The Los Angeles Clippers are going through some changes this summer. After finishing at the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings last season, the Clippers yet again failed to reach the Conference Finals. They were knocked out of the playoffs by the Utah Jazz as they lost Game 7 on their home floor. It marked the third time in the past five seasons that the Clippers got bounced in the first round of the playoffs, and it became apparent last season that changes need to be made.
Rivers no longer the president of basketball operations
The primary task this offseason for the Clippers was re-signing Blake Griffin and Chris Paul to new, multi-year deals.
After it was rumored that Griffin could be on his way out of Los Angeles, he re-signed with the Clippers after all and signed a five-year, $173 million deal. But even though they brought back Griffin, Chris Paul decided it was time for him to move on. He talked to the Clippers front-office and told them that he will not re-sign with the team and he got traded to the Houston Rockets. The Clippers received Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, and Sam Dekker in return, and it seems like a new era is about to start in Los Angeles.
All of these moves led Steve Ballmer, the owner of the Clippers, to question Doc Rivers' abilities as the team's president of basketball operations. It was announced on Friday night that Doc Rivers lost his front-office role with the Clippers as he will no longer be the president of basketball operations.
Rivers will remain the head coach but Lawrence Frank will now oversee basketball operations for the Los Angeles Clippers. Following this latest personnel move, Steve Ballmer talked to ESPN and said: "To be as good as we can be, to be a championship franchise, we need two functioning strong people building teams out beneath them." Rivers has been the head coach for the Clippers for four years now, and he holds a 217-111 record in the regular season and an 18-22 record in the playoffs.
Doc Rivers is returning to primary duty of head coach, freeing him of front office responsibilities. (via @wojespn) https://t.co/lRTbjS9I4h
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 4. kolovoza 2017.
Luke Babbitt headed to Atlanta
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Friday that the Atlanta Hawks and free-agent Luke Babbitt have agreed on a year deal.
Babbitt will sign a one-year contract worth $1.9 million with the Hawks as he enters his eighth season in the league. Babbitt was the 16th pick in 2010, drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Free agent forward Luke Babbitt has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 4. kolovoza 2017.
His best year was during the 2015/2016 campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans, as he averaged 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game that season. Last season Babbitt played for the Miami Heat, and in 68 games played with the Heat, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 41% from the three-point line. Babbitt just turned 28, and he is a versatile, 6-foot-9 forward with great shooting skills, especially from behind the arc. He is a 40% career three-point shooter.
