On June 3rd, news came out that Tom Thibeodeau's five-year tenure with the New York Knicks would end, as the front office decided to relieve him of his duties as Head Coach. This move came as a shock to many. Thibs made the playoffs four of his five years in NY, winning coach of the year in 2021 and making the Eastern Conference Final this season before losing in 6 games to the Indiana Pacers.
Thibs has a great case as one of the most sought-after names in this summer's coaching carousel.
He is coming off back-to-back 50-win seasons and is the coach with the highest win percentage in NBA history to never make the finals. This has me wondering: Could the Pelicans push for Tom Thibodeau?
Could Thibs push Willie out the door?
With the Pelicans under new management in Joe Dumars, their plan with head coach Willie Green is not 100% certain, although most expect him to return next season. However, given how stacked the coaching market is, this could be their chance to land a coach who can lead this team to legitimate playoff success. With proven coaches like Michael Malone, Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins, and now Thibodeau all on the market, it could be tough to pass on this opportunity.
Green holds a record of 148-180 during his 4 years with the Pelicans, although that is impressive after the injuries they dealt with last season tanked that record. He hasn't built a defined culture with this team, despite having almost the same foundational guys for the previous 4 seasons. Something as simple as playing fast, being gritty, focusing on defense, shooting the 3, or even attacking the rim, not one of those playstyles defines the Pels.
Tom Thibodeau could come in and build a culture from day 1. At all three stops he has made in the NBA, he has built a defined culture of defense and grittiness. During his 14 seasons in the NBA, he has coached a top-six defense five times and had the NBA's best defense twice. With the amount of defensive talent on the Pels, they most definitely could build that culture with Thibodeau.
Thibs could help elevate Herb Jones to a defensive player of the year type of guy. The way Jones can switch onto anyone, disrupt the passing lanes, protect the basket and guard 1 through 5. A defensive-minded guy like Thibodeau coaching him daily could take the 26-year-old to a new level. But their defensive talent doesn't stop at Jones.
Dejounte Murray is another good perimeter defender who made the All-NBA defensive team in 2018. Since then, he has regressed as a defender but has grown tremendously as an offensive player. Thibs could help bring back that defensive menace that Murray once was. Another intriguing defensive piece is All-Rookie member Yves Missi. At only 21, he ranked 4th in the NBA in defending shots 15 feet from the basket and ranked 3rd among rookies in blocks per game.
The idea of surrounding these pieces, plus Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy, with Thibodeau is very intriguing and could finally help define a real defensive culture with this Pelicans core.