Rose gives Del Negro a plug

Derrick Rose gave Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro a measure of support on Friday.

During an appearance on WMVP's "Waddle and Silvy Show," Rose was asked if he'd be happy if Del Negro returns as coach next season.

"Oh definitely, if he comes back I'll be happy," Rose answered. "If not, that's not really up to me, it's up to the front office.

"He's doing a good job with us, the coaching staff is doing a good job with us. He usually lets me go out there and play and lets me make the best of my mistakes. No matter what, he always tells me I'm doing a good job, and he's always showing me video. I don't have anything to complain about."

It's hard to imagine Rose, with his agreeable personality, taking any kind of a stand on who coaches the team next year. But things have definitely reached a point where the Bulls will consider bringing Del Negro back next season.

Back in December, when the Bulls were 10-17 and squandering a 35-point lead, such a thought seemed ludicrous.

The radio interviewers failed in an attempt to pin Rose down on which free agent he would prefer the Bulls to sign this summer, or even if he'd favor a big man over a shooting guard.

"Just give me a basketball player, just like we have now, and I'll be good," Rose said. "We definitely have a real good chance to get them. The Chicago market is unbelievable, and I don't see anyone really passing Chicago up if they can come here."

PIPPEN STILL ANXIOUS TO COACH
Scottie Pippen nominated himself for the Bulls coaching job in 2008 and still wants to get back on the sideline. He revealed as much during an interview with AOL Fanhouse.

I don’t think the Bulls are opposed to letting Pippen try coaching, but he’s never held a job in the league. Vinny Del Negro became a head coach with no previous experience, but he had worked as a scout for the Suns.

I thought Pippen’s most interesting comment came when asked what kind of coach he would be.

“I’d be more of a tough practice coach and more relaxed during games,” he said during an ESPN event at Disney World. “I would push harder to develop my team during practice, but then try to allow them to exist on their own during games.”

ROOKIE WINS SHOT CONTEST
I got some nice feedback today from Wendy regarding the shooting contest that happened at the end of Thursday’s Bulls practice. Here’s the note:

“Hey Mike -- you can't drop this fun little bit about the shooting contest between the guards and not tell us how it turned out! I'm dying here -- I love little stories like this that show the fun side of the players.”

The charge is deserved and the only reason I didn’t mention a winner is it wasn’t obvious as I watched it. I did have a suspect, though, and after consulting with assistant coach Pete Myers, I can verify that …(drum roll) … James Johnson was the winner.

Hard to believe, sure, but that’ s the way it went. Myers said Jannero Pargo and Kirk Hinrich both had chances to win and missed.