Ty Lue is finalizing a five-year deal to become the next coach of the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
The Clippers and Lue’s representative in the contract talks, Andy Miller, completed negotiations on a deal Thursday afternoon, sources said.
The Clippers’ search landed on Lue based upon a confidence that his championship pedigree and playoff successes as a head coach in Cleveland, as well as his strong ability to communicate with players, will resonate within a franchise that underachieved in the 2019-2020 season.
Lue, 43, has had significant support among key Clippers players in the search process, sources said.
Lue is replacing Doc Rivers, whom he spent last season as an assistant under with the Clippers. The Clippers blew a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals, losing in seven games to the Denver Nuggets.
Chauncey Billups is expected to join Lue’s staff with the Clippers, sources said, although he’s involved currently in the Indiana Pacers‘ search for a head coach.
Lue won a championship in 2016 as the Cavaliers coach, reaching the NBA Finals in three straight years. Lue is 128-83 overall and 41-20 in the playoffs in his head coaching career.
