NBA: Clippers bring back Del Negro as head coach

The Los Angeles Clippers announced Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) via press release that the team will retain the services of Vinny Del Negro as head coach, exercising his contract option for the 2012-2013 season. The team had until June 1 (June 2, PHL time) to decide whether to keep him, or pursue some of the bigger free agent coaches on the market, such as Mike D'Antoni, Nate McMillan or Stan Van Gundy. After a 32-50 record in his first season with the franchise, Del Negro piloted the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin duo to a 40-26 scorecard in the current lockout-shortened season, good for fifth place in the West. In the playoffs, LA managed to top the fourth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in seven games, but got swept, 0-4, versus the West's top team, the San Antonio Spurs, in the Western Conference semifinals. - AMD, GMA News