Tom Thibodeau likely to extend with Knicks for at least $10 million per year, per report

Getty Images

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is viewed as a “near certainty” to extend his contract this offseason at “market rate,” according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. That would mean at least $10 million per year, which is quickly becoming the NBA’s standard for a proven head coach. 

The NBA’s coaching market has exploded over the past year. Ever since the Detroit Pistons gave Monty Williams a six-year, $78.5 million contract, salaries for all of the NBA’s best coaches have gone up significantly. Erik Spoelstra got a whopping $120 million over eight years to remain with the Miami Heat. Steve Kerr will make even more than that on a per-year basis, though he extended for only two years at $35 million in total. Mike Brown, Gregg Popovich, Jason Kidd and Ty Lue have all re-upped to hefty, long-term extensions over the past year. Now, Thibodeau appears poised to join that club.

Something in the neighborhood of $10 million per year feels like an appropriate figure in this market. It is below the $15 million or so championship coaches can command, but Thibodeau hasn’t won a title. Such a deal would pay him a bit less and put him in Brown’s range. Sacramento’s head coach reportedly sought $10 million annually before re-signing for $8.5 million per year in the end. The two actually have fairly similar coaching resumes. Both are two-time Coach of the Year winners who revived moribund franchises. Of course, with Thibodeau doing so in a big market like New York, he should ultimately wind up earning a bit more.

After all, he has done what Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas and Phil Jackson could not over the past two decades: turn the Knicks into a consistent winner. New York has reached the postseason in three of the past four seasons and won a series in each of the last two playoffs. The Knicks came one game short of reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/tom-thibodeau-likely-to-extend-with-knicks-for-at-least-10-million-per-year-per-report/

Author : Sam Quinn

Publish date : 2024-06-03 00:41:24

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.