Ty Lue, Clippers Agree to Multi-Year Contract Extension

Ty Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed on a new long-term contract that will make him one of the NBA’s highest-paid coaches, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Los Angeles Clippers have gone 184-134 in the regular season in four seasons under coach Ty Lue

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had been working to secure Lue on a new deal. Negotiations with Lue’s agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, led to a finalized agreement in recent days.

Lue’s previous success with the Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, where he won the 2016 NBA championship with LeBron James, has made him one of the most desirable coaches among teams.

Of course, Lue had one year left on his contract. In his four seasons with the Clippers, the team has gone 184-134 (.579) in the regular season under his leadership, the sixth best in the NBA during that stretch.

ESPN Sources: Los Angeles Clippers coach Ty Lue has agreed on a new long-term contract that’ll make him one of the league’s highest paid coaches. Lue, who had been entering the final year of his deal, is considered one of the NBA’s elite coaches. pic.twitter.com/hhs6eJ0Rab

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 29, 2024

Overall, Lue is 312-217 (.590) in the regular season and 54-37 (.593) in the playoffs in his coaching tenure with the Cavaliers (2015-19) and Clippers (2020-present).

Lue led the Clippers to the franchise’s first Western Conference Finals appearance in the 2020-21 season. His coaching ability to help teams overcome injuries, locker-room dysfunction, and other adversity seems unmatched.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been in the lineup for only 45% of Lue’s games as Clippers coach. He has gone 97-47 in those games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Lue led L.A. on a 26-5 run and the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference standings in February

Lue faced a number of new problems throughout the 2023-24 season as well. A week into the regular season, the Clippers traded for 10-time All-Star guard James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers.

L.A. traded away Marcus Morris, Nic Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 pick swap, and an additional first-round pick from a third team.

However, the Clippers lost six straight games after the trade, including five with Harden in the lineup. Lue made changes in efforts to turn his team’s season around.

Lue decided to move veteran guard Russell Westbrook to the bench. As a result, the Clippers went on a 26-5 run and held the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference standings on Feb. 6.

But Lue had to face another challenge in April, when Leonard suffered inflammation in his right knee and missed the final eight games of the regular season. Leonard also missed Game 1 of the playoffs before returning for Games 2 and 3.

Though, his surgically repaired knee wasn’t responding at a fast enough pace. The Clippers had to play without him for the rest of their six-game series loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Based on Lue’s career coaching résumé, the “long-term” contract is well earned.