Report: Chris Paul Angry With Clippers Front Office Over Blame For Coach Firing

ESPN is reporting that Chris Paul is angry with Los Angeles Clippers executives and feels he’s being made to look like the puppet-master in the firing of coach Vinny Del Negro.

Del Negro led the Clippers to 56 wins this season, the most in franchise history, only to be "rewarded" a few days after the team was bounced from the playoffs with his walking papers.

A free agent this summer, rumors quickly spread that Paul may have been behind the hatchet job as part of a larger plan to land a coach he feels more compatible with. Sources now tell ESPN Paul feels team executives have allowed that narrative to play out for far too long.

"He's angry right now and his anger is directed toward the Clippers organization," the source said. "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."

The question now becomes what it all will mean in the sweepstakes for Paul. While it’s been widely assumed he will resign in L.A., it hardly seems a given.  Even though the Clips can offer him $28 million more than any other team over the life of a max deal, Paul figures to have plenty of other suitors.

One scenario that’s been floated is him teaming up with fellow free agent Dwight Howard down in Atlanta in the making of yet another Dream Team like alliance. Paul is known to have always been fond of Atlanta and Howard is a native son. 

Del Negro was fired on May 21 and rumors have Paul’s potential involvement spread like wildfire after team owner Donald Sterling told The L.A. Times: "If you have special players, and special players think that they know the best opportunity to win, you have to support them."

 

 

 

 

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