Regarding the possibility of a contract extension this summer, Tom Thibodeau has made it clear that he wants to remain with the Knicks.
“That will be resolved by my agent,” the coach said. “The Knicks have been great to me, so this is where I want to be.”
Barring a contract extension, the 66-year-old Thibodeau will enter the final season of a five-year contract next season, which coaches aren’t typically in lame duck status.
Either you get an extension or you get fired. Officials have expressed confidence that the Knicks and Thibodeau will come to an agreement, but nothing is certain until pen is put to paper.
NBA coaching salaries have skyrocketed recently, with contracts in excess of $10 million likely to be the norm.
Thibodeau has led the franchise to the playoffs three times in the past two years with a 2-3 series record, including Sunday’s loss to the Pacers, which sealed their exit from the Eastern Conference semifinals.
He already ranks fifth on the franchise list with 175 wins, behind only Pat Riley, Jeff Van Gundy, Joe Lapchick and Red Holtzman.
Josh Hart and OG Anunoby praised Thibodeau after the loss.
“Obviously we don’t understand much about the situation before.” [Thibodeau] I was here and he was Coach of the Year. [in 2021], we could have gotten this team to the playoffs, we could have gotten this team to the second round, and we could have gotten even further had it not been for the injury,” Hart said. “So I think you look at the foundation that he’s built, but we know that in order to be a championship team, it only takes one season to get there as opposed to flipping a switch.
“We know you have to keep building, and that’s what he’s done, what he laid the foundation for, and that’s what gives this city and this franchise hope moving forward.” will give you.”
Mr Anunoby added: “He’s a great coach and I think he’s well prepared. He does a great job of preparing us, including game adjustments. He’s a great coach. I love the coach.”
“Those two should come back,” Josh Hart said as he left the locker room at the end of the season, pointing to Isaiah Hartenstein and OG Anuoby.
Anunoby is expected to decline his $20 million player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent.
The Knicks own his bird rights and can re-sign him over the salary cap.
Hartenstein is an unrestricted free agent and the Knicks have early bird rights. This means that if your starting salary exceeds the cap, it will only rise to about $16 million.
“I love the group,” Thibodeau said when asked if he would like to bring it back. “As a coach, you couldn’t ask for a better group.”
