What will it take for Ballmer to admit that the GM/Coach Doc experiment has failed?

[wco81]

If there were going to be changes this year, would have happened by now, right?

With the big free agent re-signing decisions looming, you would think they'd one the new GM in place before, to get his input?

[Ranma]

This is deflating. Former Clippers director of player personnel Jeff Weltman was just hired by Orlando to be the Magic's president of basketball operations. I've always had a high regard for Weltman during his time with the Clippers when he was doing the legwork behind the scenes as Mike Dunleavy, Sr. was doing the Doc thing as coach and GM. He and Neil Olshey were truly capable personnel executives that Sterling let slip through his fingers.

Now Ballmer just let a truly talented team builder go to Atlanta to rebuild the Hawks while we stick with the status quo with Doc as our 2-headed monster wreaking havoc from within. I'm beyond disappointed.

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[nickhx2]

hard to say he just let him go because to me that feels like there's a connotation that he got away from the clips, all while being on the team's radar. as far as we all know, ballmer is going to stick with rivers as the GM and he has zero intention of changing anything up, as unfortunate as that might be.

[QRich3]

It's actually pretty frustrating that Budenholzer's done exactly what would be perfect for this team, which is to realize he was biting more than he could chew and decide to stick to coaching, while letting the franchise find a competent GM. Obviously Doc's never gonna do that, if he hasn't already. Which is not too smart on his part tbh, since he's pretty much destroying his own reputation because of it.

In any case, Schlenk looks like he'll be an ok GM, but he's not any sort of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should concern the Clippers at all. There are a dozen guys waiting for a GM job that I'd probably rank before him.

[Ranma]

hard to say he just let him go because to me that feels like there's a connotation that he got away from the clips, all while being on the team's radar. as far as we all know, ballmer is going to stick with rivers as the GM and he has zero intention of changing anything up, as unfortunate as that might be.

You're right. It's not like we were in the process of making any change, but it's frustrating nonetheless. If I recall correctly, Dennis Lindsey and Mike Budenholzer were hired while we still had Vinny Del Negro as coach. VDN was always a stopgap and to not jump on obviously good personnel executive talent when it's available just because we had a subpar option under contract doesn't make it any less frustrating. I was miffed about that missed opportunity back then. I'm doubly so now.

Ballmer should look at personnel executive talent just as valuable as player talent. You go get it when it's available. Period. Can you imagine the Dodgers sitting by and letting Andrew Friedman take a GM opportunity elsewhere just because the organization still had Ned Colletti (and manager Don Mattingly) still under contract? I shudder to think at that alternate reality.

It's doubly frustrating when Ballmer himself was the moron who extended Doc's contract. Like I've said before, he's now accountable for the team's continued stagnation. The honeymoon is long past over. Ballmer should actually follow through on his mantra of "hard core" instead of spouting them as empty words. A hard core means a solid foundation. That should start with the front office in order to spread throughout the organization including the players since personnel executives put together the roster of playing talent.

[og15]

It's beyond frustrating that Doc continues to get a free pass from both the media and Ballmer as the Celtics whizz right past us without him. Why can't Ballmer see that Doc is flushing his $2 billion investment down the toilet? If he doesn't care, then he needs to admit that and sell the team to someone who does.

Well for Ballmer the team is a long term investment. Having Doc isn't really losing him revenue or hurting the teams preceptor especially as we see that even the media for the most part doesn't criticize Doc consistently. Doc can't and hasn't done anything that will do any damage to the teams long term future, so really Ballmer is not having any negative effect in the investment side.

On the fan side, depending on his level of patience, that might be the only factor, but I guess he sees his friend Allen with Portland and that makes him think something like "well, winning it all is the goal but can take time". Who knows.

[wco81]

Maybe until the situation with CP3 and Blake is resolved, Doc is going to be safe. Or Ballmer won't do anything to upset the apple cart, make Doc unhappy, which might make CP3 more wary about staying, which could also affect Blake as well.

[nickhx2]

definitely think that is a strong possibility

[og15]

Yea, probably, at the least Ballmer knows that keeping both Blake and Paul is big for their revenues, and even if the team wants to move in a different direction after, the best way is still to have both of them as assets. So yes, if Doc is needed to secure them on the team first, then it certainly makes sense to keep him, and any changes he wants to make can be made after the teams greatest assets are secured.

[Ranma]

It does make a lot of sense for Ballmer to secure both Griffin and Paul before making any major moves in the front office given the fears of losing either or both from front-office shake-ups, but the very least they should have done was relieve Doc of his GM duties in order to at least take those responsibilities off his plate and to start the transition towards building that aforementioned solid foundation.

A big part of the problem with our stagnation is that the organization is beholden to the players' whims in terms of picking executive leadership. It's one thing to be Jerry Krause and say players don't win championships (executives do) but it's also another to figuratively allow the inmates to run the asylum. It's ironic that Paul's desire for a championship is likely being foiled by his own personal connection to Doc. Remember, Paul was also tight with Byron Scott when he was his head coach and it's obvious to most everyone that he was a terrible coach focusing on the short-term. Sound familiar?

Golden State has been making repeated trips to the NBA Finals because executive leadership put together that roster. Players obviously play a big part in that too, but my point stands. Even despite LeBron's influence in front-office maneuverings, he didn't start winning championships in Miami and Cleveland, respectively, until he joined the Heat under Pat Riley's vision and came back to Cleveland after the Cavs' front office put together a talented roster during his absence. Even the Cavaliers' current office deserves credit for doing the little things that keep them in contention.

[Ranma]

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[nickhx2]

wonder what his reaction would've been if he signed with the clippers

[Wammy Giveaway]

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If Doc had a super team, he'd be so glee, he'll rather be on set with the eponymous cast. But since he doesn't (he kind of does, I'll explain below), he feels a need to complain. He hopes that by lashing out at the Warriors, somebody will hear his plea and help him. Doesn't always work that way... unless it's scripted like a TV show.

Anyway, Doc does have a super team in the Clippers Paul-Griffin-Jordan, but it really isn't. It's because the candidates on the roster are inconsistent. The following are prerequisites to a super team:

1. The team must have a minimum three superstars on their roster. Warriors have that in spades. Clippers meet the minimum.

2. The superstars must have made multiple All Star appearances. Curry, Thompson, Green, and Durant have all made multiple appearances. Paul and Griffin are the only multiple players, Jordan just started.

3. The superstars All Star visits must be consecutive and consistent. That means there needs to be a streak; there can be no absences. Curry (2014-now), Thompson (2015-now), Green (2016 and now), and Durant (2010-now) have a combined 17 All Star visits without a single stopgap, while the Clippers have two. Paul (2008-2016) missed this year's All Star game and Griffin (2011-2015) missed two visits starting in 2016. Jordan will need next year's visit, or else the Clippers lose the super team status.

It doesn't even help matters much that the Warriors have two MVPs in Curry and Durant. That's one of the reasons why Doc went after his former Big 3 member Paul Pierce: he had a Finals MVP, but he was too old. It was all about the pride for Doc.

And that may be one of the reasons why Doc may trade for Carmelo Anthony, to save the Clipper's super team status.

[Ranma]

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[JGOJustin]

Does the fact that Lawrence handles all the actual day to day duties as a GM change you guy's minds on Doc as a GM?

[TucsonClip]

Does the fact that Lawrence handles all the actual day to day duties as a GM change you guy's minds on Doc as a GM?

He does now. He didnt before. I also dont think giving Frank that role was the best idea. Certainly better than Doc running it, but get an actual GM.

[og15]

wonder what his reaction would've been if he signed with the clippers

Isn't Doc always saying hypocritical things like this? Didn't he have a big three in Boston? Just because his coaching wasn't good enough to easily get past some weak teams and despite having Allen, Pierce and Garnett he was going to 7 games against teams like Atlanta doesn't mean that he didn't get to coach a team that was basically expected to win right away.

Clippers with Durant wouldn't be overwhelming favorites like GS is obviously and would certainly not be considered an overwhelming favorite against the Warriors or Spurs, that would have been an interesting move, certainly would make the West very interesting, but much more interesting as Clippers fan.

Does the fact that Lawrence handles all the actual day to day duties as a GM change you guy's minds on Doc as a GM?

Frank in his short time along with Ballmer has done some good things. He's only been around for one season though, so he didn't really have much room to do that much, and he still has to pass everything finally through Doc.

[Clemenza]

Get Doc and junior out of here. This team is turning into a sh*t show

[Ranma]

Just another case of our owner's enthusiasm getting the better of him. You can't go around bragging that your team has been kicking the Lakers' butts in a transparent attempt to gain brownie points in Los Angeles then turnaround and say those past championships don't matter and what have they done lately? What have the Clippers done lately? Have we gotten past the second round of the Western Conference Finals? Do we have our names etched in the history books or trophies? Patting yourself on the back for recent regular season wins means jack--especially when you don't even have the best record in the NBA--over the Lakers' legacy of championship runs is just forced and cheesy salesmanship.

This myopic point of view and excuse-making is typical of Doc Rivers, so I guess it shouldn't be surprising to see our owner pulling this lame act of bravado. Talk about a bad influence.

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RealGM Wiretap (6/2/17)

"So look. I'll say two things," said Steve Ballmer. "No. 1, we've been kicking the Lakers' a-- the last several years. Let's just face it. We don't have the championships that the Lakers do. We don't have any of that. But in the world of sports it's, 'What did you do this season?' And all we can control is how we do this season, next game, next game, and I'm proud of what we're doing.

"Ok, yeah, we didn't have a championship 15 years ago but we're doing well.

Steve Ballmer: We've Been Kicking the Lakers' Ass

[wco81]

Lakers may be peaking with their young core of high lottery picks in 2-3 years, about the time when CP3 may no longer be an all-star level player.

Yeah dumb boast but not atypical of Ballmer's Microsoft days.