Breaking News: Bulls To Fire Vinny Del Negro Tuesday

• 2quik4u

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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.
• devil1197

  Stupid move franchise wise.
  
  This was a very personal move.
• thedynasty1998

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  Bring back Phil Jackson?
• Swamp Fox

  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.
• devil1197

  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

  

  Isiah Thomas!!!!!
• sjmvsfscs08

  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.
• devil1197

  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

  

  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

  

  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.
• devil1197

  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

  

  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.
• devil1197

  There are good chances that both Boozer and Dirk stay.
• wes_mantooth

  

  I think Dirk will stay, but I have a feeling Boozer is gone.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  I may be in the minority but I've never found Del Negro to be a good coach at all.
• devil1197

  Utah paid Millsap because Portland offered him good money and the Boozer issue was still unclear.
  
  Pretty sure they can retain both.
• Sage

  

  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.