It is no secret that the Los Angeles Clippers are doing everything they can to hold on to their All-Star point guard, Chris Paul. As Paul is a free-agent-to-be come July, the team is hopeful that they can retain him and have another postseason run during the 2013-14 season. It was well documented that Paul was not too thrilled with Vinny Del Negro as coach so naturally the team let him go at the end of the season. Now Paul is angry with the Clippers after receiving the blame for the firing.
Paul is denying that he and teammate Blake Griffin had any involvement in the firing of Del Nego. Chris Broussard of ESPN reports that Paul is furious his name is being thrown around as the reason. He is angry at the organization for using him as the target for blame.
It is really unknown how much of an impact Paul had on the overall decision. Owner Donald Sterling implied that there were "outside factors" that contributed to the firing of Del Negro. Despite the coach leading the Clippers to one of their best seasons to date with 56 wins in the regular season, he was given the pink slip. Sterling would not directly say Paul was the reason, but also said that other factors made things complicated.
Is Paul's pending contract an outside factor? The team is hoping to re-sign him to a five-year, $108 million deal. That will be $28 million more than any other team can offer him. The decision will likely come down to who the Clippers hire to replace Del Negro and if they can add other piece to the team to make them more competitive in the Western Conference.
Broussard reports that Paul is refusing to get involved in the coaching search for the Clippers, but it can be assumed that they will likely ask for the point guard's opinion on the matter.
It is clear that Paul was not the sole factor in the firing, but likely large part in it. The Clippers' front office was divided on the ex-coach. They were unhappy with Del Negro after he made several calls about potential trades without clearing them with the front office first. He attempted to organize a deal that would have sent DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe to the Celtics in exchange for Kevin Garnett. The deal never ended up happening.
What's done is done and now the Clippers will have to find a coach that fits the wants of Paul. He is one of the biggest free agents this summer and if Los Angeles has a chance at holding on to him, the future coach will be a big factor.