Vinny Del Negro’s future yet to be decided by Los Angeles Clippers management – NBA Update
The coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, has yet to receive any notification regarding his future with the Clippers team. The Clippers have a one year option on Del Negro that they must exercise before June 1. But
a source close to the situation has said that the decision to exercise that option will not be made until next week.
The source had told ESPNLosAngeles.com that it is ultimately up to team owner Donald Sterling to make the decision on the future of Del Negro. The coach has enjoyed a good working relationship with Sterling over the past two years,
so things are looking positive for Del Negro. Sterling even went as far as to give a public vote of confidence to the coach after there were rumours in March that his job might be in jeopardy.
Del Negro has had a good season with the Los Angeles Clippers. He led them to a 40-26 record this season, after a below 0.5 winning record the previous season. The Clippers also reached the Western Conference Semi Finals this year
in the playoffs, where they were comfortably beaten 4-0 by a strong San Antonio Spurs team.
Source have said that if indeed the Clippers move towards a new coach, then they will be eyeing Scott Brooks of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Monty Williams of the New Orleans Hornets. Brooks has not yet started negotiations with
the Thunder on a possible contract extension since the Thunder are still competing in the playoffs. Monty Williams has received positive comments on the work he has done with the Hornets team this season and the franchise will not be looking to let him go.
Any team wanting to interview Williams will have to ask permission from the Hornets team management first.
Chris Paul, the star point guard of the Clippers, was all praise for the coach after the Clippers were eliminated from the Playoffs by the Spurs.
"I think Coach did an outstanding job. Also with Neil (Olshey) and them in our front office. Everybody knows what happened in mid-December with the trade going through and picking up Chauncey (Billups) off the waiver wire. The
season was crazy enough with 66 games, but they helped us get here. Now we have to build from it” said Paul.
Clippers General Manager Neil Olshey as well as Del Negro deflected questions about Del Negro’s future with the Clippers in a press conference after the Clippers playoff elimination.
"I think Vinny did a great job. And that's as far as I'm going to go today” said Olshey
"I'm not gonna get into all my contract stuff. I'm not worried about it. I'll let that stuff work itself out” said Del Negro.
Del Negro has been with the Clippers for the past two seasons. He has a 72-76 record with them in the regular season and a 4-7 record in the playoffs. Before this, he was head coach of the Chicago Bulls for two seasons, where he
led them to an 81-81 record.
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