What’s up with Thibodeau contract?

Somehow, some way Tuesday night in the United Center, the Bulls managed a 77-69 victory to extend their NBA first-round playoff series with the 76ers.

However, it still isn’t too early to ponder what the Bulls will do after the season ends, whenever that is, especially with head coach Tom Thibodeau’s contract status.

The ballots have been collected and counted. The result is 50 percent blame Thibodeau for both Derrick Rose’s torn ACL and the severity of Joakim Noah’s sprained ankle. If my math is correct, that leaves 50 percent that don’t.

A runoff election is required and will consist of one person, one vote ... the only one that matters.

So what do you think Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf thinks of Thibodeau’s role in the injuries?

What I think is that whatever Reinsdorf thinks, he doesn’t have to be correct. He just has to be the boss.

“I’m sure Jerry loves Thibs,” Sixers coach Doug Collins said.

Still, Thibodeau’s contract calls for a club option next year and nothing more. Reinsdorf could whack him on a whim with minimal financial consequence or public outrage if the Bulls don’t rally to win this series.

If Reinsdorf is skeptical of Thibodeau’s management of minutes for Rose, Noah, Luol Deng and the rest ... well, that might be enough to explain why the Bulls haven’t picked up the option yet or extended the coache’s contract for multiple seasons.

Personally, I’d come to a long-term agreement with Thibodeau faster than you could spell ACL, but that’s just another opinion that doesn’t matter.

That is Reinsdorf’s money — and that of the Bulls’ other investors — strapped to Rose’s future and we all know that financial considerations are paramount in sports these days.

Here’s a nagging question that I haven’t seen addressed on this subject: Did Reinsdorf or one of his executives suggest to Thibodeau at any time this season that he should be a little more careful managing minutes and injuries?

Both Reinsdorf and Thibodeau like things done their way, which would include an issue of when players play and how much. What happens if these two strong-willed men can’t agree on this?

A story broke during the season that Thibodeau was unhappy the Bulls haven’t even picked up the option, much less signed him for multiple years.

What’s the hang-up on ensuring Thibodeau is the Bulls’ coach for another decade? Other than money and duration, that is?

Maybe it is this sticky minutes thing, especially in light of Rose’s myriad physical breakdowns. International wars have been fought over lesser disagreements.

Nothing will be consummated until Reinsdorf wants it to be, his is the one precinct that hasn’t been heard from lately and it would be understandable if his fumes were fuming over Rose’s suddenly uncertain future.

Oh, and then there’s another issue: Thibodeau’s type of intensity tends to wear on players as early as, say, Year 3 of their relationship.

Reinsdorf won’t mind paying Thibodeau to coach the next four or five years. He will mind paying him not to coach if the player-coach dynamic becomes strained and he has to be dismissed.

“Coaches always are on short contracts,” Collins chuckled. “It’s the easiest contract to buy out.”

At some point we’ll get an indication how much Jerry Reinsdorf holds Tom Thibodeau responsible for Derrick Rose’s status.

Until then, let the conjecture run rampant concerning this issue.

mimrem@dailyherald.com