Clippers Rumors: Ty Lue Contract Talks Haven't Made Progress amid Lakers HC Buzz

Even though some of the chatter around Tyronn Lue being a potential candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers has quieted down recently, he's still waiting to work out a new deal with his current employer.

On the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams (starts at 50:20 mark), Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported there "hasn't been any progress" in talks between Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers about extending his contract.

After the Lakers fired Darvin Ham on May 3, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Lue was expected to be a target in their search and "perhaps other looming vacancies."

Lue addressed the rumors during an end-of-season press conference on May 4. He told reporters he "would love to be" with the Clippers and maintains strong relationships with everyone in the front office.

Wojnarowski noted Lue's current contract with the Clippers runs through the 2025-26 season, so another team would likely have to work out some sort of trade to bring him in.

Lue picked a great time to have leverage. Salaries for NBA head coaches have exploded in the past year since Monty Williams signed a six-year, $78.5 million deal with the Detroit Pistons in May 2023 that made him the highest-paid coach in the league at the time.

Williams has since dropped to fourth on the highest-paid coach rankings. Steve Kerr is the highest-paid coach by average annual salary ($17.5 million per season), followed by Gregg Popovich ($16 million) and Erik Spoelstra ($15 million).

Spoelstra (eight years, $120 million) and Popovich (five years, $80 million) also surpassed Williams' deal in terms of total compensation.

It's unclear how much Lue's current deal with the Clippers pays him. There are some estimates that he is earning $6.5 million per season.

Lue just wrapped up his fifth season with the Clippers, including his fourth as head coach. He started with the team as an assistant on Doc Rivers' staff for the 2019-20 season.

Since replacing Rivers before the 2020-21 season, Lue has led the Clippers to a 184-134 record with three playoff appearances. They advanced to the Western Conference Finals in his first year, but have lost in the first round in each of the past two seasons.