People very close to Tom Thibodeau believe the Bulls will fire him at the end of the season, according to Grantland’s Zach Lowe. Lowe goes on to point out that the Bulls front office always plays down the issue because they are not on good terms with Thibodeau. The Bulls are in a great position right now, up 3-1 in their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks and are awaiting an inevitable second round matchup against the Cleveland Cavilers.

Even with all that going for the Bulls the former coach of the year is not expected back next season. According to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, many view Iowa State head coach Fried Hoiberg as Tom Thibodeau’s replacement. It is mind-boggling to some why the Bulls would even consider parting ways with a coach as good as Thibodeau, but it’s happened in Chicago before.

The Bulls and Phil Jackson agreed to part ways after the 1998 season, even though Jackson won six championships as head coach. According to multiple reports, Jackson was fired because of tension between himself and Bulls general manager Jerry Krause. Some believed that Krause felt under-recognized for building a championship team and believed that Jackson was indebted to him for giving him his first NBA head coaching job.

Krause announced the signing by emphasizing that Jackson would not be rehired even if the Bulls won the 1997–98 NBA title. Jackson then told Krause that he seemed to be rooting against him, to which Krause responded, “I don’t care if it’s 82-and-0 this year, you’re gone.” After the 1998 season, the Bulls moved on from Jackson and hired Iowa State head coach Tim Floyd.

We all know what happened next the Bulls were terrible the next four years, while Jackson went on to win three more titles as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls have not made it back to the NBA Finals since Jackson and firing him was ultimately a big mistake.

Many feel firing Thibodeau would be a similar mistake, but it is likely the Bulls and Thibodeau will part ways at the end of the season. ESPN NBA analyst Marc Stein wrote earlier this month that it is “widely expected” by people in the NBA for Thibodeau to be coaching somewhere new next season. Thibodeau wouldn’t walk away from the job, but if he and Bulls general manager Gar Forman cannot repair their relationship, he will be gone.

Thibodeau will have options if he is shown the door in Chicago. The Orlando Magic have an interest in Thibodeau should he become available. He also may be the favorite for the Oklahoma City job. He could do wonders with a team that contains Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook.

Thibodeau has compiled a record of 255-139 in five seasons with the Bulls. He has guided them to the playoffs each year in spite of many injuries to Derrick Rose and others, but none of that matters because it looks like he will be coaching on another sideline next season.