Hornets set deadline for Thibodeau

[CmWYNNE3]

The New Orleans Hornets offered their vacant coaching job to Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau last week, but they're prepared to move on if Thibodeau has not accepted the job before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, according to sources close to the situation.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Hornets don't want to let their coaching search drag beyond this week and plan to offer the job instead to Portland Trail Blazers assistant Monty Williams if Thibodeau, architect of Boston's vaunted defense, doesn't accept by Thursday.

The delay, according to sources, stems not only from Boston's ongoing postseason obligations but from Thibodeau's desire to see how serious the New Jersey Nets and Chicago Bulls are about hiring him. It remains unclear when or if the Bulls still plan to interview Thibodeau, but one source said Thibodeau did speak with the Nets before the Celtics left Tuesday for Los Angeles.

During Boston's Eastern Conference finals series against Orlando, Thibodeau emerged as the top choice of Hornets general manager Jeff Bower, who is close with ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, perhaps Thibodeau's biggest fan in the coaching business. But rumblings persist that Hornets star Chris Paul would prefer Williams, who got his coaching start under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio before joining the Blazers.

The Hornets made a formal offer to Thibodeau early last week, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. Although Thibodeau has never been a head coach in the NBA, his stock has never been higher thanks to the Celtics' unexpected run to the Finals as the East's No. 4 seed.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.