Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer on Friday said coach Doc Rivers will "relinquish his role" as President of Basketball Operations, while Exec VP/Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank will "assume responsibility for basketball operations," according to Broderick Turner of the L.A. TIMES. Rivers and Frank "will be 'peers in the Clippers' structure'" and will "both report directly to Ballmer." A source said that Rivers, who has "two years left on a five-year deal" worth more than $50M, will "earn his $10-plus-million salary per season." The source added that Clippers adviser Jerry West was "told of the decision by Ballmer" (L.A. TIMES, 8/5). Ballmer said, "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. The notion that one person can fairly focus on them and give them all the attention they need isn't the case." In DC, Marissa Payne noted both Ballmer and Rivers "framed Rivers' front-office departure as being necessary for more concentrated leadership on the floor" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/4). The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola said this will be a "very interesting season in L.A.," as Frank is associated with Rivers, while West is "now connected with the owner." ESPN's Jackie MacMullan noted Rivers and Frank "are one in the same, so Doc is still going to have a lot of input" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 8/4).
FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM: CBSSPORTS.com's Matt Moore wrote the move is a "demotion" for Rivers and there is "no way of getting around that." Rivers will be "involved in every decision made when it comes to roster and team direction." However, Rivers three years ago was "essentially placed into the position of being the single most important guy in the Clippers organization." He still has "autonomy over how the team plays, but those other decisions are clearly being moved under Frank's direction, even if Rivers will have a say" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/6). In California, Bill Oram wrote although Rivers is "often regarded as one of the top coaches in the NBA, his track record as an executive ... was spotty." The coaching job "just got tougher" with the offseason departures of Gs Chris Paul and J.J. Redick, and Rivers "never made being an executive look especially simple" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/5). ESPN's Bomani Jones: "Coach plus GM rarely works out well. You're just asking for too much, and it's two different jobs" ("PTI," ESPN, 8/4).
