Chris Paul is unhappy with the Los Angeles Clippers because he has been linked to the firing of Vinny Del Negro.
“He’s angry right now and his anger is directed toward the Clippers organization,” a source said., via 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.”
Del Negro was fired on May 21 after leading the Clippers to 56 wins, the most successful regular season in franchise history. That same day, Clippers owner Donald Sterling said he was “sad about the whole thing” in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
When asked if the firing had anything to do with keeping Paul, Sterling cited “factors that make life very complicated and very challenging.”
Sterling went on to say, “If you have special players, and special players think that they know the best opportunity to win, you have to support them.”
How this will impact the Clippers ability to re-sign him this summer remains to be seen. Paul had previously spoken as if a deal between the two would get worked out.
The Clippers can offer him a five-year, $108 million deal, $28 million more than any other club.
