The Lakers are still playing, and in all likelihood, they’ll be playing until the second week in June—so that would mean, if the Bulls sign Phil, they’ll have to wait at least another three weeks to hire a coach, not to mention a negotiation process that figures to be its own sort of subplot. Will he get $15 million a year? From an owner as notoriously thrifty as Jerry Reinsdorf?
Well, regardless, ESPN’s Chris Broussard reports both sides are talking through the infamous “back channels” about a deal to bring Phil Jackson back to Chicago. And you know what? It could happen.
Phil Jackson Wouldn’t Leave The Lakers To Coach Chicago... Would He?
Given the kind of money it’d take to lure him away from Los Angeles, it’d be a pretty humongous risk for the Bulls to go after Phil Jackson in the next month, with the implication being that he’d arrive to coach either Dwyane Wade or LeBron James. Because if that doesn’t happen... Well, then you’d have the winningest coach in NBA history leading the Bulls to a six seed, making $15 million, while everyone stands around awkwardly and Phil takes sarcastic jabs at Kirk Hinrich.
But these are the facts:
- Phil has already been informed by Lakers’ management that he’s taking a paycut from the two year, $24 million extension he signed two years ago.
- LeBron James is reportedly interested in the Chicago Bulls.
- If Phil Jackson joins Chicago, the Bulls immediately become LeBron’s best chance to win a title.
- If the best player in the NBA signs with the Bulls, Chicago immediately becomes the next proving ground for Phil Jackson to display his coveted brand of zen genius.
The biggest questions in this:
- Will Chicago be patient enough to wait (in all likelihood) until July to sign a head coach?
- Will the Lakers be content to let their coach go elsewhere if they win another title this spring?
- If Phil’s waiting for LeBron... Would LeBron be willing to sign with a team that doesn’t have a coach?
- If LeBron’s waiting for Phil... Would Phil be willing to sign with a team that might turn out to be a massive disappointment?
All in all, there’s a lot of uncertainty above, and it’s still really early. But you gotta admit, the idea of the winningest coach in basketball, returning to the place where he first learned to win, teaching the best player in the NBA how to win big... It’s all pretty irresistible. And NOT impossible.
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