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Los Angeles Clippers: Coaching changes made this summer

Adrian Rivera|
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Natalie Nakase of the LA Clippers sits on the bench during the 2017 NBA Las Vegas Summer League game against the Miami Heat on July 13, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Natalie Nakase of the LA Clippers sits on the bench during the 2017 NBA Las Vegas Summer League game against the Miami Heat on July 13, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Clippers may not have made any big splashes in free agency, but they did have several coaching changes.

Rex Kalamian

There have been some big changes in the Los Angeles Clippers coaching staff this summer. First off, the team hired renowned assistant coach Rex Kalamian to help on Doc Rivers’ coaching staff.

Most recently, Rex Kalamian spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors. He also served as an assistant coach for six seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before that. Kalamian is very experienced assistant, coaching for various teams, mostly in the Western conference. Rex has been noted as a defensive guru and will likely help Doc on that end.

Casey Hill

The team also has promoted head coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers, Casey Hill, to be one of Doc Rivers’ assistant coaches. Hill will continue to work and develop the organization’s young core.

Hill spent last season as head coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers, who finished with a 23-27 record in their innagural season. Under his mentoring, Tyrone Wallace earned his call to the NBA, proving himself as a reliable “NBA ready” player. Before coaching for the Clippers, Hill was the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, leading them to their first franchise D-League title in 2014-2015.

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Natalie Nakase

Natalie Nakase, arguably the biggest coaching change this summer, has been promoted to the LA Clippers’ player development staff.

Natalie Nakase further adds her print to a strong female NBA coaching campaign, being promoted to the player development coaching staff. This past season, Nakase completed her sixth stint with the Clippers, as well as her first as an assistant coach with the Agua Caliente Clippers. Natalie is one of only three female coaches in the NBA.

Natalie also has head coaching experience overseas with Japan’s professional men’s basketball team from 2010-2012, before starting her coaching in the NBA. Natalie was the first Asian American player in the professional National Women’s Basketball League when playing for San Jose and San Diego, from 2004-2006. Prior to that, Nakase played point guard at UCLA. She finished her college career eighth all-time in assists and tenth in steals.. Her resume speaks for itself. She knows the game and will play a crucial role in young player development.

Brian Adams

To cap things off, Brian Adams, a longtime video player development coach with Rivers, was made the head coach of Agua Caliente Clippers.

Adams, the new head coach of the G League Clippers has one clear focus in his mind: player development. He understands what the Clippers are looking for and will help young guys like Angel Delgado as they make the transition as a two-way player. As evidenced by last year’s team, developing two-way contract players who can establish a role in today’s game of NBA is a hidden gem when it comes to a team’s resources.

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