Bulls expected to wait for Boston's Thibodeau

While Maurice Cheeks and Lawrence Frank remain the front runners, Boston’s playoff run has boosted the candidacy of Tom Thibodeau, the team’s highly-regarded defensive coordinator.

The Bulls are expected to wait until Thibodeau is available for a formal interview, which may not be possible until the NBA Finals are over. He’s also been mentioned as a candidate for vacancies in New Orleans and New Jersey.

League sources confirmed the Bulls have requested permission to interview Thibodeau — who is not permitted to talk to media, a team rule for assistant coaches — for their head coaching vacancy. That interview could take place during the Celtics' break between the Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals should they finish off their 3-0 lead over the Magic.

Meanwhile, sources close to Thibodeau, the hot Celtics assistant, said the Hornets have formally offered him their head coaching job.

What sources have indicated is Thibodeau is interested in listening to a pitch from the Bulls, who have requested permission to interview him. Of course, complicating matters is that the Celtics remain in the Eastern Conference finals with Game 5 Wednesday night in Orlando.

Bulls officials are intrigued by Thibodeau, the defensive specialist who also is being mentioned for the Nets' job.

The Bulls have talked informally with Rockets assistant Elston Turner and appear to be cooling on former Nets coach Lawrence Frank. Thunder assistant and former 76ers and Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks remains a candidate, and there are likely others.

A new rumor, though, has Wesley pushing Lakers assistant Brian Shaw for the Bulls under the idea that James is intrigued by the triangle offense. Shaw is in his fifth season working under Phil Jackson. The Bulls are going to wait until the end of the Finals before moving forward on their coaching search. Right now, Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau and ex-Blazers and Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks are the leaders, but Shaw has time to join the race.