Former Bulls and Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro has reportedly emerged as a candidate for the Timberwolves’ head coaching vacancy. Del Negro reportedly interviewed for the job earlier this month. From the StarTribune:
According to two NBA sources, Del Negro interviewed with Wolves president of Flip Saunders on May 21 in Cleveland, one day before he interviewed Memphis coach Dave Joerger in a fleeting courtship that ended Sunday when Joerger said he was staying put.
Reports by ESPN.com and Yahoo!Sports suggested Del Negro has emerged as a front-runner for the job, but one of the league sources with knowledge of the search said it’s unlikely Del Negro will be hired.
Saunders is searching for someone with head coaching experience who can help develop point guard Ricky Rubio. Del Negro qualifies on both counts: He coached Chicago for two seasons and the Clippers for three and coached both Derrick Rose and Chris Paul.
The Wolves also have interviewed, among others, former Wolves player and ex-Toronto coach Sam Mitchell, former Memphis coachLionel Hollins, former Phoenix, Chicago and Milwaukee coachScott Skiles and pursued Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg for the job.
“We’re not rushed for time to select a coach, the process will take care of itself,” Wolves General Manager Milt Newton said Thursday. “I guarantee we will have one before the season starts next year.”
