The Los Angeles Clippers made a major change to their front-office structure in 2017 when Doc Rivers gave up his title of president of basketball operations at the behest of Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. Lawrence Frank took over the position, but Rivers still is involved in the decision-making process.
“There were too many things where I really wanted to talk to Lawrence, not Doc,” Ballmer told Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, referring to basketball operations matters. “Doc was, as I would have said at Microsoft, an unnecessary middle layer.”
This may sound like a demotion for Rivers, but it really doesn't sound like that. Rivers is an excellent coach, but even the best coaches can have a hard time handling both jobs. Not to mention, Lawrence Frank is an accomplished veteran of the league as a coach and an executive.
By dividing up the duties, Rivers has been able to focus on what's happening on the court while Frank manages the front office. This change should continue to be a positive for the team going forward. The Clippers are 6-4 to start this season and looking to play well enough to convince a top free agent to come to Los Angeles next summer.
While Doc focuses on winning games and putting a winning team on the floor, Frank is focusing on the long-term vision of the franchise. It's a win-win for Steve Ballmer because some NBA coaches would not want to cede any power once they become the president of basketball operations. The fact that he was able to change things while keeping Rivers is a good sign for the Clippers.
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