The phrase "sink or swim" applies to essentially every coach, whether in a winning or growing situation, with an organization that will support their every move until failure becomes noticeable. This does not strictly mean losing in the regular season or getting bounced in the first round, as behind-the-scenes issues can cause a genius mind like Mike Malone to be let go.
One of the only coaches in the NBA who receives a pass is Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors. His team could face any outcome, and his job will still be safe, because he has produced championships. Not just one or two, but four since being hired in 2014.
Nevertheless, the LA Clippers have treated their head coach, Tyronn Lue, in a similar manner. He does have a championship, which many do not, and he has led the franchise to the Western Conference Finals, a feat no coach has ever achieved. However, Lawrence Frank's commitment to someone who has been in the offseason early each year is illogical.
Had the Clippers given Lue a weak infrastructure to work with, with limited star talent and low-end role players, then keeping him around would be understandable. Conversely, the 2016 champion has coached superstar after superstar, yet still leaves the organization and fans empty-handed.
Instead of dismissing Lue following a game seven that displayed an underwhelming game plan, Lawrence Frank added Brook Lopez, Chris Paul, John Collins, and most notably, Bradley Beal, a three-time All-Star.
This implies that if Lue cannot win with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and a level of depth as deep as the Mariana Trench, then the Clippers' front office will be compelled to replace him with a better fit.
The bare minimum for Tyronn Lue as the LA Clippers' head coach next season is an NBA Finals appearance
Two superstars in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, plus two All-Star talents in Bradley Beal and Ivica Zubac, and a surrounding of elite role players and the best assistants in the world is far more than what any leader in command needs to win, let alone a guy like LA Clippers' head coach Tyronn Lue, who already has.
But, with how the Clippers' era with Leonard has panned out since their 2021 Western Conference Finals run, optimism is on thin ice, and Lue will inevitably be fired if he drowns in his sixth season as the team's head coach.