Doc Rivers could bring Lawrence Frank to LA


According to the LA Times, former Celtics coach Doc Rivers is doing a bit of organizational restructuring with his new team. Due to this restructuring, there will now be a vacancy at the assistant coaching position for the Los Angeles Clippers, in addition to the possibility that either of Doc's other current assistants could be hired elsewhere:

Rivers has a new title — president of basketball operations. He had been senior vice president of basketball operations, a position that will now be filled by Kevin Eastman, who had been an assistant coach.
Meanwhile, Clippers assistants Ty Lue and Alvin Gentry remain candidates for the head coaching opening with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gentry also remains in the running for the Lakers’ head coaching job, and he is being wooed by new Golden State Coach Steve Kerr to join his staff.

Former Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank is at the top of Doc's list to fill the vacancy, as they had a good coaching chemistry in Boston:

Lawrence Frank, who was on Rivers’ staff as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics during the 2010-11 season, is being strongly considered for an assistant’s position with the Clippers, the executives said.

Frank was the lead assistant for Brooklyn Coach Jason Kidd at the start of this season, until Kidd had Frank removed from the bench and reassigned to another position with the Nets.

Frank still has five years and $5 million left on a Nets contract that pays him $1 million per season.

If Frank joins the Clippers, whatever salary they pay him would be “offset” by what he is still owed by the Nets.

This would be a good move for Frank if the Nets will allow it, since there is obvious tension between him and Jason Kidd, and Frank's talents are better used coaching on the sidelines than writing reports.

While there is talk of Kevin Garnett staying another year in Brooklyn, you have to wonder if Doc is also thinking about trying to also set up a reunion scenario to bring over another familiar face from Brooklyn. Paul Pierce is a free agent this summer and has been rumored to be interested in going to the Clippers, but he has also been linked to the future of Kevin Garnett. It's believed that if Kevin Garnett doesn't retire, Pierce will stay in Brooklyn to play out KG's career with him, but if retirement is on the horizon, Doc might try to bring Pierce to LA in addition to Frank.


Related:
h/t: Basketball Insiders
AP Photo/Duane Burleson