Lawrence Frank Promoted to Front Office; Kevin Eastman Retires

[Ranma]

Will this mean that our GM moves will actually improve with the decreased influence from Doc's cronies?

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Update: Also, what Russo is saying above seems to make some sense since our defense didn't actually become good until the 3rd season into Doc's tenure. So we're moving the guy that helped our defense on the court to a front office position so that a Doc crony can take his place on the bench? This sounds similar to what the Nets did to Frank when Kidd didn't like that he was getting too much credit for their oncourt success.

[nickhx2]

if there is one thing doc is good at, it's that he has a knack for absorbing the schemes/tactics that his assistants come up with before they part ways.

i don't know what it means for the FO itself, though of course i hope he helps doc stop making terrible moves. but on the court i'm not really worried.

[nickhx2]

also why move on from Piombetti? isn't he just a media guy? does he mean powell?

[Ranma]

also why move on from Piombetti? isn't he just a media guy? does he mean powell?

Piombetti was previously demoted to assistant director of scouting during Doc's restructuring of the organization 2 years ago before Lawrence Frank was hired. I'm not sure what influence he had in Doc's decision-making but maybe Doc wants to use him as a scapegoat for the Bullock and Wilcox draft selections.

I'm sure Russo wouldn't have mistaken Piombetti for Jasen Powell since he's been calling for Powell's departure for some time now. I am curious why he would single out Piombetti as a target, though.

Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times (6/16/14)

Jason Piombetti, the team’s director of scouting, was demoted to assistant director of scouting.

Doc Rivers Restructures Clippers' Basketball Operations

[Ranma]

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[Quake Griffin]

Is there any reason in particular that I should be excited about this move? Does someone new have a final say? Or is this just putting another cook in the kitchen?

[og15]

Not really sure what impact any of this makes, but good to know. Frank did help the defense, which was nice, so hopefully his changes remain.

[mkwest]

Until/unless more is known, it's hard to really say what this means.

With the Nets, his new job after being demoted from an assistant coach was to file game reports. This would sound quite a bit different to me.

What's bringing about the role change? His wife did have an illness (possibly cancer) a few years back where he took time away to be with her. Maybe that's connected to this where he could have still a role and not have to do all of the traveling. I hope not, but who knows?

[QRich3]

Yeah, hard to read at first, but it does seem like it's something he asked for, and Doc obliged not to lose him. He's an awesome defensive coach, so losing him taking decisions in real time is probably gonna hurt a bit, but maybe he can translate his good decision making to the FO and can positively influence personnel decisions. Or maybe he's another guy that struggles to transition to big picture stuff, who knows. Definitely like him though, so glad he's still involved with the franchise.

[Ranma]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/742463227263647744[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/742506987297050624[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/latbbolch/status/742506635650703361[/tweet]

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/743194269775708160[/tweet]

He has served under Hubie Brown (Grizzlies), George Karl (Nuggets & Kings), Jason Kidd (Nets) and Jerry Tarkanian (Fresno State).

[Ranma]

Welch sounds qualified on the surface given his experience and the coaches he's served under. I'm particularly intrigued by the fact that he's worked with Hubie Brown.

[Ranma]

Severns was a Del Negro guy having served 2 seasons on his staff in Chicago before joining him with the Clippers.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/743501728461426689[/tweet]

NBA.com

College - Cal State - Chico
Director of Player Development Dave Severns came to the Clippers prior to the start of the 2010- 11 season after two years on Del Negro's staff with the Chicago Bulls as Assistant Coach for Player Development.

Prior to his time with the Bulls, Severns spent 13 years in player development with Nike, working with college players at the All-American Camp, All-Asia Camp, Nike Skills Academies and Jordan Flight School. He also worked at Attack Athletics in Chicago under Tim Grover from 2005-08. Severns spent three years as video coordinator at Fresno State University under Jerry Tarkanian, two years as an assistant coach at Fresno City College and one year as assistant coach at Cal State Chico. Prior to his time at the collegiate level, Severns spent 12 years as a high school coach in California. He has a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree from California State University-Chico.

Severns and his wife Dr. Julie Severns have three children, Darcey, Jordan and Hailey.

Coach File: Dave Severns

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/744359324810518528[/tweet]

I'm going to assume it's the old Boston Celtics' Dee Brown. He was an assistant under Frank in Detroit and most recently with the Kings under Mike Malone. His focus seems to have been on player development.

Pat Sullivan has been an assistant in Detroit (Larry Brown), New Jersey (Lawrence Frank), Detroit (Michael Curry and John Kuester) and Washington (Randy Wittman).

I could be way off, but there is the possibility that some of the interest in coaches could be for the D-League. There hasn't been much talk lately, but there were rumblings that the Clippers were trying to have a team ready for the 16-17 season. Bakersfield lost their team to the Suns and are trying to get the Clippers to fill the void.

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/nbadraftnet/status/744372780095836161[/tweet]

First I've heard of this.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/734795937369952258[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/734799504977846272[/tweet]

[Ranma]

Apparently, Frank's influence was responsible for our increased attention and focus in evaluating the draft. I'm happy to hear that he's overseeing the expansion of our organizational infrastructure as well as reshaping the front office. Hopefully, he can continue weeding out the incompetents and cronies that are littered throughtout the organization. Jasen Powell's days should be numbered.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/748231511795765248[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/748231782374453249[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/748237758305492992[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/FredKatz/status/748238268412530688[/tweet]

Adrian Wojnarowski, The Vertical (6/29/16)

Frank will be charged with reshaping the franchise’s front office, including building out the infrastructure of its scouting, sports science and long-term strategic planning, sources said.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has committed to significant resources in staff and budget for those pursuits, sources said.

Clippers general manager Dave Wohl remains on the job, but will report to Frank and Rivers, sources said.

Sources: Clippers Promote Assistant Lawrence Frank to Executive Vice President

[mkwest]

LA Clippers Name Lawrence Frank Executive Vice President Of Basketball Operations

The LA Clippers today announced that assistant coach Lawrence Frank has been named Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.

A long-time NBA coaching veteran, Frank has served the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Clippers. In his new role, Frank will lead and oversee the Basketball Operations Department on a daily basis and report directly to Clippers President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Doc Rivers.

“Lawrence is driven, dedicated and committed to the Clippers and has enjoyed success in the game in so many different capacities,” Rivers said. “He has a great basketball mind, and while we will miss his expertise on the bench, our organization will benefit from his energy, skills and leadership in the Basketball Operations Department.”

The New Jersey native has over 26 years of coaching experience and served as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets from 2003-2010, leading them to the playoffs four times. Frank, 45, also served as head coach of the Detroit Pistons for two seasons (2011-2013). He has been an assistant coach for Vancouver, New Jersey, Boston, Brooklyn and LA.

Clippers.com

[mkwest]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TheVertical/status/748509216659357696[/tweet]

[mkwest]

On promoting Lawrence Frank to executive vice president:

“Lawrence has been around forever. He knows the game as well as anyone. He may be one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever been around, and I thought I needed that in the front office. I needed someone to lead the front office, him and (general manager) Dave Wohl will do that together, and I just thought it was time. I think it was time for Lawrence. I think that’s his next progression. He had decided that’s what he wanted to do, and I thought it was time.”

Rowan Kavner, Clippers.com

[Ranma]

Finch obviously wouldn't address the void left in our defensive planning with Frank's elevation into the front office, but he might give us some of what we lost when Gentry left. I'm not really concerned with where that would leave Woodson.

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