The Los Angeles Clippers announced Tuesday they were keeping Vinny Del Negro as coach. The prevailing wisdom remains that it’s only a matter of time before he gets fired, the same as last year when Chris Paul arrived. In Los Angeles, this is known as stability.
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Getting ousted in the second round of the playoffs isn’t what Paul envisioned, but he’s still got a good returning core around him in Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler. The Clippers have plenty of work left to do in free agency, and the rise from playoff contender to championship contender isn’t easy or guaranteed. General manager Neil Olshey’s own future is unknown, and Del Negro is set up perfectly to be the fall guy if the Clippers don’t reach the Western Conference finals or better next season.
That’s still better than the era of transition that has settled upon their Staples Center co-tenants. The Lakers also have a coach, Mike Brown, and a centerpiece, Kobe Bryant. As for their actual centers, Pau Gasol is expected to be shopped around to the entire NBA this offseason, and everyone’s still waiting for Andrew Bynum to grow up seven years into his career.
Of course, Metta World Peace remains a steady presence — if unpredictability is what the Lakers crave. Unlike the Clippers, there’s no telling where they are headed. Del Negro’s team expects to keep moving up, even if he isn’t around when it reaches the top.
– Craig Stouffer
