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Mark Berman: Clips DeAndre Jordan on firing of Vinny Del Negro:"I was definitely surprised about it but I wish him the best. That's tough losing a coach" Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, DeAndre Jordan 

Mark Berman: Clips DeAndre Jordan on firing of Vinny Del Negro:"I was definitely surprised about it but I wish him the best. That's tough losing a coach" Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, DeAndre Jordan 

Del Negro is just the second coach to leave the team with a winning record, following Larry Brown in 1993. "This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is the best decision for our franchise moving forward," said Gary Sacks, the Clippers' vice president of basketball operations. Del Negro and Sterling never officially met in person after the season, but they did have an extended conversation on the phone last weekend that a source described as "positive." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Larry Brown, Gary Sacks 

Sterling told Del Negro that he was "optimistic they'd bring him back," the source said, but there "were some issues with the players" they needed to sort through. "Obviously they couldn't work through those issues with the players, or, player," the source said, referring to Clippers guard Chris Paul. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

Del Negro was surprised when he was informed of the organization's decision on Tuesday morning, the source said. Team president Andy Roeser thanked him for his service and said the organization would do whatever it could to help him find another job, the source said. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Andy Roeser 

Say what you want about Sterling; it's all true. But whenever I put a question to him he tries to provide an answer. I told him I didn't understand the rationale behind Del Negro's dismissal. "The coach is a wonderful man, and I'm sad about the whole thing," Sterling said. "Was this done," I asked, "just to hang onto Chris Paul?" "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." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

Do the Clippers really think he would accept almost $28 million less to sign elsewhere? "Here you have two inexperienced people running your basketball operation in [GM] Gary Sacks and [son-in-law] Eric Miller," I told Sterling. "And Andy Roeser doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to basketball personnel decisions. "So I wonder, is this decision being made because the players are now calling the shots? Am I off base?" "No, you're not off base," Sterling said. "This is a players' league, and, unfortunately, if you want to win you have to make the players happy. Don't you think that's true?" Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Andy Roeser, Gary Sacks 

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today they will not offer a new contract to head coach Vinny Del Negro. A search for a new coach will begin immediately. NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

“We would like to thank Vinny for everything he did during his three years with the organization,” Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Gary Sacks said. “Vinny helped this team win a Pacific Division title and we greatly appreciate all that he and his staff helped us accomplish. This was a difficult decision, but we feel this is the best decision for our franchise moving forward.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Gary Sacks 

Ramona Shelburne: League source on Clippers decision w/ VDN today, "Once it became a reality that Donald Sterling might keep him everyone with a phone got to Donald" Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Donald Sterling 

Ken Berger: Among the biggest reasons the Clippers let Vinny Del Negro go today, sources say: Chris Paul was not a fan. Twitter @KBergCBS

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

Dan Woike: The decision to part ways with Del Negro was "organizational," with players and front-office on same page. Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

The Los Angeles Clippers will not offer Vinny Del Negro a new contract to return as coach, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

Despite considerable success and progress in his two seasons as coach, Del Negro was unable to withstand a first-round Western Conference loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and a free agent-to-be superstar, Chris Paul, who wanted a different coach, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Del Negro did not have a contract beyond this season. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Free Agent 

Dan Woike: Source confirms @Adrian Wojnarowski report. Vinny Del Negro will not be retained as head coach. #clippers Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Adrian Wojnarowski 

The Clippers, though still deliberating on the future of incumbent coach Vinny Del Negro, are now widely presumed to be in the running for Hollins as well after owner Donald T. Sterling -- who doesn't even attend all of his own team's playoff games -- showed up courtside Sunday in San Antonio to watch the Grizzlies get thumped in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. But skepticism persists, even if the Clips do soon have an opening, about Sterling's appetite to pay what it would take to extricate Hollins from Memphis, where he is revered locally. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching 

Ramona Shelburne: Quiet weekend in Clipperland. Del Negro hasnt met with Sterling yet, source says. Expect more clarity next week tho. Twitter @ramonashelburne

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Owners 

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has scheduled to meet with head coach Vinny Del Negro over the weekend to discuss Del Negro's fate with the organization, a league source informed CSNNW.com. According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, says the two will meet in Los Angeles and a decision is anticipated shortly after. CSNNW.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Owners 

Arash Markazi: Source I talked to said Sterling would take his time with the decision, which he has. No need to rush with VDN signed through June. Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Owners 

Arash Markazi: A big issue for VDN and the Clippers is he'd need at least a 3-year deal. Does CP3 want to trust VDN with the prime of his career? Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching