Clippers move Lawrence Frank into front-office role to assist Doc Rivers

The Clippers are moving assistant coach Lawrence Frank into a front-office position to assist Doc Rivers, the team’s coach and president of basketball operations, with his decision-making responsibilities.

Assistant coach Brendan O’Connor will take Frank’s spot on the bench after previously having sat behind the bench.

Frank, a former head coach with the New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons, was primarily responsible for the Clippers’ defense in his role as an assistant.

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Rivers has had mixed success in his tenure as the Clippers’ de facto general manager, bolstering his bench into one of the NBA’s best last season while losing gambles on acquisitions Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith.

The team’s core has remain unchanged since Rivers traded for shooting guard J.J. Redick shortly after his arrival in the summer of 2013.Rivers has said his top priority this summer will be retaining as many of the team’s free agents as possible.

The Clippers also have the No. 25 pick in the first round of the draft later this month.

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter: @latbbolch

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