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Doc Rivers relieved of front office duties by Steve Ballmer

By Tushar Bahl

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers gestures from the sideline in the second half of their 105-98 loss to the Utah Jazz in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers gestures from the sideline in the second half of their 105-98 loss to the Utah Jazz in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers have relieved head coach Doc Rivers of his front office duties, so he can focus on his head coach duties.

Adrian Wojnarowski‏ broke the news sending LA Clippers fans into a frenzy. The team has relieved head coach Doc Rivers of his front office duties, so he can focus on his head coach duties.

Doc Rivers joined the LA Clippers from the Celtics as the head coach. An year later, he was promoted to president of basketball operations at the franchise, in addition to his role of head coach.

Now he has been freed of his front office role, which will give him a chance to put more time and effort into his primary role of coaching. Rivers’ old role will now be taken over by Frank Lawerence, who will oversee basketball operations.

Owner Steve Ballmer told ESPN that Rivers will still have a strong input in personnel and organizational matters and both Rivers and Lawerence will now report directly to him.

"“I’ve owned the team for three years now, and I really better understand what an owner’s responsibility is — and it turns out that running a franchise and coaching are two enormous and different jobs,” Ballmer said to ESPN“There are different relationships that a player needs to have with the coach and the front office. Doc put Lawrence in charge of the non-coaching aspects of the front office last year, and he’s done a fantastic job. I want each of them to dig in and do what they do best. Lawrence has come on so strong in that role, and that has helped us go down this path.”"

The Clippers have enjoyed an eventful summer ever since Jerry West was appointed as consultant in June. They lost Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets but managed to re-sign Blake Griffin. The move to fire Rivers from the front office comes as a step in the right direction for the LA Clippers.

Doc has often been criticized for some of his moves as an executive. Clippers fans will be hoping that this move can finally help Rivers get the best out of his players and give them a chance to win the NBA Championship that has eluded them since their formation.

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