Clippers' Lawrence Frank earned 10 of 29 first-place votes from his peers in winning NBA Exec of the YearNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Clippers President of Basketball Operations LAWRENCE FRANK was voted NBA’s Executive of the Year for the '19-20 season by fellow league execs. Frank "earned 10 of 29 first-place votes from his peers and finished with 61 points after a season in which the Clippers made numerous bold moves." Thunder Exec VP & GM SAM PRESTI (41 points) was second and Heat President PAT RILEY (39 points) was third. Lakers VP/Basketball Operations & GM ROB PELINKA earned "one first-place vote" and came in seventh. Frank has overseen a "dramatic increase" in staffing in the Clippers' coaching staff, medical and analytical departments, and "helped retain top employees," such as GM MICHAEL WINGER, Assistant GM TRENT REDDEN, Assistant GM MARK HUGHES and Senior Advisor JERRY WEST, "despite interest from other teams" (L.A. TIMES, 10/9).
NBA INITIATIVES: The 76ers on Thursday announced a "partnership with the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware." The Sixers "will be the title sponsor for the Chamber’s annual event on Oct. 29, which will be held virtually." The Chamber "will have a formal role in several Sixers’ efforts, including donating marketing assets to Black-owned businesses; increasing the amount of business done with Black-owned businesses; and a new digital content series highlighting local Black-owned businesses throughout the year" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/9)....Blazers F NASSIR LITTLE announced his "excitement in launching The Nassir S. Little Youth Foundation to help kids dream big and to ‘always remember to hold on to your dreams.’" Little "hopes to aid in the young generation not only through sports and education, but through art as well" (NBCSPORTSNORTHWEST.com, 10/8).
NAMES: Jaguars Owner SHAD KHAN is selling his yacht for $200M. Built in '14 and "measuring about 300-feet long, the KISMET can accommodate 16 guests in eight staterooms." It also has a "helipad, sundeck, swimming pool, a full-service spa and a one-of-a-kind outdoor fireplace" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 10/9)....Former WNBAer CAPPIE PONDEXTER has "gone AWOL twice and arrested in the span of a week, but has since been found safe." Pondexter was "first thought to be missing since Monday after those close to her were unable to get in touch with her for several days." The former N.Y. Liberty standout was "arrested on suspicion of battery" before being "released on her own recognizance Thursday morning." After her release, Pondexter reportedly "wandered off alone," but, eventually, her friends and family "found her a second time" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/9).
