The Los Angeles Clippers won their first division title in their franchise’s history this past season and they decided to celebrate by getting eliminated in the first round to the very impressive Memphis Grizzlies team.
This is now a transitional time in the era of this new Clippers movement. Chris Paul can decide to leave the team and management must make the decision as to whether or not to retain coach Vinny Del Negro. The Clippers have their flaws, but their roster is talented and many believe they need a better, more experienced coach to take them to the next level. The growing rumor following their first round defeat was that Del Negro would be out as coach.
However, it sounds like just the opposite, according to ESPN LA. The Clippers may actually extend Del Negro as he has the full support of owner Donald Sterling.
Sources told ESPN.com that there is a level of interest within the organization to extend Del Negro’s contract despite the widespread assumption in league circles that the embattled coach would take the fall for the Clippers’ six-game exit to the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1.
The final call ultimately rests with Clippers owner Donald Sterling — who is regarded as Del Negro’s biggest backer in the organization — but one source close to the process said Wednesday that team officials were still deliberating and that no decision has been made yet.
