The Los Angeles Clippers are planning to pursue a contract extension with coach Ty Lue that can forestall him from getting into the ultimate yr of his present deal in 2025-26, in line with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Lue was named as a goal within the Los Angeles Lakers‘ teaching search on Friday after the group fired Darvin Ham. Different Lakers’ teaching candidates embrace Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, and JJ Redick.
The Clippers’ 2023-24 season ended Friday evening with a Recreation 6 loss to the Dallas Mavericks within the Western Convention first-round playoff sequence.
How lifelike is it that Ty Lue may very well be the subsequent coach of the Lakers? @wojespn reviews on NBA Right now: pic.twitter.com/70gtJacoNZ
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) Might 3, 2024
In keeping with NBA insiders, that final result has no bearing on the Clippers’ purpose to maintain Ty Lue because the franchise’s long-term coach. The Clippers had been 51-31 (.622) and the fourth seed within the Western Convention this season.
Though Lue has already mentioned that he needs to stay with the Clippers, he mentioned it’s “nice to be needed” when reporters requested about different groups’ curiosity in signing him.
“I didn’t come right here to bounce round and go far and wide,” he mentioned after Friday’s loss to Dallas. “And Mr. [Steve] Ballmer, Lawrence [Frank], Mark [Hughes], Trent [Redden], Gillian [Zucker], they’ve all been nice to me.
“That is the place I wish to be, and hopefully they really feel the identical manner. So I haven’t had a nasty expertise since I’ve been right here. Mr. Ballmer confirmed me a variety of various things that I wouldn’t be aware about if I wasn’t right here.
“… Simply having an incredible relationship with the proprietor, with the entrance workplace, it’s nice. And so I might like to be right here long run.”
Los Angeles Clippers additionally plan to re-sign free brokers Paul George, James Harden alongside Kawhi Leonard this offseason
The Clippers had been with out six-time All-Star ahead Kawhi Leonard for many of their first-round sequence due to proper knee irritation. Nevertheless, Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president of basketball operations, intends to re-sign free brokers Paul George, and James Harden alongside Leonard.
The Lakers supplied Lue their head-coaching job in 2019, however he turned it down when the perimeters couldn’t agree on phrases, per Wojnarowski. Within the 2020-21 season, Lue led the Clippers to their first Western Convention finals look in franchise historical past.
After all, the Clippers have superior to the playoffs in every of the previous two seasons. The crew has the NBA’s sixth-best document since 2020-21 underneath Lue, at 184-134, in line with ESPN Stats & Info.
“I didn’t come right here to bounce round and go far and wide… I might like to be right here long run.”
Clippers HC Ty Lue on his future with LA pic.twitter.com/yfp5JKibMJ
— NBA TV (@NBATV) Might 4, 2024
Three video games into the 2023-24 season, the Clippers traded for Harden with the Philadelphia 76ers by sending Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round decide, two second-round picks, a 2029 decide swap, and an extra first-round decide from a 3rd crew.
Following the commerce, the Clippers misplaced six straight video games — together with 5 with Harden within the lineup. Lue moved veteran guard Russell Westbrook to the bench, in efforts to assist enhance his crew’s offensive effectivity. The plan labored. L.A. went on a 26-5 run and held the No. 1 spot within the Western Convention standings on Feb. 6.
Ty Lue is 312-217 (.590) total within the common season, 52-33 (.612) within the playoffs
Moreover, Lue earned Western Convention Coach of the Month honors for December and January.
Accidents arguably derailed the Clippers’ season. Leonard missed the ultimate eight video games of the common season with irritation in his proper knee.
Moreover, the 12-year veteran missed Recreation 1 of the playoffs earlier than returning for Video games 2 and three. Although, his surgically repaired knee didn’t reply the best way he had hoped, which led to his absences in Video games 5 and 6.
Lue gained an NBA championship because the Cavaliers’ coach with LeBron James in 2016 and served because the Jap Convention coach of the All-Star Recreation that very same yr.
The Missouri native is 312-217 (.590) total within the common season and 52-33 (.612) within the playoffs.