The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to put a trying season behind them as soon as possible and have started by promoting Doc Rivers to president of basketball operations.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Rivers will remain on the sideline as the Clippers' head coach, but the team is already going through some changes. First, Rivers will restructure the team's basketball operations front office after moving up from senior vice president to president.

Rivers started by promoting Kevin Eastman from assistant coach to fill the newly vacant senior VP position, putting the Clippers in the market for a coach, sort of. Unnamed sources told the Times Rivers is going after Lawrence Frank to serve as the Clippers' assistant coach.

Rivers and Frank built a fundamentally sound powerhouse in Boston that won by playing great defense and moving the ball effectively on offense. This Clippers team is need of toughening up on defense, as even their prolific offense was not enough to win games on its own.

The Clippers made several other front office moves as well, they are:

  • Gary Sacks demoted from vice president of basketball operations to assistant general manager.
  • Director of basketball operations Gerald Madkins demoted to director of scouting.
  • Director of scouting Jason Piombetti bumped down to assistant director of scouting.
  • Mohammad Dakhil fired as video coordinator and Jud Winton hired as director of analytics.
  • Director of professional scouting Dave Whol promoted to general manager.

Frank is currently serving as the Brooklyn Nets' assistant coach to Jason Kidd and he has five years and $5 million left on his contract. The sources told the Times the Clippers would be willing to "offset" what the Nets owe Frank with whatever salary they offer him.

Current Clippers assistants Ty Lue and Alvin Gentry are being considered for multiple open head coaching jobs in the NBA, including the Los Angeles Lakers' and Cleveland Cavaliers'. The Golden State Warriors' new coach Steve Kerr is also reportedly considering Gentry for his staff.

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