The search is on as Vinny departs

After nearly five months of facing the inevitable, Vinny Del Negro is officially out as head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

General Manager Gar Forman made the announcement in a press conference today at the Berto Center.

"Vinny took us to a place where we are today that is better than where we were two years ago. But it's not where we want to get," Forman said.

Before addressing the upcoming coaching search, Forman insisted that the incident between John Paxson and Del Negro in late March played no part in his decision.

The Bulls will now face the challenge of finding a new head coach that fits the team's current nucleus of young players, while also considering the upcoming free agent market that is arguably the best in NBA history.

"We are really excited about the possibilities this summer can bring," Forman said. "This is a big summer for us to get better."

As for who will make the hiring decisions, Forman insisted that he will be conducting the coaching search and giving Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf his final recommendation. Reinsdorf will then make the final decision on whether to hire that coach or veto the decision.

Forman said he wants to hear input from his staff, including Paxson. He said, "99.9 percent of the time we are on the same page."

The General Manager also insisted that money won't be a factor.

"We want to find the best coach we can."