In December, Vaught, the team's leading scorer for the past three seasons, had season-ending back surgery. Without Vaught, the Clippers finished 17–65, the third-worst record in the league. Fitch was fired after the 1997–98 season (and later sued the team to recover the remaining money on his contract), and was replaced by one of his proteges, former Celtics and Bucks coach Chris Ford. Meanwhile, Vaught's career as a Clipper was effectively finished, as he left as a free agent after that season, and signed with the Detroit Pistons; at the time of his departure, he was the franchise's all-time rebounds leader with 4,471 (a number that was later surpassed by Elton Brand, with 4,710).
In December Vaught the team's leading scorer for the past three seasons had season-ending back surgery Without Vaught the Clippers finished 17–65 the third-worst record in the league Fitch was fired after the 1997–98 season (and later sued the team to recover the remaining money on his contract) and was replaced by one of his proteges former Celtics and Bucks coach Chris Ford Meanwhile Vaught's career as a Clipper was effectively finished as he left as a free agent after that season and signed with the Detroit Pistons; at the time of his departure he was the franchise's all-time rebounds leader with 4471 (a number that was later surpassed by Elton Brand with 4710)