Looks like the Bulls are trying to make major moves this offseason. It has just been reported that the Chicago Bulls have reached out to Phil Jackson concerning the current vacancy at head coach, in hopes of enticing him to return to the organization with which he won 6 NBA titles.
ESPN reports:
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.
Gar Forman, the Bulls’ general manager, refused to comment on the club’s coaching search when reached Monday night by telephone.
With roughly $23 million to spend in free agency, the Bulls are one of the more probable landing spots for LeBron James. James is intrigued by the possibility of playing with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, according to sources, and the return of Jackson would only make the Bulls that much more attractive to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ two-time MVP.
Jackson, who is in the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, would likely only be interested in coaching Chicago if James signed there. If Jackson and James joined the Bulls, Jackson would have the unparalleled opportunity to have coached Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and James.
Now, I am by no means a bandwagon jumper, but if the Bulls can get this done as well as pick up LeBron, I will be forced to dust off my ’93 Starter Bulls bomber jacket. This move by the Bulls organization is obviously a power play to add sweetener to the whole LeBron situation, and if the Bulls did acquire Jackson, I do not see how LeBron could refuse. Think about it; the great Phil Jackson returning to the team that he brought six NBA titles, along with arguably one of the best players in the league, and a solid group of supporting players for LeBron. Think about the ratings a Bulls/Lakers Finals match up would yield with the Zen master returning to LA with LeBron under his wing… This sounds like something out of a movie. I can see Bulls fans foaming at the very thought of this possibility.
This is shaping up to be an offseason for the ages… Stay tuned.