The Chicago Bulls have yet to resume negotiations regarding a contract extension for coach Tom Thibodeau, who said Friday that he's "fine" with the situation.
"It's not a big deal," Thibodeau said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "They picked up the option. We just haven't gotten around to anything yet."
After winning coach of the year honors in 2010-11, his first season as an NBA head coach, Thibodeau followed in 2011-12 by again guiding the Bulls to the best regular-season record despite several injuries to the team. He nearly became the first in history to repeat as NBA coach of the year, but he finished second behind the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich.
"Obviously you guys know how we feel about Tom," Bulls general manager Gar Forman told ESPN 1000's "The Carmen, Jurko and Harry Show" on Friday. "He's a terrific coach, and you know we picked up his option. He's under contract for this coming year. As we talked about, you know we've had some talks as far as an extension, and we'll continue to have them. It's our goal and it's Tom's goal that he will be the coach of the Chicago Bulls not only now but into the future.
Multiple reports surfaced this past season that Thibodeau was unhappy he didn't have a long-term extension in place. Reports also quoted sources saying the players knew about Thibodeau's unhappiness.
Forman said Friday he doesn't expect Thibodeau's contract situation to be any sort of distraction for the organization.
"Tom's going to approach it as a professional, like we all do," Forman said. "I don't think it's going to affect Tom or the players in any way. The hope is, again, that we'll be able to come to a deal that will make Tom the coach for this coming year and several years to come after that."
Forman previously had said there were conversations with Thibodeau about an extension before last season, but they were tabled and would be picked up again during this offseason.
Those talks have yet to begin.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Thibodeau said. "At some point this summer, we'll resume the talks.
"Right now, there's a lot going on with the team, with the draft and of course free agency coming up. At some point, we'll sit down."