Del Negro will not be offered a new deal this summer.
Despite one of their best regular seasons in franchise history, the Los Angeles Clippers will be searching for a new coach this off-season following the news that Vinny Del Negro will not be returning.
With his contract set to expire in June, the franchise have revealed they will not be offering him a new deal and intend to move quickly in their search for his successor.
Del Negro had a 128-102 regular season record in three seasons with the team, and led them to a franchise record 56 wins this year which included a 17-game winning streak that helped result in a first Pacific Division title.
However, they came undone in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies, despite leading the series 2-0.
It was a bitterly disappointing end to the campaign for the Clippers, with many questioning whether Del Negro had the coaching ability to lead a team to an NBA title despite his impressive regular season numbers.
“This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is the best decision for our franchise moving forward,” Gary Sacks, the Clippers’ vice-president of basketball operations told the media as quoted by ESPN.
Speculation has already begun over who will replace Del Negro, with early reports of Phil Jackson crossing the LA divide being dismissed.
Elsewhere, Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw as well as Byron Scott and Alvin Gentry are all being considering, but it is unclear at this stage who is favourite to land the job.
Whoever does take the hot-seat will have a big task on their first day, with Chris Paul becoming a free agent on July 1 they will hope to persuade the star point guard to remain with the Clippers.
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