New Orleans Pelicans: Top 5 Candidates To Replace Monty Williams

May 6, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 106-91. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Thibodeau

Last Job: Head Coach, Chicago Bulls

Under the assumption that the Bulls fire Thibodeau at the end of the season, which looks like the most probable outcome this year, I think Thibodeau is going to be as close to a top option for the Pelicans as one could get.

Though, I’m not sure he’d be the best fit.

What do we know about this Pelicans team? That they’re extremely talented WHEN healthy. Key word: when.

The Pelicans have great talent around Anthony Davis, but I can’t even remember the last time they were mostly healthy for 82 games, and that’s usually a bad thing in the NBA. Despite that, they still managed to make the playoffs this season but, if we’re being frank, the real reason they made the playoffs was because Kevin Durant was injured for most of the season.

Thibodeau, as good of a coach as he’s proven to be in the NBA over the last few years in Chicago, is known around the NBA for running players into the ground. Ask Luol Deng and what’s left of Joakim Noah.

I can’t imagine what he’d do to what’s left of this often-injured Pelicans team — and Anthony Davis — if they gave Thibodeau this job.

Please don’t.

Next: Scott Brooks