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Lakers to reportedly sign Montrezl Harrell

An excellent NBA big-man is changing teams but not cities. The OC Register:

In a stunner, Montrezl Harrell – one of the most productive players and biggest personalities from the last few Clippers teams – is headed across the Staples Center hallway.

The Lakers have agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with Harrell, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and until recently, one of the team’s most vocal rivals. The deal was first reported by ESPN.

Arguably the biggest splash of the Lakers’ offseason so far, Harrell averaged a career-best 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 63 games last season with just two starts. While he hit a wall in the playoffs last season after missing nearly a month of the NBA “bubble,” Harrell figures to be a productive off-the-bench scorer for his new team in the same city.

Clippers and Timberwolves trade draft rights to Daniel Oturu and Mathias Lessort

The LA Clippers have acquired the draft rights to center Daniel Oturu, the 33rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the Detroit Pistons second-round draft pick in 2023 and the draft rights to Mathias Lessort.

Oturu led the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks to go along with 20.1 points in 33.9 minutes during his sophomore season at Minnesota. The 6-foot-10 center shot 56.3 percent from the field last season, which also led the Big Ten. The Woodbury, Minn., native was named to the 2019-20 Big Ten All-Defense team and 2019-20 All-Big Ten second team for the Gophers.

Lessort, a 6-9 forward from Fort-de-France, Martinique, France, was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 50th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He currently plays for AS Monaco in the LNB Pro A League (France). In seven professional seasons overseas, Lessort has averaged 7.5 points on 59.0% shooting and 4.9 rebounds. He competed for the French National Team during the 2019 FIBA World Cup where he totaled 23 points and 13 rebounds in six games.

Three-team NBA trade sends Landry Shamet and Bruce Brown to Nets, Luke Kennard to Clippers, Saddiq Bey to Pistons

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard Landry Shamet and the draft rights to forward Reggie Perry, the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, from the Los Angeles Clippers and guard Bruce Brown from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade.

The Nets traded the draft rights to Saddiq Bey, the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft, guard Dzanan Musa, the draft rights to guard Jaylen Hands and Toronto’s 2021 second round draft pick to Detroit, and the draft rights to guard/forward Jay Scrubb, the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, to the Clippers.

To complete the deal, the Pistons traded forward Luke Kennard, center Justin Patton, Portland’s 2023 second round draft pick and Detroit’s second round draft picks in 2024, 2025 and 2026 to the Clippers. And the Clippers dealt guard Rodney McGruder and cash considerations to the Pistons.

Shamet (6’4”, 190) has appeared in 132 games (57 starts) across two seasons with Philadelphia (2018-19) and the Clippers (2019-20), recording averages of 9.2 points on 42.0 percent shooting from the field and 40.2 percent from 3-point range, 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.7 minutes per game. In the 2019-20 season, the Kansas City, Mo., native saw action in 53 games (30 starts), averaging 9.3 points on 40.4 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range, 1.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.4 minutes per contest. As a rookie, Shamet split the season between the Sixers and Clippers, registering averages of 9.1 points on 43.1 percent shooting from the field and 42.2 percent from distance, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.8 minutes per game in 79 games (27 starts) en route to NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. Shamet was originally selected with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by Philadelphia after spending three years (2015-18) at Wichita State, where he earned All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team honors in 2017, All-American Athletic Conference First Team honors in 2018 and honorable mention All-America honors from the Associated Press in 2018.

Brown (6’4”, 202) has seen action in 132 games (99 starts) in the past two seasons with the Pistons, registering averages of 6.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.4 minutes per game. As a rookie in the 2018-19 season, Brown registered averages of 4.3 points on 39.8 percent shooting from the field and 25.8 percent from 3-point range, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.6 minutes per game across 74 games (56 starts). In the 2019-20 campaign, Brown appeared in 58 games (43 starts) and improved his statistics across the board, averaging 8.9 points on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point range, 4.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.2 minutes per contest. The 24-year-old Boston native was originally selected with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by Detroit after spending two years (2016-18) at the University of Miami.

Perry (6’10”, 250) played two collegiate seasons (2018-20) at Mississippi State, recording averages of 13.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.3 minutes per contest in 65 games (49 starts). As a sophomore last season, Perry appeared in 31 games (all starts) and averaged 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.1 minutes per game en route to earning consensus All-SEC First Team honors from coaches and media and being named the SEC’s Co-Player of the Year by the Associated Press. The Thomasville, Ga., native also earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors for his play during the 2018-19 season, when he averaged 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game in 34 contests (18 starts). In addition to his time with the Bulldogs, Perry competed on USA Basketball’s team in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he won a gold medal, was named Most Valuable Player and was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Musa appeared in 49 games in two seasons with the Nets, posting averages of 4.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game. In 40 games during the 2019-20 campaign, Musa recorded averages of 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 12.2 minutes per contest. A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Musa was originally selected with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by Brooklyn.

Bey, 6-8, 215, was taken with the 19th selection of the 2020 NBA Draft after playing for Villanova for two seasons. Bey finished his sophomore campaign with averages of 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 33.9 minutes through 31 games. He shot .477 from the floor and .451 from distance a season ago, marking the fourth-highest 3-point shooting percentage in the nation. Bey finished with a .418 clip from 3-point range for his collegiate career. He was named a 2019-20 Honorable Mention AP All-American and unanimous All-Big East First Team selection. He was a Top-15 finalist for the 2019-20 John Wooden Award and was the winner of the 2019-20 Julius Erving Award, recognizing the nation’s top small forward. The Charlotte, N.C. native was also selected to the 2018-19 Big East All-Freshman team.

Hands, 6-3, 180, played for the Long Island Nets in the NBA G League in 2019-20. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 22.6 minutes in 41 games. Hands was drafted 56th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the L.A. Clippers and played two seasons at UCLA from 2017-19.

McGruder, 6-4, 205, played for the L.A. Clippers in 2019-20 after spending three years with the Miami Heat. McGruder holds career averages of 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 218 NBA games (116 starts). The Kansas State product has played in nine NBA Playoff games in two playoff appearances, one with each of his former teams.

Clippers hire Dan Craig, Kenny Atkinson, Chauncey Billups, Larry Drew and Roy Rogers to coaching staff

The LA Clippers announced today that Associate Head Coach Dan Craig and Assistant Coaches Kenny Atkinson, Chauncey Billups, Larry Drew and Roy Rogers have joined Head Coach Tyronn Lue to complete the team’s coaching staff for the 2020-21 NBA season. Cam Hodges, Shaun Fein, Dahntay Jones and Beau Levesque will also be joining the organization in coaching and player development roles.

The Clippers have retained Assistant Coaches Jeremy Castleberry and Brendan O’Connor.

“We have assembled a strong and experienced group of coaches with diverse backgrounds and perspectives,” said Lue. “They will provide our players with every opportunity to improve individually and excel as a team. As coaches, their skillsets are different, but they are all great teachers with a passion for player development, who understand how to impart their knowledge. I couldn’t be more excited to get on the court with this group.”

Craig comes to L.A. following 17 seasons with the Miami Heat, which included four years as an assistant coach and one year as the head coach of Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Craig quickly rose through Miami’s coaching ranks after joining the franchise in 2003 as a video intern. Craig helped the Heat to six NBA Finals appearances, including three NBA Championships (2006, 2012, 2013). As head coach of the Skyforce in 2016, Craig led the team to its first G League title and was named G League Coach of the Year. The Chelmsford, Mass., native played collegiately at Plymouth State University.

Atkinson joins the Clippers after spending the last four seasons as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, leading the team to a postseason berth in 2018-19. Before the Nets, Atkinson spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, helping the franchise to four Playoffs appearances, including an Eastern Conference Finals trip in 2015. He was also an assistant coach with the New York Knicks and the Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets. A native of Northport, N.Y., Atkinson played professionally for 14 years in the United States Basketball League and overseas. He was a standout collegiate player at the University of Richmond and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

A familiar face to Clipper Nation, Billups joins the bench after working in television as an NBA analyst for ESPN, and a Clippers game analyst for Prime Ticket. A five-time NBA All-Star, 2004 NBA Finals Champion and Finals MVP, Billups spent 16 seasons in the league, averaging 15.2 points and 5.4 assists in 1,043 career appearances with the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Clippers. The Denver, Colo., native was named to three All-NBA teams (2006, 2007, 2009), two All-Defensive teams (2005, 2006) and had his jersey (#1) retired by the Pistons in 2016.

Drew joins the coaching staff with 28 seasons of experience as an NBA coach, most recently having spent six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, including one year as the team’s head coach in 2018-19. As a Cavs assistant coach, he helped lead the franchise to four straight NBA Finals appearances (2015-18) and an NBA Championship in 2016. Before Cleveland, Drew served as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks. In Atlanta, he compiled a 128-102 (.557) overall record and led the Hawks to the postseason in each of his three campaigns on the bench. Drew has also served as an assistant coach for the Hawks, New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers. The Kansas City, Mo., native played 10 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 714 games with the Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Clippers and Lakers.

Rogers comes to the Clippers with 12 years of experience as an NBA assistant coach, having spent the 2019-20 campaign with the Chicago Bulls. Before that, Rogers spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets, where he helped the team to four playoff series wins and an appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2018. Rogers also served as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets. A former NBA player, Rogers appeared in 137 games with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets.

Hodges begins his first season as a Clippers’ coaching associate, after spending the 2019-20 season with the Philadelphia 76ers and three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Hodges also spent one season as an intern with the Erie Bayhawks, the then-G League affiliate of the Orlando Magic.

Fein enters his first season as a Clippers player development coach, after spending the last four years with the Brooklyn Nets, most recently serving as the head coach of the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate. Throughout his time in Brooklyn, Fein worked in the Nets’ video department before becoming the team’s player development coordinator. Fein also spent two seasons with the Maine Red Claws, the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate, as an assistant and player development coach.

Jones will serve as a player development and video coach for the Clippers. He was originally selected as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA Draft and went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA, winning a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. The Trenton, N.J., native appeared in 624 contests, including 33 with the Clippers, and averaged 5.4 points and 1.7 rebounds over his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Cavaliers.

Levesque joins the Clippers staff as a player development and video coach following two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, most recently serving as the team’s assistant video coordinator/player development assistant. He previously worked as a graduate assistant for St. John’s University, where he helped with the team’s video operations, statistical analysis and scouting reports.

In addition to Castleberry, in his second season with the Clippers, and O’Connor, in his seventh, a number of staffers are returning. Among them, Dan Fitzpatrick has been promoted to Head Video Coordinator and Conor Dunleavy has been elevated to Assistant Video Coordinator.

Clippers hire Alex Diaz as Chief Operating Officer

The L.A. Clippers have hired Alex Diaz as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and promoted VP Jason Green to Chief Ticket Officer. Reporting to Green will be Joel Adams, as Vice President Premium Sales for Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center (IBEC), and Krystle Hogan as Clippers Vice President Sales and Service. The staff changes were announced today by President of Business Operations, Gillian Zucker.

“We are fortunate that all four of these exceptional talents have been involved with developing and executing our organization’s vision for several years,” said Zucker. “They live our culture of relentless dedication to continuous improvement, and are dedicated to reimagining the live event experience for guests of the Clippers and Forum, and soon, at the Inglewood Basketball & Entertainment Center, the future home of the Clippers.”

As COO, Diaz will primarily oversee the operations planning of IBEC, and additionally provide operational council for the Clippers, Honey Training Center and the LA Forum, which was acquired earlier this year by Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer. Diaz brings more than two decades of facility operations experience to the organization, managing some of the most prestigious and frequented venues in the country, including American Airlines Arena, Barclays Center, and Madison Square Garden. Diaz has spent the past four years with Venues Solutions Group, providing design and operational consulting services to sports franchises, leagues, venues, architects, and other related businesses in the field of sports and entertainment. Prior to that, Diaz held the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of Madison Square Garden, where he was responsible for overseeing all facility operations for MSG and the Theater at MSG, and played a key role in the three-year $1.1 billion renovation of the arena.

Jason Green, in his third season with the Clippers, has been promoted to Chief Ticketing Officer overseeing all aspects of ticketing for IBEC, Clippers and the Forum. Green joined the Clippers in 2018 as VP, Ticket Sales & Service. His key accomplishments include restructuring the ticket sales department and launching a business insights team that led the organization to achieve unprecedented ticket sales success and revenue growth. Before joining the Clippers, Green spent four years with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and six years with the MLB’s San Diego Padres.

Joel Adams has been promoted to Vice President of Premium Sales for Inglewood Basketball & Entertainment Center to hire and guide a dedicated suite and premium sales team for the new arena. Adams joined the Clippers in 2018 as Director, Season & Inside Sales, where he transformed the inside sales development program and directed the ticket sales team which then led the NBA in new FSE revenue for the 2019-20 season. Prior to joining the Clippers, Adams held various roles in sales with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Dolphins where he led the new products sales effort for newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium.

Krystle Hogan has been promoted to Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service, overseeing the day-to-day sales and service efforts for Clippers events held at STAPLES Center. Since joining the Clippers as Director of Membership Services in 2018, Hogan has built a dedicated service model for season ticket members and increased renewals following the 2018-19 season, renewing more than 90% of full-season equivalent. Hogan also serves as Co-Chair of the Clippers’ LACED UP (Leadership & Action for Change, Equality and Diversity) committee, made up of more than 80 employees from the Clippers, Agua Caliente Clippers, and the Forum which is focused on promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion. Before joining the Clippers, Hogan spent seven seasons with the Padres, where she earned four promotions, eventually leaving the team as Senior Manager, Suite & Premium Service.

Clippers will reportedly hire Chauncey Billups and Larry Drew

The new Clippers coaching staff is close to being filled. Here’s the OC Register:

The Clippers’ coaching roster is closer to becoming official, with the team finalizing deals with Chauncey Billups and Larry Drew, both of whom will join new coach Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. A league source confirmed the report.

Drew, 62, coached with Lue in Cleveland. He also played in the NBA for 10 years, including two seasons with the Clippers, after which he began his coaching career as a Lakers assistant in 1992.

The team is already reportedly adding Kenny Atkinson and Dan Craig to their coaching ranks.

Clippers reportedly close to hiring Kenny Atkinson, Larry Drew and Dan Craig as assistant coaches

New Clippers head coach is reportedly close to filling out his staff of assistants. Here’s the Los Angeles Times:

Tyronn Lue’s first coaching staff with the Clippers is taking shape, with the team nearing agreements with several key assistants.

Miami assistant Dan Craig, former Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson and Larry Drew, a former head coach who most recently served on Lue’s Cleveland staff, have committed to join the Clippers as assistants, though their hiring is not yet official because deals have not been finalized, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

Additionally Chauncey Billups, a former All-Star guard and close friend of Lue who most recently worked as a television analyst for the team, is considering whether to join.

Heat assistant coach Dan Craig will reportedly take job with Clippers

The new Clippers coaching staff is starting to come together, as new head coach Tyronn Lue picks his assistants. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

For the second time in as many offseasons, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will be altering his coaching staff, with an NBA source confirming Monday to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that assistant Dan Craig will be joining Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Craig, 38, who had filled in for Spoelstra when the Heat coach left in recent seasons for the births of his two sons, has spent the past 17 seasons with the Heat, including the past four alongside Spoelstra on the Heat bench.

Among the leading candidates for Craig’s spot are former Heat video coordinator Eric Glass, who coached the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this past season, and former Heat guard Anthony Carter, who was listed as a Heat player development coach the past two seasons.

The Heat and Clippers are two of the NBA’s top teams. The Heat were eliminated by the Lakers in the NBA Finals, while the Clippers were a playoff disappointment but possess one of the league’s best rosters. A coaching job with either squad is a good one these days.

In order to be great, you have to win, says new Clippers coach Tyronn Lue

The Clippers have themselves a new coach. The team recently made their hiring of Tyronn Lue official. Here’s the OC Register reporting some of his words today:

Seated in the media room Wednesday at the Clippers’ practice facility in Playa Vista, Lue expressed a blend of humility – “it feels good to be wanted,” he said – and confidence during a half-hour introductory Zoom session with reporters off site.

“I want to be one of the greatest coaches,” Lue said. “In order to be great, you have to win. So to me, when you start talking about pressure and all that it means, it just means that you’re in position to win a championship.”

Steve Ballmer, the team’s governor, and Lawrence Frank, its president of basketball operations, also joined the remote session, with Ballmer unequivocal in his desire to see his team figure it out fast: “I think it’s probably fair to say my personality is all about winning and we didn’t get the job done that we expected to get done at the end of the season.”

“I tell you,” Ballmer added. “Ty’s my kind of guy, he wants to move, move, move! Learn new things, absorb, think new thoughts – which I think is essential to be better, to grow.” Ballmer also noted that Lue is “a guy I have come to understand holds himself and others accountable, which is a key part of being good in the sports business.”

And here’s the LA Times:

Lue has never shied away from crediting Rivers as the biggest influence for why he entered coaching, and he called Rivers’ dismissal “tough.” But he also described the ways in which he is not a Rivers clone on the sideline, emphasizing that his style has been influenced by Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Stan Van Gundy and Scott Skiles, among others.

Tactically, where Rivers’ offenses often relied on individual playmakers more than set plays, Lue is expected to run a more controlled offense that will hinge on speed and moving the ball.

“I learned a lot from Doc, but I’ve also learned a lot from a lot of other coaches around the league because I’m always studying, I’m always trying to get better,” Lue said. “I want to be better. So, not just learning from Doc, but I learned from other coaches like [Erik Spoelstra] and Brad Stevens and watching Nick Nurse last year, thinking outside the box of playing box-and-one and triangle-and-two [defenses] and bringing something new to the NBA. And if you stop learning, if you stop being willing to learn from other people then you won’t be successful.”

The Clippers were a disappointment at the Disney NBA bubble, but it was also the first year that Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and company played together, so it’s not the biggest surprise ever that the squad wasn’t able to maximize their overall talent in the postseason. Also, multiple Clippers players wound up having to leave the Disney bubble over the course of the postseason, which also certainly isn’t a positive.

It should be relatively easy for Lue to have the team play better than the vast majority of the league next season. The question is if he can help make them reach that difficult next level.

Clippers officially name Tyronn Lue new head coach

The L.A. Clippers have named Tyronn Lue as the team’s head coach, it was announced today by Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Lue will become the franchise’s 26th head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the Clippers during the 2019-20 season. Before joining L.A., he was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016.

“Ty has been where we want to go. He is a championship head coach with an extraordinary feel for the game and the people who play it,” Frank said. “He’s one of the great minds in our league, and he’s able to impart his vision to others, because he connects with everybody he meets. We conducted a thorough search and spoke with fantastic candidates. We found that the best choice for our team was already in our building. As head coach, Ty will put a unique imprint on the organization, and drive us to new heights.”

“The pieces we need are in place – committed ownership, smart management, and elite talent, on and off the court, in the NBA’s best market,” Lue said. “My familiarity with the organization, particularly Mr. Ballmer and Lawrence, confirmed this is where I want to be. We have work to do to become champions, but we have the motivation, the tools, and the support to get there. I’m excited to get started.”

During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship during his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and as a player. During that same season, Lue was also selected to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Over the next two seasons, he led the Cavaliers to two more Finals appearances, becoming the third head coach in NBA history to lead his team to three straight NBA Finals in his first three seasons. Lue previously worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics, as an assistant coach and the director of basketball development.

A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning two NBA championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (#10) retired by the school in 2017.