Sources: Bulls fire Del Negro

[Andrew]

Wojnarowski's Report

Vinny Del Negro was fired as the Chicago Bulls’ coach on Monday night, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Del Negro was informed of the decision in a meeting with general manager Gar Forman on Monday night at the team’s practice facility.

Multiple outlets had reported that the decision to fire Del Negro had been made and would likely come by Tuesday.

Despite two trips to the playoffs and a .500 regular-season record in his two seasons as coach, sources say Del Negro was fired largely for an impaired relationship with Forman and VP John Paxson.

No surprises there. For all his frustrating decisions, Del Negro still did a pretty good job with the players at his disposal and above all, carried himself very well even when Paxson and Forman were horrendously unprofessional. I think it's the right move to look at bringing in an Avery Johnson or Lawrence Frank given the opportunity but at the same time it's a shame to see Del Negro treated the way he has been. I'd feel a lot better if Paxson and Forman were following him out the door as I don't have much confidence in either at this point, but hopefully they've learned from past mistakes. Better people skills wouldn't hurt either.

[Dee.]

it's a shame though,Vinny was a great coach for the Bulls.
I Doubt they will get a better one next season.

[Andrew]

Great coach? I certainly wouldn't go that far, though credit definitely should be given where it's due. With the names being thrown around, it's not impossible that the Bulls can hire someone more accomplished and on the whole better than Del Negro...if Paxson and Forman have been given the green light to spend the money.

[Dee.]

Well,knowing that the team didn't have any great players,he did a really great job.
He did a nice job on development too.

[Rip32]

It's too bad Doug Collins didn't go through with his almost-return last year, HE'S a good coach.

Well,knowing that the team didn't have any great players,he did a really great job.
He did a nice job on development too.

Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose are pretty darn good and he didn't really develop anyone. I tend to think with Skiles as coach Rose would have been a much better player defensively, maybe offensively as well.

I'll always remember Vinny as a coach for the time his Dad somehow made it from the upper-deck of one of the playoff games vs Boston alllll the way to the Bulls bench. He slowly moved from his original seat to the bench throughout the game haha.

[Andrew]

Making the Playoffs as a low seed in the East wasn't out of the question this year or last. I'm not trying to take anything away from him, but I'd say he did a good job, not a great one. As for developing players, I don't know how much credit you can give him on that. He's got some veteran assistants and a couple of fairly motivated players in Rose and Noah. Indeed, outside of Rose and Noah, no one really "developed".

[benji]

It's too bad Doug Collins didn't go through with his almost-return last year, HE'S a good coach.

Yeah, I wouldn't say that.

[Rip32]

It's too bad Doug Collins didn't go through with his almost-return last year, HE'S a good coach.

Yeah, I wouldn't say that.

He could have done more with Jordan and those Bulls' teams, but he (and Prime Grant Hill) made the 96-97 Pistons look A LOT better than they were. He's a good coach, not great or anything. I guess o.k. would have been a better adjective to use

[benji]

Till they imploded exactly when hit his normal "year and a half" burned-out mark. The guy was burnt out after the 1995-96 season and the team had to beg him to keep coaching.

Then he really stunk in Washington with his horrible rotations and playing time distribution that changed every other hour. Along with letting Jordan basically run the team.

[john26]

Underrated coach got the Bulls making the playoffs for the second year despite losing one of their leading scorers in the offseason.

[benji]

To be fair, they had to fire him. They have Free Agents to attract. And some of those may want to decide who coaches them.

[hova-]

Are there any real established coaches available? I mean apart from those who got fired this season (like Eddie Jordan f.e.) It's really like about 5 coaches in this league are really good ones, the rest is replacable at any time.

[Valor]

Bulls' next move is not to look for a new coach, it's to fire Paxson and Forman so they dont hire a useless replacement

[Andrew]

Are there any real established coaches available? I mean apart from those who got fired this season (like Eddie Jordan f.e.) It's really like about 5 coaches in this league are really good ones, the rest is replacable at any time.

Avery Johnson, Lawrence Frank and Bryon Scott are three names that come to mind, along with experienced assistants like Tom Thibodeau who have drawn interest from teams seeking new head coaches in the past. There certainly are "name" coaches to pursue, whether they end up getting one of them remains to be seen of course.

[Dee.]

I Think sixers are trying to hire Johnson.

[Andrew]

So are the Hornets, from what I've read. I'm sure there'll be a few teams making their pitches and vying for his services.

[benji]

Also Mike Dunleavy.

[George7]

I totally Agree with Pax and Forman following him out of the door,as i believe they were the ones causing the most trouble than VDN.I'm on his side in this situation knowing that his job was better from adequate in these 2 years and with the roster he was given and with all the false trades and signing/no signings by Paxson and Forman.
Now we have to hire an experienced and good coach.I would like Byron Scott to be the next coach of the team οr Avery Johnson.These 2 are the best options IMO

[benji]

Byron Scott? Really? How many player revolts (led by your star point guard) do you need to get you drilled out of the league?

[J@3]

God knows how Doug Collins keeps getting this sort of attention. Everything I've read about him (in books about Jordan admittedly) he comes across as a spineless sycophant who can't handle/control his players.

[benji]

Hey, those Wizards NEEDED Charles Oakley and Byron Russell playing big minutes. THOSE GUYS HAD BEEN TO THE FINALS! (Insert cites of old forum posts where only me and Dr. Seth argued against the Jordan Wizards ever making the playoffs just to mock everyone who bought the hype. Hell, I have "well respected" magazines claiming Jerry Stackhouse and Jordan will lead them to the East Finals.)

It's the fact he's part of the media-coach cycle. Would Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello suddenly get jobs after a relative nothing to show for them if they hadn't been in the booth during the period between coaching gigs? Doc RIvers and Byron Scott are not unknowns to the ESPN commentator rotation. Nor say, a certain Van Gundy.

[Andrew]

A little late in salvaging dignity, but Paxson apologised for the incident with Del Negro. He also mentions that he plans on being a part of the organisation "for a lot of years", so I really hope he's learned from his past blunders.

[shadowgrin]

The Bulls should hire Mark Jackson and get it over with.

[Rip32]

The Bulls should hire Mark Jackson and get it over with.

rid us of his awful one-liners.

I do like his chemistry with JVG though. I can just see them going, "Mark, you're so right, do you wanna go get coffee sometime?"

[Andrew]

The Bulls should hire Mark Jackson and get it over with.

I'm torn: it'd get him off ESPN, but then he'd be coaching the Bulls. Quite the pickle.