Longtime SI writer Lee Jenkins is joining the Clippers as Exec Dir of Research & Identity, and the team believes his skills can "benefit the organization in ways that transcend title," according to Andrew Greif of the L.A. TIMES. Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said, “It wasn’t that, ‘Hey, we need to find this position.’ No. The more interactions we had with Lee we were like, 'We have to go get this guy.'" The Clippers "believe Jenkins’ hiring could pay dividends." Frank said that Jenkins "probably will meet with draft prospects to better understand them." The Clippers also "envision Jenkins helping the organization in larger, and more undefined, ways." Frank said Jenkins has a "relentless curiosity about him, what makes people tick, what makes teams tick, why do teams win, why do they lose, organizational behaviors." Jenkins credited Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer for "what he called a willingness to think differently and create a job that is 'pretty outside the box'" (L.A. TIMES, 9/19). Frank said that Jenkins will "not be writing about the team for the Clippers website or acting as a scout." In N.Y., Kevin Draper notes Jenkins "will report" to Frank and Clippers GM Michael Winger and "will not have any employees under his purview" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/19). In DC, Ben Strauss notes Jenkins will not help "craft presentations for free agents -- the kinds of things a communications job might entail." Frank said, “If I wanted someone for a free agency presentation, we would hire an ad agency.” Instead, Jenkins will be "intimately involved with player evaluation -- both free agents and draft prospects" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/19).
NICE MATCH: ESPN's Rachel Nichols said Jenkins' role is one "we haven't seen before in the NBA." But the Clippers believe Jenkins will "tell stories, communicate with people, really study and know people and shape an internal and external narrative for their team." Jenkins is a “great observer of human nature … who is smart, who is intuitive and curious" (“The Jump,” ESPN2, 9/18). THE RINGER's Paolo Uggetti wrote it "makes sense that Jenkins, someone with relationships all around the league and a keen eye for finding information about players, would be valuable to the Clippers." The team is "heading into a season and offseason that could prove crucial for the franchise as the team tries to nab at least one of the big-name free agents on the horizon." Jenkins has "written about and interviewed nearly everybody who will be of interest to the Clippers next year" (THERINGER.com, 9/18). FS1's Marcellus Wiley said Jenkins is a "tremendous" and "unconventional hire from the richest owner in sports." Someone who "writes exposés can expose the personality of this team. Not only can we tell that to this L.A. market, but sell that to this L.A. market" ("Speak for Yourself," FS1, 9/18).
