Chicago Bulls Coach Watch (Update:Thibodeau accept offer)

The Bulls are strongly considering offering their head coaching vacancy to Tom Thibodeau after interviewing the Celtics' associate head coach in Los Angeles late Wednesday night.

General manager Gar Forman and senior vice president John Paxson returned to Chicago Thursday and had positive conversations with team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, typically a sign that contract negotiations will follow.

According to sources familiar with the interview, the Bulls came away impressed by Thibodeau's work ethic, creative offensive ideas and ideas for player development.

Thibodeau, 50, has been known as a defensive specialist, which Forman stressed would be a priority and always has been a Reinsdorf staple. In 18 NBA seasons as an assistant with the Timberwolves, Sonics, Spurs, 76ers, Knicks, Rockets and Celtics, Thibodeau's teams have finished in the top-10 defensively 15 times.

Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf spent part of Friday at the Berto Center, where sources said positive discussions about Tom Thibodeau continued with executive vice president John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman and that a formal offer is expected shortly.

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Two sources familiar with the Bulls' thinking continued to paint the situation as Thibodeau's job to lose and that an offer is expected to come this weekend.

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Multiple sources have said all along that Thibodeau, who also has been linked to the Nets' vacancy, prefers the Bulls' job.

Although the Bulls privately are saying there is no agreement and they are only talking seriously with Thibodeau, at least one Boston newspaper is reporting Thibodeau will be the Bulls next coach.

The Boston Herald Friday night quoted an anonymous source saying Thibodeau is the Bulls choice to be their next head coach and a contract offer is being formulated.

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Although Thibodeau never has been an NBA head coach, he is one of the most experienced assistants in the league and an expert on defensive system play who has been on the sidelines as the associate head coach, as he is in Boston, or top assistant in more than 125 playoff games and three NBA Finals.

Though no official announcement will come until after Thibodeau serves as associate head coach for the Celtics in the NBA Finals, multiple sources confirmed the longtime assistant accepted a three-year deal worth roughly $6.5 million.

Sources indicated Thibodeau, 50, is expected to keep Pete Myers on his staff and bring with him former Bulls and current Thunder assistant Ron Adams. Other candidates include Thunder assistant Mo Cheeks, former Knicks assistant Andy Greer and former Kings coach Eric Musselman.

Former Bull Rick Brunson will be considered for a player development role, joining expected holdover Randy Brown. Mike Wilhelm will continue as advance scout.

Thibodeau's association with Creative Artists Agency, under whose umbrella LeBron James' respected agent, Leon Rose, sits, will do nothing to quell speculation James is headed to the Bulls in free agency.