Hello and welcome to the Evening News.
As the playoffs continue, we’ll keep you updated every evening. What’s happening today?
Here’s the latest news from around the league:
Clippers have not ruled out bringing back Vinny Del Negro
Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN report that contrary to popular belief, the Los Angeles Clippers have not yet ruled out the idea of re-signing Vinny Del Negro to an extension. Sources close to the team say that Del Negro still has the support of owner Donald Sterling. Sterling has the final say on who will coach the Clippers next season.
Many fans and analysts assumed that Del Negro would take the fall for the Clippers’ disappointing first round exit to the Grizzlies Initial reports suggested that Sterling would be quick to make a decision on Del Negro’s future. Sources insist that the longer Sterling waits to decide on Del Negro, the more likely it is that Del Negro will return to the team on a short term contract.
Sterling is reluctant to hire any coach to a long term deal after he was forced to buy out the remainder of Mike Dunleavy’s five-year, $22 million contract after firing him in 2010.
With Chris Paul entering free agency, the Clippers will likely accommodate any personnel decisions the superstar asks for.
Del Negro went 128 and 102 in three seasons with the Clippers. They won a franchise-record 56 games en route to earning the four seed in the Western Conference.
Doc Rivers returning to Boston
According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, Danny Ainge confirmed today that Doc Rivers will return next season as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. 
“Yeah (he’ll be back), Doc and I are talking about our team next year,” Danny Ainge said. “(No suspense) from my perspective. We’ve got a great coach. We’ve got a coach everybody would love to have and he’s got three years left on his contract and I think Doc likes Boston, too. Coaches get tired, though. It’s a hard job.”
Rivers owns a 587-473 record in 14 seasons of coaching between Orlando and Boston. The Celtics went 41-40 this past season (one game was cancelled). They have not finished a season under .500 since 2006-2007.
Rivers signed a five-year extension two seasons ago but left open the possibility of stepping down from his position after his team was eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
Thibodeau says Rose made the right decision to sit out
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports that Tom Thibodeau fully supports Derrick Rose’s decision to miss the entire 2012-2013 season. 
It had been over a year since Derrick Rose tore his ACL but Thibodeau does not believe Rose was wrong to take the time mentally prepare himself to return to the court. Many fans labeled Rose as selfish for sitting out as several of his teammates were fighting off other injuries to stay on the court during the postseason. Rose was physically cleared to play two months ago and had been participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages since February.
“He never quite reached the comfort level he needed to play,” said Tom Thibodeau. “So he made the right decision.”
Reports surfaced last week that Rose would be available to play against the Heat. Rose, however, never suited up and Chicago lost to Miami in five games.
Still, Thibodeau is looking forward to having Rose back at the start of next season.
“He’s been diligent,” said Thibodeau. “He’ll continue to be diligent throughout the summer. And he’ll be ready to go next year.”
