Although an official announcement will have to wait until after the NBA Finals, Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau has accepted an offer to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bulls, a source told ESPNChicago.com on Saturday.

Thibodeau's deal is worth approximately $6.5 million, with two years guaranteed plus a team option, according to multiple media reports.

This development comes after ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Thibodeau had withdrawn his name from consideration for the New Orleans Hornets' coaching job.

Bulls officials declined comment. The team and the NBA agreed to

wait until after the Finals are over to make the hiring official.

"We do not have any rules that prohibit a team from announcing a coaching hire during the Finals," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said. "In the Bulls case, because they have no plans to consummate any

deal before the end of the Finals, we agreed that they should defer

any announcement to the conclusion of the Finals."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers would not confirm the move before Boston practiced the day before Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

"I hope it's true, but we're not going to comment on it, I can tell you that," Rivers said. "We're focused on the NBA Finals. There's two teams. There's the Lakers and the Celtics, and that's what we're going to keep the focus on.

"But on Tom, he deserves the job. I think he's the best candidate out there. I've said that for three years now. So let's hope it's true."

In addition to getting interest from the Bulls and Hornets, Thibodeau was a strong candidate for the New Jersey Nets' coaching opening, Stein reported. Thibodeau interviewed with the Nets before the Celtics left the East Coast for Los Angeles for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Early in the Bulls' coaching search, conventional wisdom indicated the team was looking at candidates who had prior head coaching experience. Thibodeau's extensive experience as an assistant, however, was enough.

ESPNChicago.com had reported the Bulls were impressed with Thibodeau's basketball knowledge after a recent interview.

Those who worked closely with Thibodeau had high praise for him.

"Tom's a workaholic," Celtics forward Paul Pierce told ESPNChicago.com recently. "I'm always catching him in there working, watching film in his office. He's probably the most prepared coach I've ever seen."

Rivers agreed.

"It's tough to get a picture of him, because he's always in the office," Rivers told ESPNChicago.com.