Pelicans hire Alvin Gentry; Could Thibodeau sit out '15-16?

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Late Saturday night the New Orleans Hornets made official their hiring of Golden State Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry, filling one of the three remaining head-coaching vacancies in the NBA.

The news came one day after the Orlando Magic hired Scott Skiles, leaving the Bulls and Denver Nuggets as the two remaining teams without a head coach.

So, with the top three head coaching vacancies - Oklahoma City hired Billy Donovan earlier this month - the likelihood increases that Tom Thibodeau, a coach who won 255 games in five seasons with the Bulls - could sit out the 2015-16 season.

The Nuggets are reportedly still considering Melvin Hunt, who went 10-13 in an interim role after Denver fired Brian Shaw in March, for the position. But Thibodeau has not been linked to that opening - Mike D'Antoni and Scott Brooks have been - and obviously won't be in Chicago next season - Fred Hoiberg appears tabbed for that position.

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bulls fans!]

There's upside for Thibodeau to remain on the sidelines for a season, collecting paychecks from the $9 million the Bulls owe him after firing him with two years left on his deal. Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson has reported that he'll sit out this season and wait to see what opens up in 2016-17, when the Lakers may be an option, among other teams.

There's also a chance the Cavaliers part ways with first year head coach David Blatt, who despite Cleveland's successful season and NBA Finals berth may still be on the chopping block - though owner Dan Gilbert shot down those reports via his Twitter account. Thibodeau hasn't been linked to Cleveland - no one has, considering the Cavs are still playing - but coaching LeBron James and Kyrie Irving has its obvious benefits.

One last note is Chris Sheridan reporting last week that an unexpected team "nobody sees coming" will fire their coach "in the next couple days." Nothing has happened since, but depending on the situation it could change where Thibodeau winds up and when he's back in the NBA.

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