The LA Clippers extended president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank for four more years, a move that seemed insane when first rumored in December but now looks prescient following the team's historic run. The extension, confirmed by The Athletic's Joe Vardon and Sam Amick, sends a clear message: the Clippers are playing the long game.
Frank's extension matters because it prevents the exact type of panic moves that destroy franchises. When executives feel their jobs are on the line, they make desperate win-now trades that mortgage the future for minimal present-day gains. They overpay for veterans, sacrifice draft capital, and take on unmovable contracts just to save their own skin. The result is usually short-term mediocrity followed by years of rebuilding.
By locking up Frank now, the Clippers have ensured he can make decisions based on what's actually best for the organization rather than what might temporarily save his job. This explains why the team has not dealt Ivica Zubac.
The bigger picture for the Clippers is what actually matters
Lawrence Frank's track record justifies the extension. Since taking over in 2017, the LA Clippers have posted eight consecutive winning seasons. Frank won NBA Executive of the Year in 2020, and has also recently signed impact veterans like Nicolas Batum and James Harden to team-friendly deals. There have been a few mistakes, like Bradley Beal, but the overall body of work shows competence.
The Chris Paul situation, which looked disastrous in December when Frank sent the future Hall of Famer home, now appears brilliant in hindsight. Removing Paul from the rotation opened minutes for Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, who have been instrumental in the recent surge. Sometimes addition by subtraction is the right move, even when it looks terrible publicly.
Frank's biggest criticism centers on the Paul George trade that sent Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But 29 out of 30 GMs make that trade to pair George with Kawhi Leonard and immediately reach the conference finals. The move was logical at the time, yet it just didn't work out due to injuries and chemistry issues.
The formula for success stems from stability
The LA Clippers' turnaround vindicates Lawrence Frank's patient approach. Rather than panic-trading young assets at the deadline to salvage a lost season, the team stuck with its vision. They gave minutes to Jordan Miller, Kobe Sanders, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, and Cam Christie, players who were supposed to take the "Moussa Diabate route" and develop elsewhere. Now those young players are key rotation pieces on a team climbing towards playoff contention.
Frank's extension also ensures continuity with coach Tyronn Lue, the only head coach Frank has hired in LA. The Lue-Frank partnership has produced consistent regular-season success and a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021. Keeping that partnership intact prevents the upheaval that comes with front office changes.
The timeline is also crucial to consider. The Clippers are targeting 2027 and beyond, when their books are clear. Frank's four-year extension aligns perfectly with that vision, ensuring he'll be around to execute the plan he's constructed. Whether this move is loved or frowned upon, stability beats chaos every time.