wants Phil.. So I guess he would be hand picked by every teams best player.

 

[Mexi]

of course

but he's saying that he doesnt think a player should be consulted the way LeBron will be.
thats just a weird situation.

lakers or retire

 

[elcheato]

Doesn't matter anyway does it, because according to you the Lakers are going to sign and trade for Bosh and sign LeBron later as well so he can just stay.

 

[Dorado]

Doesn't matter anyway does it, because according to you the Lakers are going to sign and trade for Bosh and sign LeBron later as well so he can just stay.

lebron kobe and bosh?!?

that would be beast!!

 

[ZigZag]

lebron kobe and bosh?!?

that would be beast!!

it would be turrible

i'd put money down that they wouldn't even make the finals

 

[Pugz]

Tom Thibodeau is waiting for an offer from the Hornets but sources tell Yahoo! Sports that he is eager to meet with the Bulls and Nets.

Thibodeau's top choice is the Bulls' head coaching position.

 

[Mexi]

If he gets a chance to coach LeBron before he retires, he will take it if he gets more money then he will in LA, which appears to be the case.

Avery is in Jersey
Thibideau is in Chicago
Izzo or Byron Scott in Cleveland

so that leaves the Heat, who have Spoelstra, but if Riley fires him, you know he's taking over
and NY, who already has D'Antoni who was part of their original master plan

BUT, there's the Clippers.
remember I said the stars were aligning?
lol jk.....i think

 

[elcheato]

I believe he would have gone but LeBron doesn't want to look like he hand picked a coach, as shown by everything he has said and reports that came out so teams just started hiring the guy they wanted. Well in the Bulls case they hired a WWW client to try even harder to get LeBron.

 

[Mexi]

Bulls have a no headband policy
people forget this

 

[elcheato]

I think they would make an exception lol