Clippers and Olshey agree on a contract

The executive was the primary architect of a roster makeover that led to the best regular season in team history.

The Clippers and Neil Olshey, who oversaw the building of a team that posted the highest winning percentage in franchise history, have agreed in principle to a contract, the team announced Friday.

The Clippers didn’t reveal financial terms of the contract, or its length. The team has planned a conference call with Olshey on Monday.

Olshey, the Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations, has been considered the architect who put together a team that made it to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. But he had been working without a contract all season, and on a month-tomonth basis.

Olshey recently traveled to London to interview with Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen for their vacant general manager position. It was Olshey’s second interview in two years with the Trail Blazers, and it had been reported that he was a finalist for the position.

Now, however, it appears Olshey and Clippers owner Donald Sterling have agreed to a deal.

Before the 66-game, lockout-shortened season, Olshey acquired the centerpiece of his building effort when he landed point guard Chris Paul in the biggest trade in franchise history.

Olshey also acquired Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, Reggie Evans, Nick Young and Kenyon Martin and re-signed center DeAndre Jordan after he had signed an offer sheet with the Golden State Warriors.

Under Olshey and Coach Vinny Del Negro, whose contract option for next season was exercised by the team Tuesday, the Clippers posted a 40-26 record, a .606 winning percentage.

The Clippers reached the second round of the playoffs for only the second time in the 31 years Sterling has owned the team, but were swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs.

Olshey just completed his second season as the team’s chief roster architect, and his ninth overall with the Clippers.