Los Angeles Clippers: We Fired Vinny Del Negro, Chris Paul Not A Factor

The Los Angeles Clippers have cleared up the situation regarding coach Vinny Del Negro’s firing, saying that the team, not Chris Paul, was responsible for his firing.

The clarification came from Clippers vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks, who said the team fired Vinny Del Negro in order to go in a new direction.

“The decision not to extend a contract to Vinny Del Negro was an organizational decision from the top down,” Sacks said. “Our front office evaluated the season and Vinny’s three years here before making this move, and our conclusion and feeling was that we needed a change.”

This comes close to a day after reporters emerged that Chris Paul was unhappy with the team for letting him take the blame for Del Negro’s firing. Many Clippers players, Paul included, were reportedly mad about Del Negro’s handling of the team.

But it was Paul who seemed to be singled out after Del Negro was fired.

“He’s angry right now and his anger is directed toward the Clippers organization,” a source told ESPN. “Chris is a man of principle and if he feels like you’ve gone against his principles, it will affect how he feels about you. He’s very agitated that his name has been put out there as the reason for Vinny’s firing. He had nothing to do with it.”

Sacks’ public support of Chris Paul seems a bit of a reversal for the Clippers brass. Team owner Donald Sterling seemed to hint that Paul was behind Del Negro’s firing in an interview a few days ago. When asked by a reporter if the coach was fired so the team could keep Paul, Sterling seemed to imply that was the case.

“I always want to be honest and not say anything that is not true,” Sterling said. “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.”

The situation surrounding the Vinny Del Negro firing could affect Chris Paul’s free agency. Once considered a lock to re-sign with the Clippers, Paul may now test the waters elsewhere, some insiders believe.