May 3, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro reacts to a missed basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Clippers have fired Vinny Del Negro, source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 21, 2013

This is no surprise. Since the Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated in six games by the Memphis Grizzlies, things shifted into “when is Vinny Del Negro” gonna be fired.

In three years as the Clippers coach, Del Negro posted a record of 128-102 (franchise highest win percentage – .557%) including a franchise best 56 wins this season, but things just didn’t work out posting a 6-11 record in the post-season the last two years. Between the misuse of DeAndre Jordan, relying on depth in the playoffs and making Chris Paul run each and every bit of the offense, it became clear that Del Negro wasn’t the coach the Clips needed to get over the hill in the Western Conference.

Now with him going the Los Angeles Clippers becomes the most attractive coaching vacancy in the league. The market will allow them to land free agents, they have a top-3 player in Chris Paul if he decides to re-sign in free agency and a top 10 power forward in Blake Griffin. Wojnarowski dabbled into few who could be a candidate for the Clippers this summer.

Del Negro was informed of the decision on Tuesday afternoon.

Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins – who will be a free agent at season’s end – is a candidate for the job, league sources said. Another possible target, Stan Van Gundy, has said that he plans to sit out next season. Golden State assistant Mike Malone – who worked with Paul in New Orleans – could be a candidate too, sources said.

via Los Angeles Clippers not retaining Vinny Del Negro as coach – Yahoo! Sports

May 2, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy reacts after a turnover by his team during the fourth quarter of game three in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the Amway Center. Indiana defeated Orlando, 97-74. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Mark former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy off the “new Los Angeles Clippers head coach wish-list”.

This morning on ESPN Radio, Van Gundy announced he wouldn’t be returning to the coaching sidelines this season.

BREAKING: Stan Van Gundy just told us he WILL NOT be a head coach in the NBA next season. It’s a family decision.

— David Baumann (@DavidBaumann33) May 21, 2013

Stan Van Gundy: “The longer you are out, the more difficult it is to get back in… Right now it’s not in the best interest of my family.”

— David Baumann (@DavidBaumann33) May 21, 2013

Of all the coaches on the open market, Stan was the most coveted being rumored to have a connection with the Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. If/when the Clippers coaching spot opened those rumors would’ve arisen too.

Now it’s back to the drawing board for Clippers fans. Obviously Byron Scott and Jerry Sloan will be the big names that are sought out by fans and analysts to coach this, hopefully, Chris Paul-led Clippers team. Lionel Hollins has popped up in the rumor mill after Donald Sterling showed up during Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs-Memphis Grizzlies series. Several assistant coaches will also (hello Brian Shaw!).