Vinny Del Negro's fate has been sealed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite leading the team to winning 56 games and the franchise's first division title, the Clippers showed him no love and decided to fire him. The decision might not have been a surprise considering the team disappointed in the playoffs, but a strong regular season should have earned him one more year. Now, owner Donald Sterling is admitting the firing of Del Negro did not have to do with the playoffs, but more with Chris Paul.
The Clippers are trying to do everything they can to hang on to Paul. The soon-to-be free agent will likely have his pick of whatever team he wants when the offseason began and Los Angeles is just hoping he stays with them. While discussing the firing with the Los Angeles Times, Sterling gave some insight on the decision. When asked if the decision to let Del Negro go was an effort to please Paul, Sterling's answer was pretty telling.
"I always want to be honest and not saying anything that is not true. So I'd rather not say anything. But you know, the coach did a really good job. I think he did. And I liked working with him. There are just factors that make life very complicated and very challenging," Sterling said.
2012 was the year the Clippers saw the most success in the franchise's history. So why mess with the head coach? Factors, factors like Paul. While Del Negro assisted in coaching the team, the real reason Los Angeles had such a great regular season was because of Paul and Blake Griffin. They were the two biggest factors for the Clippers, not Del Negro. He ran a simple offense and then deferred the playmaking and decision making on the court to Paul.
Paul was to the Clippers as Peyton Manning is to the Denver Broncos. He was the signal caller, Del Negro was just a small outside factor. The Clippers simply needed more talent when it came to getting far in the playoffs. They needed Del Negro to set plays that would challenge a defense with the players that the Clippers had in place. He was not able to do so.
Over 50 wins and a division title was not enough to please Paul and Sterling knew it. The team is hoping to get a big name in place in order to try and please the All-Star. If Paul decides he is likely to remain in Los Angeles, he will likely play a large part in the hiring.
