The Chicago Bulls are expected to resolve the future of Tom Thibodeau by Friday with his dismissal likely unless Jerry Reinsdorf unexpectedly intervenes at the last minute.

Thibodeau is owed $9 million over the final two years of his contract.

Fred Hoiberg is widely considered the favorite to replace Thibodeau.

According to sources, some players didn't endorse Thibodeau's return in exit meetings with management.

Some players have been making separate offseason plans for several summers to get a break from Thibodeau, who rarely leaves the practice facility.

Thibodeau has had no dialogue with John Paxson, the executive vice president of basketball operations, since Paxson suggested to Thibodeau that he cancel an unplanned practice he had scheduled in January and merely hold a team meeting with open dialogue with players. Several players praised the meeting. 

Thibodeau is so isolated that he typically spends all day behind his closed office door.

Thibodeau reportedly never got over management letting Omer Asik and Kyle Korver leave for nothing in free agency, took months to sign his contract extension and bristled at management's imposing of minute restrictions for Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich this season.

Sources confirmed Thibodeau's contract contains offset language, which means the Bulls' financial commitment would be "offset" by the amount he would make if hired by another team before the deal expires in 2017.

Update: The Bulls announced the firing of Thibodeau on Thursday.