Lawrence

Frank

Frank has played a key role in helping turn around this Clippers franchise into a true contender, and despite Los Angeles’ epic collapse in their second-round series with Denver, the Clippers were universally pegged as title favorites in betting markets when the 2019-20 season began. Frank has gone all-in on the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George pairing, which makes sense on paper, but PG-13’s serious struggles this postseason begs the question if he was worth all those first-round picks. Currently, the Clippers do not own their own first-round pick until 2027, although they could always buy a late first-rounder at some point.

A source “familiar with” Frank’s thinking said Frank wants to coach again, but for now he’s focusing on opportunities in the media to reestablish his stock. It’s possible Frank returns in an assistant coach capacity before getting another chance as a head coach.

“Well, the invitation is out there to him, so it’s up to him,” Kidd said. “He’s in a special situation. He’s at home, but his wife is sick, so I understand coming off of coaching and wanting a year to spend with his family, I respect that. The big thing is he knows how much I love him and how much I really need him, but family comes first, and I respect that.” Frank, who was Kidd’s coach in New Jersey, has been linked with his former point guard from the minute Kidd was mentioned as a serious contender for the Nets job. Whether or not Frank is on the staff, Kidd is expected to surround himself with veteran coaches to help ease his rookie growing pains.

Frank doesn’t want to enter next season as a “lame duck,” and apparently Frank’s message has already been delivered to GM Joe Dumars and owner Tom Gores. Frank is under contract for next season and the team has an option for 2014/15, and the team is facing a defining offseason as they try to build around Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. A decision on Frank could come as soon as Thursday.

It’s never a good look when you’re a coach who makes demands about his future before it’s guaranteed, and that’s precisely the route Frank took. The Pistons will now enter a hugely important offseason in search of a new head coach, and it might not be the only major shakeup in Detroit.

He’s shifting to the front office and will still report to Doc Rivers. The Clippers still have general manager Dave Wohl, but Frank should have a big say in personnel decisions.

“Lawrence is driven, dedicated and committed to the Clippers and has enjoyed success in the game in so many different capacities,” Doc Rivers said. “He has a great basketball mind, and while we will miss his expertise on the bench, our organization will benefit from his energy, skills and leadership in the Basketball Operations Department.”

Frank will be promoted to his front office role to assist president of basketball operations Doc Rivers with some of his decision-making responsibilities. Frank has previously held head coaching positions with the Nets and Pistons, but this will be his first stint serving in a prominent front office role.

The Clippers restructured their basketball operations on Monday with Doc Rivers emerging as the new president of basketball operations. As part of the restructuring, the Clippers are looking to hire another assistant coach and Frank’s name has popped up on the team’s radar. Frank was on Rivers’ staff as assistant coach with the 2010-11 Boston Celtics and is currently under contract with the Nets. If Frank joins the Clippers, the team would be required to pay the remainder of his five-year, $5 million contract, but Frank was removed from the bench and reassigned to another position by Jason Kidd so the Nets likely wouldn’t put up much of a fight to keep Frank within their organization.

He was the highest-paid assistant coach in NBA history last year to help out Jason Kidd, but that didn’t work out very well for the Nets. Frank served as an assistant under Rivers in Boston and he also has some head-coaching experience.