Clipperholics
Fansided

The Los Angeles Clippers trade is scary, but opens the future

By Brian Cullen

PLAYA VISTA, CA- JUNE 19: Lawrence Frank, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Los Angeles Clippers with Jerry West as Special Consultant at a press conference in Playa Vista, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA- JUNE 19: Lawrence Frank, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Los Angeles Clippers with Jerry West as Special Consultant at a press conference in Playa Vista, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
PLAYA VISTA, CA- JUNE 19: Lawrence Frank, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers name Jerry West as Special Consultant at a press conference in Playa Vista, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA- JUNE 19: Lawrence Frank, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and Head Coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers name Jerry West as Special Consultant at a press conference in Playa Vista, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Front Office

The Clippers have pieced together a very high-functioning front office. Something the team may never have had before. Lawrence Frank was promoted this past summer to President of Basketball Operations. This was a sign that the Clippers were acknowledging their issues and correcting them. Frank has been in the league a long time as a coach, with success, and knows talent and the nuances of the business. This removed Doc from the front office, and making moves like trading a first rounder for Jeff Green, to focus on coaching. Doc is now having what might be the best coaching season of his career.

The team also hired a successful GM. Michael Winger was brought in; a move that didn’t get enough attention or credit. Winger was an exec at OKC. Let that sink in. No, really think about that. OKC has never been a free agent destination. That franchise has built relevancy through the draft and the trade market. Using those two categories alone they have not only made it to the Conference Finals, but the actual NBA Finals. Winger comes from a front office with success on the player market as well as keeping a tight lid on the inner-doings of a franchise (i.e. NOT what’s happening in Cleveland).

Home/Clippers News