Clippers Eye Long-Term Deal with Ty Lue Amid Lakers' Interest

Clippers Eye Long-Term Deal with Ty Lue Amid Lakers’ Interest

By Sarah Thompson May 4, 2024145 views

In the sizzling world of NBA rumors, the spotlight is burning brightly on the coaching realm, particularly regarding Ty Lue amid Lakers’ interest. The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly gearing up to lock in their head honcho for the long haul, extending his contract past the 2025-26 season, as scooped by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Clippers Eye Long-Term Deal with Ty Lue Amid Lakers’ Interest

But hold onto your seats, folks! Just when you think it’s a done deal, whispers from The Athletic’s Shams Charania stir the pot, suggesting Lue might just be lured away to the Los Angeles Lakers’ den, potentially filling the void left by Darvin Ham. Drama, anyone?

Last offseason, the Clippers threw down the gauntlet, ensuring Lue’s presence until the end of the 2024-25 season, as revealed by Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times. Now that the playoffs are heating up, Lue and the Clippers are headed for a high-stakes Game 6 matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.

But here’s the kicker: win or lose, the Clippers are apparently dead set on keeping Lue in their corner, irrespective of playoff outcomes, Wojnarowski spills on ESPN’s NBA Today. The Clippers are keen to sign a long-term contract with their head coach, so there’s a romance developing in the locker room, people.

And let’s not forget the cat-and-mouse game that’s been playing out. This isn’t the first rodeo for the Clippers in warding off suitors for Lue’s services. They had to swat away advances from the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks last season, as per Greif.

With a regular-season track record that’s nothing to sneeze at and two consecutive playoff appearances under his belt, Lue has proven his mettle, even with superstar Kawhi Leonard nursing injuries. Now, with the offseason looming, the Clippers have their sights set on building a powerhouse, aiming to retain Lue alongside heavyweights James Harden and Paul George.

Meanwhile, across town, the Lakers are flipping through their Rolodex for a new bench boss. The departure of Darvin Ham has ignited a coaching hunt, with names like Mike Budenholzer and ESPN’s own JJ Redick thrown into the mix, according to Charania.