Mike Dunleavy Fired As Clippers Coach, Will Remain As GM
In a move that ESPN columnist Bill Simmons will most certainly claim responsibility for, the Clippers have relieved Mike Dunleavy of his coaching duties.
Simmons has famously blasted nearly every move of the Dunleavy regime over the past few seasons, even eliciting a reaction from the coach himself on occasion.
How did the media learn of Dunleavy's dismissal? Why, from Dunleavy himself:
"I've come to the conclusion that this is the ideal time for me to direct my efforts toward the many personnel opportunities that lie before us, such as the trade market, the draft and the free-agent process. We fully expect to be active and productive on all those fronts."
Oh yeah ... Dunleavy's also the team's general manager. So he kind of fired himself as coach, but don't worry Clips fans — he's planning to keep those front office responsibilities. Assistant Kim Hughes will take over as interim coach.
Since making the playoffs in 2006, the Clippers embarrassingly lost one-time franchise player Elton Brand when it appeared he would re-sign with the team after encouraging them to sign Baron Davis, inexplicably signed noted team-killer Ricky Davis to help mold the bevy of impressionable young players on the roster and saw major injuries derail first Chris Kaman for significant time, then No. 1 pick Blake Griffin, who won't step on the court at all this season. And for good measure, they essentially gave away Zach Randolph, who's having an All-Star season in Memphis. Dunleavy also feuded for years with Corey Maggette, who's now scoring very efficiently for the Golden State Warriors.
Certainly the injuries are not Dunleavy's fault, but he's also had quite a hand in the lack of success the rest of the team has had, both assembling the talent and coaching it poorly on the court.
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