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Rumors of the Los Angeles Lakers looking to pursue Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau to replace the still employed Byron Scott for their head coaching position swirled Wednesday. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, a man who would presumably know about such matters, called in to Bill Reiter's radio show Thursday to issue a strong denial of those reports:
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak addressed the rumored interest in Tom Thibodeau on @sportsreiter's radio show: pic.twitter.com/IpUNJkFZzs
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) May 21, 2015
Rumor refutation does not get much more direct than that. With Kupchak speaking so strongly in support of his beleaguered coach, it would appear highly unlikely there is much truth to the Thibodeau rumors. The report seemed especially far-fetched given that both the Lakers and the Bulls still both had their coaches under contract. Barring an unforeseen turn of events, Scott looks set to head into the 2015-16 season as the Lakers' head coach.
Plus, does this look like a man who is concerned about his job security?