If Tyronn Lue does leave the LA Clippers, the team should give Tom Thibodeau a look as Doc Rivers’ lead assistant coach next season.
Doc Rivers might be without Tyronn Lue last season. Reports have surfaced that Lue may be courted for the Brooklyn Nets coaching job. Lue has been Rivers’ lead assistant after joining full-time prior to the start of the season.
If Lue does part ways with the team, Rivers will need to fill his lead assistant spot. Rivers has options on his staff like Sam Cassell and Rex Kalamian but if the search is geared towards outside candidates, Tom Thibodeau might be worth a look for that position.
Thibs has been out of the league for a couple of seasons now but has stayed involved. He has advised several teams, including the Clippers. He also has some history with Rivers already, having been the defensive mastermind on Rivers’ championship Boston Celtics team.
The team already does have a defensive-minded coach in Kalamian but adding Thibs to the staff could only help. His tough-nosed attitude would fit in well with the culture the team has built and having the likes of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell to toy with would be right up his alley.
There are rumors that the New York Knicks are evaluating him for their open head coach position but since it’s the Knicks, obviously nothing is guaranteed. Thibs would obviously be more inclined to take another head coaching gig for most teams over being an assistant again but given the issues, many coaches have had in New York, maybe he won’t be so inclined to go there.
If Lue does opt to head to Brooklyn, the Clippers will have a big hole to fill. It’s been a blessing having a championship-winning coach as a lead assistant. While Thibs doesn’t have that specific accolade, he would be one of the better available options to fill that spot.