WALTHAM - Tom Thibodeau may have an opportunity to coach against the Celtics next season.

Celtics president Danny Ainge said yesterday that the team's associate head coach has been given permission to speak to Atlantic Division rival Philadelphia about its head coach opening. The 76ers asked last week and Ainge granted permission yesterday, after the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday.

The Sixers interviewed ex-Washington coach Eddie Jordan last Friday and also seem to have interest in Cleveland assistant John Kuester, a former Boston assistant.

``Tom will be an excellent head coach,'' said Ainge. ``He just needs an opportunity.''

Thibodeau, who has been with the Celtics two seasons, has built a reputation as one of the best defensive coaches in the league. In 18 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, his teams have ranked among the top 10 in team defense 15 times. The Celtics were tops in the league this season in field goal percentage defense and third in points allowed per game.

``That's terrific,'' said head coach Doc Rivers. ``I've put in a call to [Sixers general manager] Ed Stefanski to see if I can help. I hope he gets one more interview.''

Rivers was referring to the opening in Sacramento.

``He's got a great Basketball mind,'' said Rivers. ``He's been in the game so long under so many great coaches. He's got a lot of different defensive schemes. He's not just a defensive guy, he's a coach.''

Free thinking

While Eddie House is likely to return to the Celtics , time will tell whether Glen Davis, Stephon Marbury, Gabe Pruitt, Leon Powe, and Mikki Moore will be back. Following yesterday's season-ending team meeting, several of the players talked about their free agency situation, though Ainge was in no rush.

``We'll just take our time,'' Ainge said. ``We have a while before we talk about that stuff . . . But no decisions are needed at this point with any of them.''

House, who averaged 8.5 points this season and broke Ainge's 22-year-old team record for 3-point field goal percentage (44.4 percent), has a $2.8 million option for next season.

``I'm coming back probably, more than likely,'' House said. ``I haven't even thought about that, really. I'm obligated to come back through the contract. I'll try to do it again. There's a sour taste in my mouth.''

Davis is expected to be a coveted restricted free agent after filling in for Kevin Garnett late in the regular season and during the playoffs. ``Big Baby'' averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game in the regular season and 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in the postseason. One NBA general manager said in early May that Davis probably would merit $3 million-$5 million in his next contract.

``I'm excited, I'm nervous,'' Davis said. ``I feel a lot of emotions. It's a business.

``Would this be my first choice? Yeah. I want to win. That's the most important thing.''

Asked about his ties to the Celtics factoring into a business decision, Davis said, ``That's the hardest part, the camaraderie with the team just being your first stop. You're always going to have a soft spot. But you always realize that it's still a business. You just got to take the bad with the good.''

``Baby had a great year,'' said Ainge. ``He played well. I'm sure there will be some interest in him.''

Marbury, a late addition to the Celtics this season, averaged 3.7 points and 1.8 assists. He said he would have no problem backing up Rajon Rondo at point guard but hopes to get more minutes. He is keeping his options open.

``In the next two weeks, [Ainge] and I are going to talk, either in person or over the phone,'' Marbury said. ``Doc is going to be in New York in three or four days, so I'll probably see him. We will see. You got to wait and see.''

Moore averaged 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 34 regular-season games after signing as a free agent Feb. 24, but played sparingly during the postseason. He said he loved the camaraderie of this team and hopes he can convince the Celtics to keep him by working out here this offseason and training with the summer league team.

``I just talked to Danny and he said he wouldn't have a problem with signing me again,'' said Moore. ``The coaches loved me and they just thought I didn't get the pick-and-roll coverages right. That was the only problem. But my energy and me being a good teammate, they said they'd love to sign me.''

Powe, who averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds, had season-ending left knee surgery after being injured in Game 2 of the first-round series against Chicago. He is an unrestricted free agent.

Pruitt, 23, a 2007 second-round pick, has a team option ($825,497) due Aug. 1 that is expected to be decided upon after he plays for Boston's summer league team.

As for Rondo, who was named to the NBA All-Defensive second team this season, his agent, Bill Duffy, hopes to get him an extension this summer that will begin with the 2010-11 season.

If the Celtics return with their core healthy, Rondo believes they can regain their throne as champions next season.

``We should win it again,'' said Rondo. ``That's how I'm looking at it. That's my expectation. I don't know any other way.''

Man at work

Ainge, who had a mild heart attack and heart surgery in mid April, said he still loves his job running the Celtics and is ``feeling great,'' adding that, ``We still have a lot of work to do.'' . . . Garnett, who turns 33 today, is expected to have surgery for bone spurs on his right knee ``sooner rather than later,'' according to Rivers, but a date has yet to be set . . . Davis's close friend and former Louisiana State teammate Garrett Temple said yesterday that he will work out for the Celtics this week. The 6-foot-6-inch, 190-pound guard averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals last season as a senior. The Celtics' only draft selection this year is the 57th overall pick, in the second round.

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears @globe.com