Report reveals Clippers’ stance on Tyronn Lue amid Lakers rumors

Nov 19, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue looks on against New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Those holding out hope for a Tyronn Lue reunion with LeBron James in Los Angeles may have to keep waiting.

The Los Angeles Lakers officially made the decision Friday to part with head coach Darvin Ham, who had been in charge for the last two seasons. In the wake of the news, a number of notable names were mentioned as potential replacements for Ham, including the current LA Clippers head coach Lue.

Just hours later though, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN threw cold water on the Lue rumors. Wojnarowski reports that the Clippers are, in fact, pursuing a contract extension for Lue. As it stands right now, Lue has one more year remaining on his Clippers contract. But the team would like to keep him around as their long-term head coach, Wojnarowski adds.

Lue, still only 47, has coached the Clippers for the last four seasons, leading them to a record of 184-134 (.579) with one division title (this season) and one Western Conference Finals berth in 2021 (the only one in franchise history to date). While the Clippers will be eliminated in the first round if they lose to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 on Friday, Wojnarowski notes that the outcome of this postseason will ultimately have no bearing on Lue’s status with the team.

The Lakers previously pursued Lue, who was one of their former champion players, for their head coaching position back in 2019. He also obviously has a strong connection to James, whom he coached to the NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. But with the Clippers apparently keen on keeping Lue around, the Lakers may have to pivot to another one of the prominent candidates that have been mentioned instead.