Clippers, Dunleavy Sever Ties

[Pistons < Spurs]

The following is a statement from the Los Angeles Clippers:

The Los Angeles Clippers and General Manager Mike Dunleavy today have severed ties. Dunleavy previously also served as the team’s head coach from 2003-04 until February 4, 2010, when he resigned as head coach.

The organization has determined that the goal of building a winning team is best served by making this decision at this time. The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure. The Clippers want to win now. This transition, in conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.

Neil Olshey, presently the Clippers’ Assistant General Manager, will assume the duties created by Dunleavy’s departure. He joined the organization as Director of Player Development for the 2003-04 season. He served as an Assistant Coach in 2004-05, and was elevated to the position of Director of Player Personnel from 2005-06 through 2007-08. He assumed the role of Assistant General Manager prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.

Olshey has played an important role in the completion of several significant team transactions, including the deals which brought Marcus Camby, Craig Smith, Rasual Butler, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and Drew Gooden to the Clippers, among others. He also played a integral part in administering all preparation for the Clippers’ last four NBA Drafts, which produced Al Thornton, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and last year’s #1 overall pick, Blake Griffin. http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/breakingnews100309.html

[BRHornet45]

he was EASILY in the top 5 greatest coaches of all time. hands down. no doubt about it.

[Jeremy]

The Clippers want to win now.

ROFLOL. :lol

[mavs>spurs2]

i don't know details but i've heard several times that the clippers owner is a crook and the main reason they always suck

[Goran Dragic]

i don't know details but i've heard several times that the clippers owner is a crook and the main reason they always suck

Donald Sterling is the problem. It's not like the Clippers were some highly successful franchise prior to Dumbleavy. Keeping him for 7 years is just the latest example of Sterling being a fuck.

[cobbler]

In related breaking news....

The clippers announced today, that in keeping on track to annualy regress and run the franchise into oblivion, the hiring of Harlem/Miami/Chris as the new coach and Clipper think tank.

[pauls931]

Anyone have numbers on how much money the Clippers made/lost over the last decade? I swear reading that they were very profitable, but that was a couple years back.

[cobbler]

Anyone have numbers on how much money the Clippers made/lost over the last decade? I swear reading that they were very profitable, but that was a couple years back.


The Clippers are worth an estimated $297M, more than 23 times the $12.7M Owner Donald Sterling paid for the franchise in '81, and Sterling's "huge gain is the direct result of the buy-and-hold strategy that made him rich in real estate," according to Peter Keating of ESPN THE MAGAZINE. Despite their "continually woeful performance" on the court, the Clippers have "turned big profits for Sterling each year" since moving to Staples Center in '99. While the team generates "relatively little money from ticket sales, premium seats and signage, and their overall revenue" of $99M for the '07-08 season was 25th among NBA teams, it is "still far more than they ever made" at L.A. Memorial Sports Arena, their previous home

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/130530

[Blackjack]

Dunleavy no longer Clippers GM (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/dunleavy-no-longer-clippers-gm.php)
By John Krolik

According to the Associated Press (http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4980825), the Clippers have sent out an e-mail announcing that they have parted ways with General Manager Mike Dunleavy. This moves comes about a month after Dunleavy stepped down as coach on February 4th. Dunleavy's moves at the trade deadline helped the Clippers clear up significant cap space for the summer of 2010, but he will now be unable to utilize that cap space.

Between Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, #1 pick Blake Griffin, and the player the Clippers will take in the upcoming draft, the Clippers have a solid core of players as well as that cap space. It appears as though the Clippers want somebody new at the helm as they prepare for the next era of the team's history. In his six and a half seasons as coach, Dunleavy's record was 215-325. His team pushed the Suns to the brink in the 2006 playoffs, but ultimately came up short, never more spectacularly than in the Daniel Ewing game (http://www.nba.com/games/20060516/LACPHX/recap.html). Dunleavy was one of the most widely ridiculed figures in the NBA during his tenure as both a coach and a general manager, and often found himself the face of the Clippers' struggles.

For the time being, assistant general manager Neil Olshey will take over Dunleavy's former job with the Clippers. The people who wanted Dunleavy out for years, both at games and in print, have finally gotten their wish. What remains to be seen is if a new management team will have more success than Dunleavy did during his embattled tenure with Los Angeles' other basketball team.

[024]

finally... now they just have to get rid of the dead weight in baron davis.

[Indazone]

Why is it the Clips are the only team in the NBA to share a stadium with another team. Pathetic.

[pauls931]

Why is it the Clips are the only team in the NBA to share a stadium with another team. Pathetic.

It gives them two more home games each year. :rollin

[Kamnik]

Donald Sterling is the problem. It's not like the Clippers were some highly successful franchise prior to Dumbleavy. Keeping him for 7 years is just the latest example of Sterling being a fuck.

Exactly! And I am afraid it is the same story with the Suns if Dragic stays there...

[JamStone]

Why is it the Clips are the only team in the NBA to share a stadium with another team. Pathetic.

They aren't the only team.

Think about it.

[Pero]

Exactly! And I am afraid it is the same story with the Suns if Dragic stays there...

Really? When did Dragic become the GM of the Suns? :lol

[Pero]

They aren't the only team.

Think about it.

:lmao

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Exactly! And I am afraid it is the same story with the Suns if Dragic stays there...


Doubt it, the Clippers are a special case that allows Sterling to get away with what he does. Sharing an arena with the Lakers not only cuts their expenses but probably increases their revenue. I know several people from LA who buy tickets to Clippers games to see players like Wade or Lebron, but at the same time don't care they sucked because they're Lakers fans. From a business perspective, Sterling is a genius.

With the economy in Phoenix imploding and Sarver taking a huge hit from the housing market dying, he won't be able to hold on very long. Since he's gonna lose money this year he might not be owner much longer. Keep in mind this is partially a pipe dream.

[Indazone]

They aren't the only team.

Think about it.

Son, the Lakers own Staple Center. The Clippers just rent there. They will always be the Red-headed step child in Los Angeles as long as they continue to play at Staples.

How pathetic is this. That's like the White Sox and the Cubs both playing at Wrigley Field. The Nets and the Knicks both at Madison Square Garden. Or the Jets and the Giants both playing at Shea Stadium. Get real...the Clippers need to move on.