Could Tom Thibodeau and LeBron James team up in L.A.?

Nine years after they just missed out on teaming up together in Chicago, LeBron James and Tom Thibodeau could unite in Los Angeles.

That's according to The Athletic's Frank Isola, who wrote Monday that Ty Lue, if ultimately hired as the Lakers' head coach, would have interest in bringing Thibodeau on board as a top assistant.

James reportedly thinks Thibodeau would be an asset for a Lakers team that struggled defensively for much of the year - despite finishing 13th in efficiency - as well as bring valuable experience to the bench. Lue and Thibodeau worked together under Doc Rivers in Boston.

It seems unlikely that Thibodeau, who has long been an admirer of James, would take an assistant role.…