NBA Wire Notes | Chicago finds a coach that fits

CHICAGO — Vinny Del Negro has accepted his first head-coaching job, agreeing to take over a Chicago Bulls team that went from 49 wins to 49 losses in a season and missed the playoffs after making the second round in 2007.

Bulls general manager John Paxson planned to introduce Del Negro as the team's new coach at a news conference today. His selection ends a drawn-out search in which the Bulls' high-profile courtships of Mike D'Antoni and Doug Collins collapsed.

Del Negro, most recently the Phoenix Suns' assistant GM, interviewed for the job last week and quickly moved to the top of the list after Collins and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf decided to pass on a reunion.

Del Negro had been interested in replacing D'Antoni on the Suns' sideline, but that job went to Terry Porter. Instead of guiding a Western Conference power, Del Negro takes over one of the league's biggest disappointments this past season.

With the coaching situation resolved, the Bulls can turn their attention toward this month's No. 1 draft pick and deciding between Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley.

Former Sonics assistant coach Dwane Casey interviewed twice for the job.

NOTES

• Michael Curry was introduced Tuesday as the new Detroit Pistons head coach. His philosophy: Play hard or sit. The Pistons gave Curry his first head-coaching job in part because they're confident he can get the most out of their remaining veterans, some of whom are former teammates.

"I don't think you make anybody play. I think you substitute," Curry said. "You remove the ones that are unmotivated. That's pretty simple."

When Detroit's season ended against the Boston Celtics, power forward Antonio McDyess lamented that the team teases itself and its fans with inconsistency because they play like "zombies" sometimes.

Curry will make $2.5 million a season as part of a contract that includes three guaranteed years.

• A $300,000 lawsuit that accused former Portland Trail Blazer Zach Randolph of battering and harassing a 34-year-old rapper he thought had given information to police about ex-teammate Qyntel Woods has been dropped. Both sides declined to say if there was a cash settlement. Trial had been set to begin Monday. Woods pleaded guilty to animal abuse and was sentenced to one year of probation and 80 hours of community service in an earlier case concerning pit bulls.

• The United States will pick its Olympic team without a tryout. The Americans will select the 12 players headed to Beijing before they report to Las Vegas for workouts later this month. Originally, the team was to have potentially 16 players in camp and cut down to 12 on June 30.

One player on the bubble is Dwyane Wade, who has been working out after missing the final 21 games this season because of chronic soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. Wade likely will get a spot if he's healthy.

• UCLA's Josh Shipp has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to the Bruins for his senior season. Shipp averaged 12.2 points last season.