Coach White Mamba? Brian Scalabrine may become assistant for Bulls

Brian Scalabrine may be donning a suit on the Bulls' bench next season. (Gary Dineen/Getty Images)

Brian Scalabrine, the long-time bench-warmer known as the "White Mamba," may be joining Tom Thibodeau's coaching staff with the Bulls this season, reports CSNChicago.com.

Scalabrine has played for the Bulls the past two seasons, and he also played for the Celtics when Thibodeau was an assistant there. He is considered a "front-runner" for the last open assistant coach position, the report states.

Scalabrine, 34, averaged 1.1 points per game with the Bulls. He had said he hoped to keep playing, but it doesn't appear he has received any offers.

If Scalabrine has hopes of a coaching career, starting with the Bulls and Thibodeau would make sense. He could provide the coaching staff with a different perspective because of his familiarity with the team and his experience playing with and against many players in the NBA.