From Clippers.com:
The Los Angeles Clippers and General Manager Mike Dunleavy today have severed ties. Dunleavy previously also served as the team’s head coach from 2003-04 until February 4, 2010, when he resigned as head coach.
The organization has determined that the goal of building a winning team is best served by making this decision at this time. The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure. The Clippers want to win now. This transition, in conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.
Neil Olshey, presently the Clippers’ Assistant General Manager, will assume the duties created by Dunleavy’s departure. He joined the organization as Director of Player Development for the 2003-04 season. He served as an Assistant Coach in 2004-05, and was elevated to the position of Director of Player Personnel from 2005-06 through 2007-08. He assumed the role of Assistant General Manager prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.
Olshey has played an important role in the completion of several significant team transactions, including the deals which brought Marcus Camby, Craig Smith, Rasual Butler, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and Drew Gooden to the Clippers, among others. He also played a integral part in administering all preparation for the Clippers’ last four NBA Drafts, which produced Al Thornton, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and last year’s #1 overall pick, Blake Griffin.
We’ll have more coverage on this surprising move after tonight’s game.
32 Responses
It’s over!!!! Thank god!!
Juicebox Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
So what will you call yourself now?
FireDunleavy .com Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
I’ll just be FD, gimme a week ok, I still gotta celebrate.
kirbs Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
The D would be for Dick, what about the F ?
James H Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Ok genius. You got your wish – now what????????????????????
Let us now hear your thoughts on who our coach and gm should be.
Waiting on pins and needles.
FireDunleavy .com Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Well they’re not going to make the playoffs, so the rest of the year doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t have traded away al thorton who would only make a little over 2 million next year. Dunleavy gutted the team, so it’s going to be hard.
I’d love to get someone like houston’s gm Morley, or even Bill Simmons. Let them pick the coach. Someone from that conference in that earlier blog post.
I love all the people who think I’m an idiot. I never claimed to be a basketball genius, I just know Dunleavy has under achieved his whole career and was taking the Clippers down the wrong path.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
wow…
i’m curious as to if sterling pulled the trigger and fired dunleavy, or if dunleavy simply decided to leave.
at any rate, i’m very curious to what the future holds. does anybody know if this olshey guy is any good for us to be holding the GM position? also, do we think that he is only the interim gm, or the permanent man in charge?
very anxious from this news seeing as how the team is setup in a position for major overhaul in the summer.
SamMays Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
He’s an assistant GM for the Clippers. Almost by definition, he must suck.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Yes sir! Great day in Clipperland.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
I would prefer a more credible name than Olshey…maybe some guy who has a proven track record. After the mess of Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy, it is time.
Still, he doesn’t have to make any GREAT decisions…he just cannot make any LOUSY decisions (Korolev, etc.). With Griffin, Gordon, another draft choice, tons of cap space, etc, he has every opportunity to make some solid choices.
Juicebox Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
You think Jerry West is looking for a quick money making scheme?
Kevin M Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Jerry is too loyal to Baylor; he’d never join Clips.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Olshey is Sterling’s flunky. This is a big mess.
Kevin M Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Bingo. Everything I’ve read over the last few years indicates that the two were joined at the hip. DTS simply needs to clean house. If the “unlimited resources” are to be believed then the cost hiring an entirely new front office and coaching staff (and training staff – F you, Jasen Powell) shouldn’t be an issue.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Larry Brown calls Sterling, Dunleavy is fired a few days later.
Jgroove Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Brown ain’t going anywhere. Sadly.
bongstradamus Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
We dont know that for sure. Phil and Kobe are not under contract for next year. MJ and Phil got along great, and Kobe might leave if Phil leaves.
Imagine if, and I know its a longshot, but imagine if MJ can get Phil and Kobe to move to Charlotte. Nobody wants to win more than those 3.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
What a season…
SamMays Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
We’re at the bottom of the league in wins, but at the top of the league in drama… After the Wizards, I guess.
TK Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Wrong. There are 9 other teams having worst record than the Clippers.
We’re better than Pistons!
Great move by Sterling. Finally he’s building up some courage.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I bet we revert to the ton squad days, time of sterling to save some heavy cash. We won’t even sign anyone unless it’s to a d league contract.
Is Harold Ellis available?
qd Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
I hate this autocorrect feature on my phone
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Does anyone really want Larry Brown? He seems like a step sideways. Another old school white dude. I mean he’s just a retread. Not retard. I wash hoping for someone younger and blacker. Or at least younger.
bongstradamus Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
He takes almost every team he coaches to the playoffs and hes won a championship.
Career winner. Of course teams want him.
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
this is fine and dandy but if it doesnt produce more wins what was the point?
i wonder if its possible to downgrade….
who will we hire?
COlangelo?
if they are doing this preparing for 2010 its exciting because maybe they want to get a GM and or coach that will make someone want to sign with us…cause really who was going to sign with dunleavy here?
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Who are the early contenders for the Clippers GM job?
kirbs Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
What should be more important is who is going to coach.
qd Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I think it would be gm since the roster is not set. If the clips had a set roster like the piston in 2004 then a coach would b important
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Well I guess the organization read my prediction of only 10 wins for the second half of the season and asking why this was acceptable, it isn’t! Finally the Clippers make a good move for a change.
Just look at how good Al is playing, Camby doesn’t fit in with the Trailblazers, but he fit in perfect with us. Why isn’t Craig Smith playing more? Dunleavy really screwed us up for the year, basically giving up this season for a pipe dream of getting Lebron, Wade or Amare. Let’s hope that the Clippers are serious about winning right now and plan on making some serious line up changes. Smith is a scorer, exactly what we need and should be starting. Outlaw is too talented to be coming off the bench, he should be playing small forward. Gooden should be our sixth man, that way he could actually stay out of foul trouble.
Come on Clippers, you did the right thing by getting Mike out, now make the right lineup and rotaition moves next
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
HALLELUJAH!
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I think the owner needs to go first
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
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