Breaking News: Bulls To Fire Vinny Del Negro Tuesday

Pro Sports 37 replies 1,338 views
2quik4u's avatar
2quik4u
Posts: 4,388
May 3, 2010 11:53am
Vinny Del Negro met with Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf on Sunday, but the embattled coach's 11th-hour argument to keep his job won't change what the Tribune has reported since December 2009:

Del Negro is expected to be dismissed with one year and roughly $2 million remaining on his guaranteed three-year contract. Barring a snag, the Bulls will make this news official Tuesday.

At that point, executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman will embark on a search focusing on candidates with previous NBA head-coaching experience.

Doug Collins, Lawrence Frank, Kevin McHale, Maurice Cheeks, Byron Scott and Dwane Casey are some of the many names who fit that description and could receive interviews. Management is waiting to contact prospective candidates until Del Negro officially is dismissed.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,5606912.story
jpake1's avatar
jpake1
Posts: 2,389
May 3, 2010 12:00pm
Figured it was coming. He did a pretty good job with that roster. He and the FO just didn't get along. I think this hurts Chicago's chances of getting a big FA. Too much uncertainty there as of right now.
just_a_swimmer's avatar
just_a_swimmer
Posts: 674
May 3, 2010 12:04pm
Nobody on that list is better then what they have. The grass isn't always greener as they say. Dumb move but just my opinion.
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devil1197
Posts: 6,220
May 3, 2010 12:30pm
Stupid move franchise wise.

This was a very personal move.
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
May 3, 2010 12:33pm
I thought he got them to play well in the playoffs, but I think they underachieved in the regular season.

With that said, this is a very desirable job and I'm surprised they don't have some bigger names for potential replacements. You have Rose and Noah who are both good young players and they will sign a free agent this summer, who it is, is unknown, but they will get someone.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
May 3, 2010 12:51pm
I don't get this at all..how can you fire a guy who took the team to the playoffs in both his years as head coach, with a team that had just picked in the lottery the year before? Not to mention, his players liked him (I think it was Rose who publicly stated he wants Del Negro to return) and he got his players to fight hard.

It's not like his teams were loaded with talent...what else can you ask from him?

Making personal decisions in the workplace is not a very smart move.
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
May 3, 2010 1:20pm
In all fairness, if you get into a fight with your boss, you are gone. Whether he started it or not, he was gone unless ownership got rid of Paxson first, which didn't happen.

Rose vouched for him, but he's never had another coach, so what's he supposed to say.

On top of that, they didn't really improve from last year as they should have.

So in some ways, it is justified, although I don't necessarily agree with this move.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
May 3, 2010 1:43pm
Bring back Phil Jackson?
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Swamp Fox
Posts: 2,218
May 3, 2010 1:49pm
When Kobe has to play using a walker, Jackson might consider it, but chances are slim because Chicago will not be a team that will challenge for an NBA
Title right away. Phil likes teams that are good when he gets there....not taking anything away from his coaching acumen.
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devil1197
Posts: 6,220
May 3, 2010 1:52pm
Swamp Fox wrote: When Kobe has to play using a walker, Jackson might consider it, but chances are slim because Chicago will not be a team that will challenge for an NBA
Title right away. Phil likes teams that are good when he gets there....not taking anything away from his coaching acumen.
Depends on who Chicago can land this summer.

If they get a Wade type player to pair with Rose and the other young players, then they will be a contending team right away next season.

Boston is getting old, Atlanta is flashy but Johnson will leave and even now their not a top team.
wes_mantooth's avatar
wes_mantooth
Posts: 17,977
May 3, 2010 1:55pm
Isiah Thomas!!!!!
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sjmvsfscs08
Posts: 2,963
May 3, 2010 2:20pm
The Bulls are a Chris Bosh away from being a title contender (the Cavaliers are a Chris Bosh away from having a dynasty). They play very well together in my opinion, but just don't have the firepower. Dwayne Wade would also be huge. Chicago could be in for a huge off-season.
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devil1197
Posts: 6,220
May 3, 2010 2:24pm
sjmvsfscs08 wrote: The Bulls are a Chris Bosh away from being a title contender (the Cavaliers are a Chris Bosh away from having a dynasty). They play very well together in my opinion, but just don't have the firepower. Dwayne Wade would also be huge. Chicago could be in for a huge off-season.
It could be huge, but this may be one of the most over hyped offseasons in a long time.

I see the two biggest players staying at their current teams (Bron/Wade). Everyone knows Bosh will bolt so that won't have the big surprise either.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
May 3, 2010 2:26pm
I agree with jpake, I think this hurts their chances at bringing in a big FA--unless they sign a big name coach, which could certainly happen. I thought Del Negro did a pretty good job with that team. People seemed to think they should have been better than they were for some reason--but I don't see why.
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
May 3, 2010 2:26pm
It's not overhyped if Bosh teams up with Wade, and someone like a Joe Johnson goes to Chicago. Both teams instantly get a lot better and maybe even both surpass the Cavs in terms of overall talent.
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devil1197
Posts: 6,220
May 3, 2010 2:28pm
thedynasty1998 wrote: It's not overhyped if Bosh teams up with Wade, and someone like a Joe Johnson goes to Chicago. Both teams instantly get a lot better and maybe even both surpass the Cavs in terms of overall talent.
Yes, its overhyped big time if Wade and Bron stay.

It will be a pretty good offseason but not what most people are expecting.
thedynasty1998's avatar
thedynasty1998
Posts: 6,844
May 3, 2010 2:44pm
I get what you are saying, but one way or another, the landscape of the NBA will change significantly.

Not only will guys like Boozer, Dirk, Bosh, Johnson and others be going to a new team, they will obviously be leaving their current teams which makes them much worse. So the NBA could become even more top heavy with some really bad teams.
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devil1197
Posts: 6,220
May 3, 2010 2:46pm
There are good chances that both Boozer and Dirk stay.
wes_mantooth's avatar
wes_mantooth
Posts: 17,977
May 3, 2010 2:47pm
I think Dirk will stay, but I have a feeling Boozer is gone.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
May 3, 2010 2:50pm
wes_mantooth wrote: I think Dirk will stay, but I have a feeling Boozer is gone.
I think one of them may move--both are interesting characters right now.
wes_mantooth's avatar
wes_mantooth
Posts: 17,977
May 3, 2010 2:53pm
I am probably wrong, but didn't Utah blow their wad on Millsap? I thought Boozer trade rumors at the deadline were because Utah wouldn't have the money to resign him.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
May 3, 2010 2:54pm
Pretty sure they can bring back Boozer..but they paid Millsap a lot because they're aware of what Boozer did to Cleveland. Didn't want the cupboard to be bare if he did the same to them--good move too because Millsap is a baller.
jordo212000's avatar
jordo212000
Posts: 10,664
May 3, 2010 3:00pm
I may be in the minority but I've never found Del Negro to be a good coach at all.
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devil1197
Posts: 6,220
May 3, 2010 3:02pm
Utah paid Millsap because Portland offered him good money and the Boozer issue was still unclear.

Pretty sure they can retain both.
Sage's avatar
Sage
Posts: 2,070
May 3, 2010 3:18pm
Del Negro shouldn't have been fired.

The dude had never been a head coach before, so not sure what the Bulls expected. You mean a guy who's new to a job had growing pains? IM FLABBERGASTED.

Also not really sure what they expected from a team that was clearly saving cap space for the 12% chance they'd be able to sign LeBron or Wade this summer.

Probably has to do with the rift he had with the front office.