There hasn't been much noise on the Thunder coaching search since general manager Sam Presti talked about the firing of Scott Brooks last week.
Plenty of conjecturing and plenty of guessing, and even the rumor of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewsk in town eating lunch was floating around, but here's what the silence likely means:
1. The Thunder haven't identified their guy yet
Remember, Presti said there were going to be no limitations on the scope of the coaching search. That scope could be wide enough to last more than a week.
Meanwhile, the Thunder don't really need to make a decision any time soon. It's conceivable Presti won't make a decision much before the draft, which comes in the last week of June. And if it's true Presti is looking far and wide for a new coach, it very well may take another several weeks. So far the names we have heard include a mix of college and pro coaches, which would tend to back up Presti's theory he's doing his due diligence.
Former Thunder player and current U-Conn coach Kevin Ollie has said he wasn't "pursuing" the OKC job, but who knows what exactly what his interest level is. The scope Presti was talking about seems to be wide.
In addition to Ollie, there have been NBA coaches as well as former Warriors coach Mark Jackson rumored to be in the conversation.
Hard to imagine anything Sam Presti does is random or done without an immense amount of thought. If that's the case, it's easy to see why he and the Thunder decision makers would take as long as possible to make a decision. Already this season, the Thunder have sent Reggie Jackson out and brought in Dion Waiters Enes Kanter. The moves were necessary and both improved the team. This is just another opportunity.
2. It means the Thunder's choice is still coaching in the NBA playoffs
Perhaps the reason we haven't heard of any movement or any rumblings is because the Thunder coach to be is still with a team in the playoffs and not available to make a statement or comment.
This seems likely.
In addition to Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle could be a candidate for the job. Both have teams playing in the first round and both seem ready to make a move to another team. Thibodeau is at odds with the Bulls organization and is likely out of Chicago at the end of the season. Carlisle appears ripe for a change after a number of run-ins this season with guard Rajon Rondo.
Both Carlisle and Thibodeau have a history of success dealing with superstars, too, which would be a fit in Oklahoma City as Kevin Durant heads into the final season of his contract.
Carlisle has won an NBA title and Thibodeau isn't going to be in Chicago at the end of the season, according to Zach Lowe of Grantland.
"People close to Thibodeau are convinced the Bulls will fire him after the season," Lowe said. However, if the Bulls were to win the Eastern Conference or the NBA title, it would be tough to see him getting fired.
Perhaps even an assistant coach could be targeted by Presti and the Thunder, despite the fact we haven't heard any names as leading candidates.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
MORE FROM FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST:
- Ranking NFL quarterback salaries
- Oldest player on every NBA team
- College football's highest paid coaches in 2014
- Highest paid player on every MLB roster
