The Los Angeles Clippers recently relieved former head coach Doc Rivers of his coaching duties but not before consulting with star players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George first.
“Before a final decision was made,” sources said “owner Steve Ballmer called several key players — including George and Leonard — to get their opinions. Nothing the players told him, sources said, changed Ballmer’s mind about moving on from Rivers. Ultimately, the decision to part ways with Rivers was Ballmer’s.”
George and Leonard hold a lot of weight in this franchise, so much so that they risked their entire future for it.
The Clippers pretty much gave every asset to Oklahoma City through 2026 to get George, but getting him meant getting Leonard as a free agent as well.
For the Clippers, who are in search of their first championship in franchise history, it was worth the haul.
So Ballmer went for it, but now he has to find a coach to help lead this team with George and Leonard in opt-out years.
Not an easy task for a squad that fell far short of their goal.
Now they have to watch the other Los Angeles team play in the NBA Finals and do so as favorites.
It would be a huge blow to see the Lakers get a ring after they courted both George and Leonard.
The clock is ticking on the Clippers, so Ballmer better get the best hire because if he doesn’t, the team may run out of time.