Lawrence Frank, the Clippersโ president of basketball operations, was named the 2019-20 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the league announced Thursday. Itโs not the achievement he or his colleagues were aiming for, but Frankโs fellow NBA team basketball executives voted for him to win the award โ which this season was determined basedย onโฆ
Clippersโ Lawrence Frank honored as NBA Executive of the Year โ Press Telegram
Lawrence Frank, the Clippersโ president of basketball operations, was named the 2019-20 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the league announced Thursday.
Itโs not the achievement he or his colleagues were aiming for, but Frankโs fellow NBA team basketball executives voted for him to win the award โ which this season was determined based on regular-season games played through March 11, when the team Frank assembled had a 44-20 record, second-best in the Western Conference, despite using 29 starting lineups in 64 games during that span.
He garnered 10 of 29 first-place votes and earned 61 total points from a panel of team executives who rewarded him for shaping a roster headlined by two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and six-time All-Star Paul George. The Clippers also traded for Marcus Morris Sr. at the trade deadline and re-signed JaMychal Green, Ivica Zubac and Patrick Beverley before the season, all players who proved impactful this season.
On paper, it appeared the Clippers had assembled a squad capable of making good on the goal of winning the franchiseโs first title. But they fell short, relinquishing a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Last week, the organization and veteran head coach Doc Rivers agreed to part ways. Rivers has since been hired to coach the Philadelphia 76ers while the Clippers are searching for a new coach to lead their team for the first time in seven seasons.
Itโs the first executive of the year award for Frank, who was in his third year as the teamโs president of basketball operations after joining the Clippersโ front office in 2016. Previously, he spent 20 years in the NBA coaching ranks.
โL is a passionate, dedicated, and selfless leader,โ team owner Steve Ballmer said in a news release. โI am proud of the work he and his group are doing, and thrilled his peers feel the same way. This award is a great tribute to the hard work done by the entire front office, including our General Manager Michael Winger, assistant GMs Mark Hughes and Trent Redden, and consultant Jerry West.
โTogether, they have worked to develop every facet of our basketball operations department.โ
Rob Pelinka, the Lakersโ general manager, finished seventh in the voting, with one first-place vote. Oklahoma Cityโs executive vice President and General Manager Sam Presti finished in second in executive of the year voting, with 41 points (four first-place votes), followed by Miami Heat President Pat Riley in third place with 39 points (four first-place votes).
Seeding games played in the bubble at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, didnโt count toward voting for this award or the leagueโs other traditional end-of-season awards.
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Congratulations to Lawrence Frank on a well-earned honor. pic.twitter.com/QJ8JNbVbsl
โ LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 8, 2020
The view from left field 