Vinny Del Negro led the Los Angeles Clippers to the highest winning percentage in franchise history during the shorted NBA lockout season and now the team is rewarding the coaches efforts with a contract option agreement.
The team announced on Tuesday that it would exercise the third year option in Del Negro’s contract after he went 40-26 in 2012 with a winning percentage of 60.6 plus a trip to the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Terms of the deal have not been revealed but insiders say Del Negro will make “slightly more” than $2 million for the 2012-2013 season.
While the Clipped managed more wins in 2012 the team still has a losing record of 72-76 under Del Negro’s charge.
Speaking over the phone with ESPN the head coach said of the teams decision to exercise his contract agreement:
“I’m excited about the opportunity to continue the plan we set in place. I give the players a lot of credit for playing hard and believing in what we were trying to do. I appreciate their effort and my staff’s effort.”
At this time Del Negro says he has not spoken with the Clippers about the possibility of further extending his contract into the future.
In the meantime the teams head coach will not begin to focus on next month’s NBA draft and the upcoming free-agency period. One of the teams biggest decisions will be whether to extend all-star Blake Griffin’s contract, he is currently eligible for a five-year $95 million extension.
Before taking over as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers Vinny Del Negro led the Chicago Bulls to an 82-82 record and two consecutive playoff appearances before he was fired in May 2010.