Assistant coaches now key factor for Bulls
The Bulls went with a surprising choice for head coach in first-timer Vinny Del Negro. Will they try to balance that pick by making a big splash with an assistant?
Signs suggest the Bulls may try to pry defensive specialist Tom Thibodeau away from the Celtics. Thibodeau signed a one-year contract when he joined Boston last summer, so he will be a free agent when the NBA Finals are over.
The longtime Jeff Van Gundy aide helped turn the Celtics into the NBA's top defensive team. Boston also has had decent success against Cleveland's LeBron James and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant in the playoffs.
Del Negro is said to have a good relationship with Thibodeau. Since Del Negro's coaching salary is relatively small, the Bulls could make a large monetary offer. Or they could try to sell Thibodeau on the idea that he'd enhance his chances of becoming a head coach by duplicating the Boston success with the Bulls' young roster.
Either way, the Bulls are hoping to have a coaching staff together by the time the Orlando summer league begins in early July.
Del Negro is expected to hire an experienced lead assistant. Del Harris, Paul Westphal and Bob Hill are other possibilities, but Del Negro is planning to interview all holdovers from Scott Skiles' staff, which include Ron Adams, Pete Myers, Mike Wilhelm and Mike Brown.
Wilhelm is a well-respected advance scout and probably is on solid ground.
Brown impressed the Bulls after joining the team in February and may stick around as a big-man specialist. Brown and Tyrus Thomas seemed to hit it off well.
Adams was an assistant coach when Del Negro played in both Milwaukee and San Antonio. Adams and Myers have been promised jobs in the organization this season, whether or not they remain on the bench.
Mystery for Gordon: Like most observers, Bulls guard Ben Gordon isn't sure what to expect from Vinny Del Negro as a head coach.
"I just remember watching him as a youngster when he was on the Spurs," Gordon said Tuesday. "I remember he was a really good player on the perimeter. But I don't really know much more about him other than what I've just seen from watching him as a fan of basketball."
Del Negro was certainly an unexpected choice, especially after the Bulls flirted with experienced coaches such as Mike D'Antoni and Doug Collins.
"I think everybody's a little surprised," Gordon said. "There's obviously a lot more I have to learn about him as a player who's going to be playing for him. There's a lot he's going to have to prove, because nobody knows anything."
Gordon has received an e-mail from general manager John Paxson since Del Negro came on board but hasn't discussed the new coach with anyone from the team. It's possible Del Negro could bring an up-tempo style since he has spent the past five years in Phoenix as a scout and a broadcaster.
"I'm just looking forward to seeing what kind of style of play he's going to want from us, whether it's Phoenix up-tempo style, I'm just ready for whatever, basically," Gordon added. "I don't know what to expect."