Report: Thibodeau-Pelicans pairing being speculated, Joe Dumars providing input

If Tom Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls part ways at the conclusion of the playoffs, as is expected, the 2011 Coach of the Year will instantly become the hottest coaching prospect on the market.

And with an attractive head-coaching vacancy suddenly presenting itself in New Orleans, CBS Sports' Ken Berger reports that rival teams and industry sources are already speculating about a potential Pelicans-Thibodeau pairing.

ESPN's Marc Stein also had this to offer:

Thibodeau was a candidate for New Orleans' top coaching job the last time the franchise had a vacancy, when they ended up hiring Monty Williams in 2010.

Berger reports that Joe Dumars, who was rumored to be in the running for a Pelicans front-office job last week, has been providing input to the team, and that the former Detroit Pistons general manager has a close relationship with Pelicans owner Tom Benson and executive vice president Mickey Loomis.

Pelicans general manager Dell Demps, who was rumored to be under the same playoffs-or-else pressure as Williams coming into the season, is under contract for 2015-16 and has a team option for 2016-17. But citing league sources, Berger reports that Demps may not have been the one to make the call on Williams.

Demps was hired by New Orleans a month after Williams in 2010, and so it's possible Tuesday's firing was the first step in allowing Demps to finally install his own coaching hire, whether that be Thibodeau or another candidate.

But if Dumars has Benson's ear and is providing input to Pelicans management without the GM's involvement, Demps may want to start looking over his shoulder.

The Pelicans won 45 games and advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2011 before being swept by the top-seeded Golden State Warriors.