A Plethora of Newcomers to Clippers' Staff

Clippers round out infrastructure that was lagging behind rest of the NBA

Along with Lawrence Frank, who was promoted to vice president of basketball operations directly under Rivers earlier in the summer, the two men researched and prepared a detail presentation to Ballmer, explaining why the Clippers needed, for example, a director of player programs (Dee Brown) and a director of pro player personnel (Johnnie Rogers).

The Clippers got the go-ahead to add reinforcements across the board, bulking up a thin scouting department, adding a performance scientist/biomedical analyst and a sports performance psychologist.

“We had to catch up and we needed someone willing to do it,” Rivers said. ‘Steve was ready to do it – well, after those talks.”

“It takes a lot of guys being secure with change,” Rivers said. “Some guys had to relinquish their power. (General Manager) Dave Wohl was a great example. (Head athletic trainer) Jasen Powell, he had to allow Mark (Simpson) to come in and run the whole department and take instruction from someone else. Everyone’s willing to do it. I think we’re on a great path.”

Dan Woike, OC Register

nickhx2 · Post #12 » by **nickhx2** » Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:49 am

good article. sounds like the training department is gonna be run by someone else. hope that works out for us.

MrHill · Post #13 » by **MrHill** » Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:24 pm

Even with the title of "director of performance" that Simpson has, Woike's article definitely made it sound like Jasen Powell took a Gary Sacks-style of demotion of sorts.

Every now and then, I'll take a look at the staff directory on Clippers.com; even if every single Clipper employee wasn't mentioned, they still have a lot of employees. Now, I also noticed that the Clippers' business operations division is no longer at Staples Center, but instead down the block at in that black/white building 12th and Flower Streets (anyone who comes in on Metro Rail, going to or from the terminus at 7th/Flower has seen it). I know I always go back to this narrative, in that we're come a long way with this organization, but it rings true. I remember the days of the Clippers having their team offices in some dingy corner on the main concourse of the late L.A. Sports Arena, practicing at Victoria Park in Carson and L.A. Southwest College before "upgrading" to the Spectrum Club in El Segundo, and when 8,000 people at a Clipper home game was considered a good night, attendance-wise.

All said though, I'm all for new blood in this organization...I'm not an analytics person at all, but the rest of the new staff should be welcomed additions. Hell, maybe the new on-staff shrink can help DJ's foul shooting issues.

UKClipperfan · Post #14 » by **UKClipperfan** » Sun Oct 2, 2016 11:59 am

Its great to hear that we're getting our staffing at least on par with the better organisations in the league.