Current Chicago Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming is reportedly a candidate in consideration for the Knicks head coaching job.
At the moment, one of the more high profile head coaching searches sits with another of the big market storied franchises in the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks. Earlier in the 2019-20 regular season, the Knicks parted ways with former head coach David Fizdale after he started out with a record of 4-18. That sounds like a fairly similar situation to what the Chicago Bulls went through just one season prior.
And the current Knicks head coaching search could suck in a few current and former Bulls staff members. According to a report from Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks are planning on speaking with “at least 8-10 coaches during a head-coaching search that will likely stretch into next month”. Two of those coaches are either currently on the Bulls coaching staff, or was within the last five years.
The current Bulls staff member that is in the midst of the Knicks search is former Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Chris Fleming. As the top offensive assistant under current Bulls head coach Jim Boylen, Fleming could be an appealing candidate. But he is also one that the Bulls should do everything they can to keep him on staff in the Windy City, it at all possible.
Moreover, the other candidate in the Knicks search that has ties back with the Bulls is former head coach Tom Thibodeau. The ex-Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves head coach is not currently holding a coaching job in the NBA. But he is a possible candidate for a number of head coach openings around the league entering the offseason.
The Knicks look to also be seriously considering a potential candidate if the Bulls were to open up a coaching search of their own. The Philadelphia 76ers lead assistant Ime Udoka is one of the candidates being considered for the Knicks opening, as he could be with the Bulls if there is an opening later in the offseason.
If the Bulls also wind up with a head coaching search in the near future, then it could take to a similar path as the Knicks has. They have some solid coaching candidates on the list, especially with the likes of Udoka and former Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson.
The Bulls finished up with a record of 22-43 through their first 65 games of the 2019-20 regular season, prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic putting a halt on things back in mid-March. And the Knicks finished up with a record of 21-45 prior to the hiatus.