Here's where we're at right now folks.  While news has been kind of slow, this is what we know:

1) Tom Thibodeau has been hired as the Bulls next head coach.  For my thoughts on that, see my earlier entry here.

2) Tom Izzo has turned done the Cavaliers' offer to be their next head coach.  This has apparently derailed their entire coaching search.  They now have no real prospects, as they were really banking on Izzo.  This also most likely hurts their chances at LeBron...as Byron Scott is a lott less an exciting option than Tom Izzo.  I would say that this is a good development for the Bulls.

3) The NBA Draft is 6 days away.  The Bulls could be gearing up for some wheelin' and dealin'.  Then again, they might not be.  I'll have an entry previewing the draft up shortly.

4) In terms of news regarding free agents, there really have been no new developments.  The Bulls are still in the running for every single major free agent, except for maybe Dwyane Wade who seems to have totally shunned the Bulls organization.  As a result, we shall shun him back.

5) And free agency is now exactly 12 days away.  12 DAYS till the Bulls return to stand tall amongst the NBA's elite.  12 days.  It's been 12 years.  Now we only must wait 12 days.  This city is rabid right now.  The Hawks just won.  The city wants more championships.  The fans are getting greedy.  No one wants it as much as us right now.  It's honestly something I can feel in the air amongst Bulls fans.  And all I can think about as I watched 2 million Hawks fans come out and shut down the loop last week...and as I watched the Lakers win the title tonight...is I want that.  Bulls fans want that.  And we want it just as bad as the Hawks fans did.  And we want it more than the Lakers fans did.  We're deprived right now.  Starving.  If the Hawks celebration didn't show LeBron or anyone else what it would be like to win here and make LeBron or anyone else want to come here to experience this great city and its great fans, then I don't know what will.  But all I know is we're 12 days away.  I'm going to start counting down the hours.

What's sweeter than that very look on Paul Pierce's face.  YEAAAAHHHH boy.

I gotta say...if it wasn't the Bulls, I'm glad it was the Lakers.  Those of you that know me are well aware that I am a big Lakers fan for many reasons, and they're pretty much my de facto 2nd team.  Congrats to the Lakers and for Lakers championship coverage, check out the With-Malice Lakers blog.

So it looks like the Bulls are going to make an offer to Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau is the defensive architect of the Boston Celtics defense and helped guide the Celtics, whom I hate dearly, to the 2008 title (as well as this year's finals).  They could reach an agreement by the end of this weekend.  If they get things done by then...well then...that is...um...lighting fast for this organization.  Slightly surprised.  I thought this would seriously drag into July.  Either way, I have some mixed feelings about this.

First, the bad.  After experiencing two years of Vinny Del Negro, you'd think the Bulls organization would try and avoid hiring a head coach with zero head coaching experience.  Seriously.  The Bulls always seem to strive for the marquee names, but then fall for the flavor of the week new guy...who this time...happens to be Tom Thibodeau.  And how many free agents are truly excited about playing for a first year head coach?  On top of that, the Bulls happen to be one of the worst offensive teams in the league.  Now surely, come July 1st, that's bound to change.  However, as of right now, when nothing is guaranteed, to hire a defensive specialist when offense absolutely must be your greatest concern just seems odd to me.  I thought that was the whole issue with Vinny...the fact that he wasn't a good x's and o's type of coach on the offensive end.  Don't we need a guy who's more of an offensive specialist rather than defense?

Now, the good.  Tom Thibodeau is no Vinny Del Negro.  He's coached in 87 playoff games.  That's right, count 'em.  87.  He coached under Jeff Van Gundy, who is absolutely in love with the guy, for 7 years.  During his tenure with the Knicks, he helped them set a record when they held 33 straight opponents under 100 points during the 2000-2001 season.  His defensive coaching exploits in the 2008 finals and 2010 playoffs have been very well documented.  It's safe to say that the guy isn't just a defensive specialist, he's a freakin' defensive wizard.  He is to defensive schemes what Tex Winter was to offensive schemes.  While he may be a first year coach, the guy has been around...and he's been around FOR YEARS.  There is probably not an assistant coach who has ever been more prepared to take on a head coaching vacancy more than Tom Thibodeau.

Everyone knows defense wins championships.  Fans know it.  Players know it.  Superstars know it.  Ask Mike D'Antoni.  Any superstar should be and probably would be thrilled that they're coming to play for a coach who not only stresses defense, but is a defensive mastermind.  As long as the Bulls take care of signing the offensive talent, Thibodeau should take care of the defensive end of things.

So if you absolutely must sign a first-year coach, Thibodeau is the guy.  A VDN he is not.  I cannot stress that point enough.  However, I do wish the Bulls would wait until they are absolutely sure Phil Jackson isn't interested come postseason, or even Doc Rivers if he leaves Boston, who would be quite popular in his hometown of Chicago.  I'm not sure why Paxson and Gar Forman felt like they absolutely had to fly out to LA to interview Thibodeau on the eve of Game 1 of the finals.  Maybe they thought Thibs would take the Hornets offer?  Or maybe they just wanted to make sure he didn't accept it by letting him know that they were very interested.  Kind of like leading a girl on and making her stick around just in case a hotter girl your eyeing doesn't end up panning out.  That's what Thibs is right now.  And I don't really feel like they have to rush with an offer, because he clearly seems much more interested in the Bulls job than the Hornets' considering he let the Hornets' offer lapse past their Thursday deadline and they seem to be moving on with Monty Williams.

But hey, with the batch of coaches that are available as of right now, I guess the Bulls really have no reason not to hire Thibs.  I prefer Thibs to Byron Scott, Mo Cheeks, and even Lawrence Frank even though all of them have prior head coaching experience, simply because I prefer someone who stresses a specific discipline and is consistent with it...unlike Vinny who was just all over the place.  Then again, I buy into a defensive culture, which has always been the Chicago way.

So bottom line, if we go with Thibs...I can dig it.

I had to post this video some fans made for the ongoing campaign to bring LeBron to Chicago.  If you are a Bulls fan and this video does not give you goosebumps, please click on the "x" on the top right corner of your window.  Thanks.

So as you can see, the LeBron to Chicago billboard, sponsored by www.sendlebrontochicago.com, has been put up.  As some of you may know, I have written a guest piece for Send LeBron to Chicago and have been associated with the site in the RedEye section of the Chicago Tribune.  I've been dealing with AJ Barthold for about a month now, and I have to say that I'm pretty proud of him for getting this billboard up.  It's damn impressive.

For all of my fellow Chicagoans, the Billboard can be found at the intersection of Grand and LaSalle.  If you want to get your mug posted in my next blog entry, go to the billboard and take a picture of yourself with the billboard in the background.  Email it to me and I'll put it up in my very next entry.

As for LeBron updates, I'm sure everyone has heard of the Larry King interview by now.  LeBron said some interesting things, none of which can be taken too seriously.

Larry asked him if Cleveland has an "edge" in signing him.

"Absolutely. Because, you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it's comfortable. So I've got a lot of memories here. And -- and so it does have an edge."

Listen people, he HAS to say that.  If he doesn't say that, he looks like an A-hole.  If he says no, that flat out looks like he's already made a conscious decision that he's not going back to Cleveland.  At this point, with free agency a month away, he has to be very cautious with what he says...and this comment makes him look like a good guy.  It makes him seem like he's going to give his hometown city the best shot of keeping him before he blots, so if they don't sign him, it becomes their fault.  This comment means absolutely nothing and is just something thrown out there for the media to dissect and give him some leeway to remain silent for the next month.

With regards to picking his own coach...

"... I'm not one to go into the off year and say this is who I want my coach to be. Now, there are some coaches, that, you know, if I had an opportunity to play for, I would be delighted. But I'm not as far as -- as picking a coach,"

That I do believe.  He understands that whatever coach he plays with will look like a genius...until his future team gets bounced from the playoffs earlier than expected.  And clearly, playing for someone like Phil Jackson or Pat Riley would be incredibly and understandably enticing, but I don't think he's banking his decision on that.

And he does say the one thing I've been saying all along...

"Well, I mean, to me, I think my ultimate, my ultimate goal is winning championships, and I understand that me going down as one of the greats will not happen until I, you know, win a championship... the team that I go to or -- or, you know, whatever the case may be, will have an opportunity to win championships in multiple years and not just because of LeBron James."

Clearly, his number one goal right now is winning, not remaining loyal.  He knows what teams give him a better shot of contending for a title than others.  The Bulls are one of those teams, and he hints at it by mentioning that it will not be "just because of LeBron James."  Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah anyone?  Then again, he could be talking about the other free agents as well, but there's no way LeBron wants his legacy tarnished by the fact that he had to surround himself with Dwyane Wade to win a title.

So this interview, for me, changes nothing.  For now, let's hope this billboard gets a ton of attention in the press and maybe we can bring LeBron here July 1st to take a picture in front of it?  Until then, send me YOUR pics...

Here's the bumbling buffoon known as Avery Johnson discussing the Bulls' chances of adding a Jackson-James package.

Obviously the fans can understand the difficulty involved in bringing in both guys.  Please stop patronizing us with the "moving parts" analogy.  I belive my least favorite part of the video was when he refers to Chicago as "some cold midwestern city".  Those were his words, verbatim.  Ummm...are you confused Avery?  Some cold midwestern city?  He's not being offered a job in Toledo or Davenport or Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo.  We're talking about Chicago.  It's not just some cold midwestern city.  Funny enough, as I look out my window right now, it happens to be 80 degrees and sunny.

I'm pretty sure after coaching here for a decade, Phil is aware of what the city has to offer.  Avery is definitely still mad that the Bulls showed no interest in him as a coach two years ago and still have no interest right now.  I suppose I would be upset too if VDN was picked over me.  Fans, I urge you to take everything he says with a massive grain of salt.  He is a bitter bitter bitter individual.

However, I agree that it would be tough to leave Los Angeles, especially if the Lakers win this year.  Then again, Kobe, Odom, and Artest are all past their primes.  Gasol is good, but Bynum is eh.  This team is not built to be a dynasty.  If LeBron comes to Chicago, Phil better think long and hard about the possibility of coaching one more dynasty before he rides off into the sunset.  A dynasty built around Derrick Rose, LeBron James, and Joakim Noah...three players entering their prime.  He's done his job in LA...now you gotta think long and hard about coming home..

Here's a video of Broussard speaking on the story he broke last night of the Bulls trying to lure Jackson...

The caption on the above SI cover says "Can Phil Jackson coach the Bulls' to another title?"  That is the question indeed.

Perhaps the Zen-Master has gotten sentimental in his old age?  Chris Broussard of ESPN is reporting that the Bulls are trying gauge Phil Jackson's interest in returning to the organization that he began his coaching career with.  Apparently, they have been reaching out to him through "backchannels".  According to the report, Phil may be open to a return.

"There has been no direct contact between Bulls officials and Jackson, according to the sources, but people close to both parties have spoken and come away with the belief that Jackson would be open to a potential reunion in Chicago next season."

So basically, the Bulls are trying to avoid any fines or tampering charges by sending randoms to talk with Phil's "people" and figure out where his mental is at.  Fair enough.  I like where their heads are.  This report can only help the Bulls' cause when it comes to landing LeBron James and help him further lean towards a landing in Chicago.  Can you imagine a Phil Jackson reunion on top of the Bulls landing the biggest free agent in NBA history?  It would be our rightful return to the throne.  Back to where this franchise belongs, people.  And as for Phil?  He should count his lucky stars if he can come here and coach LeBron, Derrick, and Joakim.  The man will have coached Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquile O'Neal, and LeBron James...quite possibly the best 4 professional basketball players of all time.  Are you kidding me?

But who knows how true any of this is or the odds of anything actually happening.  All these backchannel rumors could actually mean nothing and who knows what Phil actually thinks.  After all, he did burn some bridges here back in the day.  But Jerry Krause has long since been run out of town and things are quite a bit different now.  And if there's one thing I've learned throughout the years both in sports and in life is...where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

Here is a video of Broussard talking to Wilbon about LeBron as well as going after Jackson from earlier tonight before the report of the "backchannel" talks came out.

Hey, I welcome that possibility...and so should you.

Things have been a little crazy around here lately.  LeBron-mania is spiraling out of control, and for good reason.  As each day passes, the odds seem higher and higher that his landing place will be in the great city of Chicago. Apparently, LeBron called Derrick Rose after being ousted from the playoffs.  (Ummm, thanks?)  Charles Oakley says he's coming to Chicago.  And then Michael Jordan says he's coming to Chicago.  There have been reports of members of his "team" wearing Bulls colors (via WillBurge of ESPNCleveland on Twitter).  There have also been reports of him looking for houses in the suburbs of Chicago...reports are even popping up today.  Up until now, these have been nothing but rumors via unconfirmed and not totally reliable sources.  But guys, I have some information from a source as close to the horse's mouth as anyone is going to get.

One of my good friend's father's friend owns a house in a suburb very nearby the Berto Center.  He has been in direct contact with LeBron and his team about selling the home to LeBron.  

This is a very reliable source.  Someone I know personally.  He's a peer and someone I've known for years.  In fact, I asked him directly how reliable his info was.  His exact words were..."Straight from the source.  Reliable."

Many will call this another rumor, but I at least now personally have some peace of mind knowing that I finally have some confirmation of these rumors that have been popping up the past few days.

I just wrote a piece for sendlebrontochicago.com.  It's called "Chicago Needs a Sports Hero".  I actually am pretty pleased with how it turned out.  So go give it a read.  You can find it here.