Baylor apparently out with Clippers

[dockingsched]

http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/ ... -clippers/

Although the Clippers have not made an official announcement, Hall of Famer, Laker legend and NBA icon Elgin Baylor no longer is performing his duties as the team’s vice president of basketball operations and general manager.A NBA executive contacted Tuesday afternoon said he had been told that Baylor no longer was performing his job. Reportedly, legal representatives of the Clippers and Baylor are engaging in dialogue.

It is not known if Baylor resigned or was relieved of his duties. However, suspicion arose when the 74-year old Baylor was not at the Clippers’ new practice facility when training camp opened nor was he listed in any way in the team’s preseason media guide. Asked about this omission, a team spokesman said that only the coaches’ bios were listed in the guide. However, that was grossely untrue, because in addition to the coaches the director of player personnel, director of scouting, director of international scouting and team physician all were listed.

In addition to those individuals, the team’s athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, equipment manager and broadcast team all were listed. When asked where Baylor was, the same team spokesman said he did not know but believed that Baylor was upstairs in his executive office.

[JJ LoDuca]

...upstairs in his executive office taking a nap!

This is some interesting info. If its true, its not surprising. Maybe this will lead to Dunleavy officially taking the role of GM...and brining someone new in as head coach. But, like I said, this is not all too surprising.

[mkwest]

Although the Clippers have not made an official announcement, Hall of Famer, Laker legend and NBA icon Elgin Baylor no longer is performing his duties as the team’s vice president of basketball operations and general manager. A NBA executive contacted Tuesday afternoon said he had been told that Baylor no longer was performing his job. Reportedly, legal representatives of the Clippers and Baylor are engaging in dialogue.

One could argue that Baylor not performing his duties as VP of basketball operations and gm is not news. As JJ said he's probably taking a nap somewhere.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out though.

[scratch21]

RANDOM!!
i just hope Coach D still has his voice in all the decisions made. we all know us clipper fans that Coach has been making all the moves since 2005. hope he still does

[GuyverX]

Could it be? The day Clipper fans are waiting for? The old fossil is going to get the pink slip? This truly is the year where the Clippers officially turn it around if that happens. We all know Dunleavy is GM...it's time he took the title officially.

[TheNewEra]

I believe MD should be GM of the team and Defensive coach for the team and bring in the new coach. It never really works out when the coach has too many big time responsibilities on the team. But at the same time MD put this team together so he knows what he can get out of these players.

Next Season MD steps away completely and is full time GM and with the preivious year as coach the new coach has an idea of what the team can do.

I believe it now the Clippers are turning the franchise around before our own eyes we may be witnessing history in the making.

[mkwest]

The Elgin Baylor Era is over.

Which means Mike Dunleavy will be the team's general manager, the Clippers coach said on Tuesday afternoon.

"Basically, the team came to me just recently and said that Elgin was retiring and they wanted me to assume those duties," Dunleavy said.

Baylor had been the team's vice president of basketball operations since 1986. Neal Olshey, the team's director of player personnel, will be the assistant general manager. Team officials were not available for comment on the details of Baylor's retirement. More details later today on latimes.com.

Lisa Dillman, The Fabulous Forum

[GuyverX]

I have been calling for this guy's resignation for years! Everybody knew Dunleavy was coach/GM since we made the playoffs a seasons back and now it is official. Somebody made the comment that the Clippers basically woke Baylor up for signings/photo ops only and it turned out they were right. He probably didn't even know they signed Baron until the press conference.

But isn't it weird...how Dunelavy says Baylor is retiring but Baylor says “there’s a dispute going on. My attorney advised me not to discuss it.” Interesting...

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I could see this coming. To most of us this is no surprise. Now all we have to do is hire a new head coach and leave Dunleavy as the GM.

[ClipperDomination]

^ I agree, this comes as not a huge surprise to me. It seemed like Dun was doing all the work lately, so no wonder why Baylor has gone MIA. Wasn't even mentioned in the preseason media guide.

[jflipclip]

So.. Dunleavy, both GM and coach? How long will that last? Like you guys said already, no surprise as Dunleavy has showed some signs.

[PlinkingPanda]

Nice.

[loflin3hree5ive]

Finally... All these people bashing Dunleavy all over the place and it's become obvious even to DTS that Dunleavy is one the best things to happen to this franchise. Wise move and long over-due. Congrats MD!

[mj_shoefanatic]

I'll be so happy if this rumor is legit.

[scratch21]

im really not to found of Coach having both responsibility for GM and coach. i know he has been for a while now but look when he was both coach and GM with the Bucks it was his worst tenure in his career.

[GuyverX]

I think we see Dunleavy moving over to GM next season if it doesn't work out but on the upside, he's been doing this dual coach/GM thing for a few years now.

[mkwest]

"There is a dispute, and on the advice of my attorney they did not want me to discuss it," Baylor said, according to the newspaper. "That's all I can say."

A source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that Baylor resigned because the Clippers were willing to let him retain his salary and title but were stripping him of any authority. The source also said the Clippers were willing to have him return in a consultant's role. The Clippers are now not expected to fill his position.

ESPN

Elgin, I hope you enjoy retirement. I'll actually miss seeing you in your Cosby sweaters snoozing at the games.

It's time for a change and hopefully this will lead us to bigger and better things (new coach or new gm) in the near future. I wish that this situation could have been resolved a little smoother, but it's best for everyone involved. This off-season has had a lot of twists and turns and we've seen familiarity be wiped away. 2008 is a year of new beginnings and I like where we're headed.

[cinnamon]

I like your gracious approach to all this, mkw.
Let's face it, this has been the de facto situation for ages, and it makes sense to give Dunleavy the title to go along with the actual responsibility he has been taking and work he has been doing. Clearing this up does also seem suitable as part of the fresh new feel.
As for Elgin Baylor, I too wish him well in whatever he is actually doing.
This makes two EBs the team is leaving behind as it moves on ahead into, we hope, a better season.

[SD2042]

This move was a long time coming for the Clipper Nation. This team since the summer has been one surprise after another. Now with the Baylor resigning or retiring, this frees up MD to have reins from the business side of the team as well as the coaching. WIth all of the moves the Clips have been involved in these last 3 months. Hopefully some good results can come from these moves as the season approaches.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Elgin couldn't even last a whole summer league game. I watched him sit in a spot behind the basket and I believe he only stayed a half. Most of the NBA coaches and GMs I've seen watch and stay for a whole game.