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NBA Rumors: Pelicans eying Vinny Del Negro as head coach

By Josh Hill

May 3, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro reacts to a missed basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro reacts to a missed basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly looking at hiring Vinny Del Negro as the team’s next head coach. 

The New Orleans Pelicans have been waiting for this day for weeks now, as the Chicago Bulls have officially fired Tom Thibodeau and put him on the open coaching market. But rather than making an obvious play at him, the NBA seems to be cycling their way through former Chicago Bulls head coaches to get to the most current one to be fired.

The Orlando Magic are rumored to be hiring Scott Skiles, who coached the Chicago Bulls from 2003-2007 before being replaced by Vinny Del Negro. New Orleans was never in on Skiles, as far as we all know, but they are in on his successor.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo! Sports, the Pelicans are eying Vinny del Negro as head coach — for now.

"Vinny Del Negro discussed the New Orleans Pelicans coaching vacancy with general manager Dell Demps, league sources told Yahoo Sports."

This could comically work out that all three of the former Chicago Bulls head coaches —  including the recently fired Thibodeau — could find work this summer. Skiles and Del Negro have been out of work for a few seasons, but they both could find jobs this offseason.

The real story here is that the Pelicans are probably going to hire Tom Thibodeau, and they’re just cycling through candidates in the meantime. There’s no guarantee that they’re going to hire Thibodeau, but the chances that doesn’t happen don’t seem to be very high.

What is also notable here is that Vinny Del Negro is again getting consideration as an NBA head coach, despite being run out of Chicago and Los Angeles despite boasting rosters that are clearly winners. Del Negro isn’t a terrible option, but the Pelicans are probably humoring candidates at this point who aren’t named Thibodeau.

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