Clippers Pursuing the Logo (West Joins #ClipCityChipCity!)

[Ranma]

Getting Jerry West would more than make up for missing out on Travis Schlenk, but West was previously reported as being steadfast in his unwillingness to work for the Clippers due to the perceived mistreatment of his friend and former teammate, Elgin Baylor. Of course, Ballmer could make amends for Sterling's past trangressions in order to buy his way into currying West's favor.

Forget the advisory role, he should be Doc's superior as the actual President of Basketball Operations and also have someone else fill the GM role to further dilute Doc's influence and responsibilities. If we're going to pursue a big move like this, let's go all the way instead of taking half measures. Hard core = solid foundation.

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[janmagn]

This would be amazing... Sounds like a dream

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[mkwest]

West used to spend time around the organization when Baylor was still here after parting ways with Memphis. It was a long shot then given the circumtances, and is probably a long shot now. Baylor has attended some games since Ballmer has become owner of the team. The past drama probably wouldn't be the deciding factor imo. I think loyalty would draw him to stay with the Warriors, but if he if wants a new challenge, we'd gladly welcome him.

[mkwest]

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[MartinToVaught]

Interesting quote from West today in an SI column by Lee Jenkins:

"I don't like parity," West says. "I don't like the word parity. Parity is average, and I like to see excellence. But I also like competition. I read the newspaper cover to cover every morning, and even though I don't bet, I look at the lines in Las Vegas. We were underdogs in one game this year. We were favored in Game 2 of the conference finals by 15 points. That is insane. It's not what anybody wants to see. At the end of the third quarter [when the Warriors led 106–75], I almost felt bad for San Antonio, but I also felt bad for our fans. Because if you're a real fan at a playoff game, you want to see a hard-fought battle, back and forth, and at the end somebody wins by a point and you go home worn out. You're charged. You're edgy. But we're up by 30-something, and I'm thinking, 'Hmm, I'd like to leave here if I could.' It's the weirdest thing. I've never felt that way before."

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/05/31/nba-finals-warriors-cavaliers-parity-lebron-james-kevin-durant

I was skeptical at first, but this might actually be happening. One thing's for sure, our organization would finally be in capable hands. I can't see West buying Doc's BS for very long. It would be nice if he could bring in a quality GM to help him fix the mess Doc's created.

[Ranma]

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[mkwest]

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[thanumba2clippersfan]

Earlier today I was thinking it would be nice to have West have an executive role with the Clippers, but I didn't think it was happening. After looking at some of the posts on here now it sounds like a possibility.

[og15]

Well I guess good things do happen, this would be great, and even better if it somehow led to Doc being forced from the President of Basketball Operations role which he shouldn't have anyways.

[JGOJustin]

Encouraging to say the leasst

[TucsonClip]

Would be a huge breath of fresh air. That is, assuming Doc is out of the front office. Let West do his thing. Im not sold on anyone in our front office (at least in a high level position).

[og15]

Doesn't seem like this means Doc will be out as President (just yet), but it seems like it means Doc will have someone checking and analyzing his decisions and chiming in on what needs to be done or not done. Someone that everyone certainly respects when it comes to talent evaluation and front office success much, much more than Doc. That is a great thing, especially since Ballmer as an owner admittedly doesn't know much about basketball and can't really do much check and balance on Doc. It might end up leading to Doc stepping down from the role though, which no one will be sad about, the team doesn't need him in that role anyways.

[Roscoe Sheed]

The only concern I'd have is that he is 79. Hopefully he would stay healthy over the next several years. He could certainly add legitimacy to the organization

[Wammy Giveaway]

The only concern I'd have is that he is 79. Hopefully he would stay healthy over the next several years. He could certainly add legitimacy to the organization

Punctuality has been an alarming weakness for the Clippers. By that, I mean they always get the pieces they most desperately need too little and too late. Look at Paul Pierce. Doc got him only after his second 3-1 collapse and after the Clippers lost DeAndre Jordan to the Dallas Mavericks. Typical panic move from Doc's part.

Now they're trying to poach Jerry West away from the Clipper's arch rival in a pivotal moment where they could stand to lose everything, from Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, to their overall relevance in the NBA. Clippers just want to be loved - badly - and getting The Logo on board would be the perfect small-step-giant-leap move to get good graces from the media again.

My concern is what will Jerry West do.

1. If West sees the Clippers as still a contender, does he sign off on a trade for Carmelo Anthony? Perhaps bring in the whole Team Banana Boat, pending LeBron's fate in this year's NBA Finals. What about acquiring Gregg Popovich from the San Antonio Spurs on a compensation trade, somebody who Doc Rivers will listen to, and maybe further Paul's desire to stay in LAC (After all, there are murmurs of Paul looking to San Antonio).

2. If West sees the Clippers as a rebuilding team, does he let Paul and Griffin leave? Trade DeAndre Jordan and all their pieces for draft picks, remove Doc Rivers completely. And what of Austin Rivers - does he get moved out too, or will West keep him? This could force the Clippers back into the lottery for the first time since the 2010-11 season, and if they miss the playoffs next season, then West could be tasked to rebuild the team within a year's time.

Ranma opined that Jerry should just ok the Melo deal as the Clippers cupboard is practically cobwebs. There's no point to tank if the Clips don't have any picks, and the cap situation is too bungled up for them to do anything. They've become the Brooklyn Nets of the west, and it may take at least a couple more years before anybody can clean up the mess that the dreaded Doc Rivers did.

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[mkwest]

Jerry West, Clippers have mutual interest

West, an executive board member with the Golden State Warriors who consults with the team’s basketball operations, would also be an advisor with the Clippers with a strong say as a consultant, the executives said.

West recently met with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Doc Rivers, the team’s coach and president of basketball operations, said the executives. The Clippers got permission from the Warriors to speak with West, one executive said.

“But nothing is going to happen any time soon,” the executive said.

That’s because West is still under contract until July with the Warriors, who meet the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.

If West were to join the Clippers, there is a chance he would hire his son, Ryan West, who is the assistant director of scouting for the Lakers, in a front-office job with the Clippers, one executive said.

Brad Turner, LA Times

[TucsonClip]

Landing Ryan West would be a really, really great step in the right direction for the Clippers.

[Ranma]

Ranma opined that Jerry should just ok the Melo deal as the Clippers cupboard is practically cobwebs...

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I actually didn't say that per the cited tweet, but the points following the sentence referencing me are vaild. I +1ed you for your point about the "punctuality" of the Clippers making moves as I wholeheartedly agree that we've been slow to address our shortcomings whether it's valuing the draft, getting a G-League team, changing our logo (which was botched in a half-measured manner), pursuing smart basketball men to relieve Doc of his decision-making, et al.

[Ranma]

Landing Ryan West would be a really, really great step in the right direction for the Clippers.

Jerry West may be too old to endure the scouting trips required for finding talent and evaluating it but having a chip-off-the-old-block fulfill those duties would be a fine substitute, especially with dear old dad available in-house to give him guidance. It also sounds like Ryan West is highly regarded in his own right. Give the kid the title of GM. He's certainly earned it more than Doc has with regards to his title as President of Basketball Operations.

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Kevin Ding, BleacherReport.com (4/8/14)

With the team about to post its single worst record in 54 years in Los Angeles, it's a good time to introduce Ryan West. On the surface, it's a good time to know anyone who will have a hand in deciding the Lakers' highest draft pick in 32 years—and West is one of the Lakers' primary scouting voices these days.

Yes, he is Jerry West's son. Yes, he was the one Jerry groomed to inherit his eye for talent. And with Mitch Kupchak increasing Ryan's workload to include "a lot of things" and Kupchak's expectation that West, 34, will occupy his own general manager chair down the road, fans will find out about Ryan West eventually anyway.

"He's eager and bright and loves to work," Kupchak said.
...

When you ask Bertka if Ryan is more like Jerry West or Kupchak, Bertka immediately rules out the calm, patient Kupchak. Bertka needs only a moment to reflect on the tortured elder West before happily declaring one critical difference about Ryan: "He actually smiles."

***

There's a little bit of the same delivery to their words, father and son, though no one could ever quite match a rapid-fire, profanity-laced rant from Jerry West. It's fitting that Ryan is the narrator for the audio book of Jerry's 2011 memoir, West by West: My Charmed, Tormented Life, chronicling both his personal struggles and professional successes.

The one part of Jerry's life that he shared completely with Ryan in real time was running the Lakers.

That meant the kid sitting in on workouts for college players. No green allowed in the house in a pledge of unity against the Boston Celtics. A trip to the Final Four to scout when Ryan was 12. All that angst pervading the home while Jerry masterminded the arrival of both Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

"I feel like the Forum was my second home," Ryan said. "For whatever reason, I just latched on to him and wanted to learn more and more about the game, as much as possible. I didn't really understand what was going on at the time, but I really fell in love with the whole draft process, building teams, adding players who can contribute. For some reason, my dad and I just had a bond through basketball that set me on a path to where I am today. I learned the love of the game from him."

Jerry West's Son Ryan Carries Lakers' Past Into the Future as Key Scout for LA

[TucsonClip]

Ryan is highly regarded. I think the eventual move would be to name him as GM.

[Ranma]

Ryan is highly regarded. I think the eventual move would be to name him as GM.

I have little doubt that he's highly regarded given his upbringing and professional experience. The only problem is that he considers the Lakers family. Unlike his younger brother, Jonnie, he resisted going to Golden State to follow their father in order to remain with the Lakers. Even if we do get Ryan West to eventually become our GM, there will always be that draw for him to return back to the Lakers after he's proven himself with the Clippers.

Even still, it'd be great to have both Jerry & Ryan West steer the Clippers' ship during whatever time we have them for rather than continue on with Doc's dysfunctional power trip and incompetence.