Last offseason, the L.A. Clippers assembled an all-star team. This offseason, they are assembling an all-star coaching staff.
After the Clippers’ disappointing finish, they parted ways with Doc Rivers. The Clippers’ head coaching search ended with the promotion of Tyronn Lue as their new head coach, the Clippers have given Lue the best coaching staff possible. Steve Ballmer has already added former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson and Miami Heat assistant Dan Craig as Lue’s assistant. Now the team is finalizing deals to add Chauncey Billups and Larry Drew as deputies to help Lue next season:
Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff adds Larry Drew and Chauncey Billups.https://t.co/utyUwgy6pK
— Clippers Nation (@ClipperNationCP) November 8, 2020
An In-Demand Personality
Billups has been one of the most sought after personalities since his retirement in 2014. Mr. Big Shot’s name has been in almost every coaching vacancy in the last six-year. He’s been rumored to take coaching jobs and front office positions. Billups was even offered the position of President of Basketball Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017 but turned down the job because he felt the timing was not right.
Wrote this on Chauncey Billups last month … He’s in demand. What is the No. 1 criterium the #Pacers are searching for in their next coach? Modernized offense is up there, but it’s not No. 1 https://t.co/x2MHEtnhLk
— J. Michael (@ThisIsJMichael) October 15, 2020
It must be the right time now as Billups has agreed to be one of Lue’s coaching associates in Los Angeles. Lue and Billups are close friends and it was previously reported that they were a “package deal” if Lue would be hired as a head coach. The 17-year NBA veteran worked as a commentator for the Clippers during the 2019-20 NBA season.
This will be the first coaching job of any kind for the 2004 NBA Finals MVP. Although he has no previous coaching experience, Billups brings to the table a reputation for being a strong leader and his ability to command players’ respect is something that every coaching staff needs.
Fourth Decade in Coaching
Drew is a veteran in the NBA coaching scene. In fact, he will be entering his fourth decade in NBA coaching next season. He started coaching as an assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1992 and has been a head coach in Atlanta, Milwaukee, and most recently Cleveland. Drew was an assistant with the Lakers during Lue’s first season as a player with the Purple and Gold. He was also an assistant when Lue steered the Cavs to the 2016 NBA title.
The Clippers have officially signed Chauncey Billups and Larry Drew, per Woj. https://t.co/1PL5IIDIiC
— Clips Nation (@clipsnation) November 8, 2020
The former 17th overall pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1980 NBA Draft out of Missouri, Drew also played in a total of 10 NBA seasons. He logged in a total of 714 NBA games and scored 8,110 career points. He played for four NBA teams and had stints with both Los Angeles squads, playing for the Clippers from 1986 to 1988.
In 2018, Lue took over the coaching reigns in Cleveland when Lue took a leave of absence due to a medical issue. He led the Cavs to an 8-1 record. When Lue was fired, he took over and led the team to a 19-57 record during the 2018-19 season. Drew has an NBA coaching record of 162-226.
Win or Bust?
Even if the players and the executives deny it, the 2020-21 season will be a win-or-bust season for the Clippers. The team entered the 2019-20 season as the preseason title favorites after acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. But the Clippers suffered several injuries during the year and Kawhi Leonard missed games due to load management issues.
“I think internally, we’ve always felt this was not a championship or bust year for us. We can only get better the longer we stay together.”
—PG on the Clippers being expected to win pic.twitter.com/UuPKDphaMY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 16, 2020
The Clippers finished the season with a 49-23 regular-season record, second-best in the Western Conference. They tried to turn things around during the playoffs when they were finally complete. However, their lack of chemistry and cohesion proved to be costly. The Clippers squandered a 3-1 lead in the second round and lost 4-3 to the Denver Nuggets in one of the biggest collapses in NBA playoff history.
The L.A. Clippers head to the 2021 season with the second-best odds to win the NBA title at +550 and also the second-best odds to win the Western Conference +350 at SportsBetting.ag.
However, they will have to get past their Staples Center co-tenant and defending champions L.A. Lakers if they are to win it all next season. That’s always easier said than done.
Steve Richardson
Steve Richardson started writing content online in 2013 and has yet to slow down. Since joining our team at GamblingSites.org, he has covered sports, casino news, gambling laws, and much more! …
