Dunleavy Named Clippers General Manager

[Patr1ck]

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that Head Coach Mike Dunleavy will assume the additional role of General Manager, replacing Vice President of Basketball Operations, Elgin Baylor.

In a related move, the teams current Director of Player Personnel, Neil Olshey, will be elevated to the post of Assistant General Manager.

Source-
http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/dunlea ... 81007.html

First thing that comes to my mind as to why this would happen is the failure to resign Elton Brand in the off season. I wonder what Elgin Baylor is moving on to.

[Dan's Brain]

realgm said that baylor retired. Whether thats true or if he was shown the door because of the elton brand issue...

but he made up for it by burgling the nuggets and signing the davises.

[Andrew]

Elgin Baylor's had a pretty good run with the Clippers, 22 years in the position despite fewer highs than lows (and some pretty low lows). Perhaps the departure of Brand and Maggette led to him being forced out while keeping his dignity with the official line being that he "retired", but given that he's 74 he might be growing weary of his duties and simply feel it's time to call it a day.

[Patr1ck]

I just saw a snippet on the news that said there is a dispute and that Elgin Baylor is denying that he resigned, which is what the Clippers reported.

[Andrew]

The plot thickens...even with what's happened this offseason it's a bit surprising they'd can him considering how long he's lasted and the bad luck and disappointment that the Clippers have weathered; the Clippers losing good players is nothing new.

[Fresh8]

Baylor's ability to draft draft bust after draft bust is something that I don't understand how he was able to last so long. Who did he draft? Among many players: the likes of...

- Danny Ferry (2nd pick over Sean Elliot and Glen Rice... didn't even stick around to play for the team instead going overseas)
- Lorenzen Wright (1996 Draft, 7th pick I think ahead of guys like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash although I'm I have to admit hindsight is 20-20...)
- Darius Miles? (Made him the highest High School pick at the time... don't know how much you could attribute Miles' injury woes to the team and he did play ok in his rookie season....)
- Chris Wilcox ahead of Caron Butler and Amare Stoudamire
- That Russian guy... Korolev or someting... averages a point and a rebound for two seasons before going back to Europe...

- The biggest bust of them all... Michael Olowokandi (1st pick... again hindsight serves as 20/20 however the Clips could have drafted someone with more of a college history than some raw 7 foot project... like Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce...)

I've got to admit that Drafting players is a risky business however, I've just noticed how bad the Clippers' track record is...

[Andrew]

It does look pretty sorry in hindsight but the reasons for picking them aren't completely out of the ordinary. You've got players who were noteworthy in college, Olowokandi for all his shortcomings was a legit big man (whose stock is always high in the Draft) and with players like KG, Kobe and T-Mac breaking out drafting high schoolers was in vogue. They gambled on the wrong players but other teams have made similar selections throughout the years.

[Patr1ck]

Chris Kaman is a bust? I thought Chris Wilcox was pretty good, and I was right. He goes to another team, gets to start and puts up 13 and 7. That isn't bad for a player who is not your main option. Besides, Shaun Livingston was developing into quite a talented pg before getting injured. Al Thornton needs to make sure he doesn't have a sophmore jinx. You never know what you are going to get in the draft. Second round picks- Gilbert Arenas, Dennis Rodman, Manu Ginobilli, Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Rashard Lewis. On another note, maybe the scouts are the ones that need to be fired.

Unless the Clippers mediocre trend changes now that Baylor is no longer the gm, I bet Sterling needs alot of the blame pointed his way. Why haven't they been going for stars during free agency offering them top dollar?

[Fresh8]

Andrew, you're right that they probably made the wrong gambles. However, there are always what may seem to be 'safer bets' that you could choose from. Hindsight is 20-20 so you can't put all the blame on one person especially when discussing draft picks because GMs and Team Scouts aren't difinitive fortune tellers. The track record is still not promising. So as PDub said, you never know what you will get in the Draft.

PDub, I like Chris Wilcox and I also like D Miles. It's just that these guys never played great for the Clippers. Oh well.

But I perhaps didn't give Baylor enough credit. He is, after all, the one who traded for Elton Brand and Corey Maggette. I would believe that Baylor was the one that helped form the successful team that made the playoffs back in 06 right? And PDub is right, Sterling preached 'money saving' up until maybe 2000? So not all the blame should be on Baylor for the Franchise's poor performance.

I have read some articles about Baylor and do feel sorry for the manner in which he was forced to jump ship... if you were to believe the rumours.

[Andrew]

You could argue that there aren't any safe bets in the Draft. I guess avoiding someone who is nothing but potential and picking someone who may never be a star but has the tools to be an above average player in the NBA for many years could be considered a safe bet but then they could suffer a serious injury, crumple under the pressure of the pros or let celebrity go to their heads. There's at least some uncertainty no matter which way you go and taking chances has paid off enough times for teams to make seemingly unconventional picks.

[benji]

And PDub is right, Sterling preached 'money saving' up until maybe 2000? So not all the blame should be on Baylor for the Franchise's poor performance.

At the same time, who of those players before Brand and Maggette do you even want to resign?

[Fresh8]

At the same time, who of those players before Brand and Maggette do you even want to resign?

My point exactly. If the Clippers adopted a 'save money' approach and didn't sign anyone to big bucks to start with... who is there to resign?