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Baylor to Receive Executive-of-Year Award

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Times Staff Writer

Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor has been selected the NBA’s executive of the year, and is scheduled to receive the award in a ceremony next week, The Times has learned.

Baylor, in his 20th season with the Clippers, finished ahead of Bryan Colangelo, who left the Phoenix Suns for the Toronto Raptors in February, in voting conducted by the Sporting News, which sponsors the award.

The NBA does not comment on awards until they are announced, and Baylor declined comment Friday before Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center.

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The Sporting News, however, confirmed that Baylor won. If there is a Game 6, Baylor would receive the award in an on-court ceremony at Staples Center.

“In a year when 16 executives got at least one vote, Elgin was still a clear winner,” said Stan McNeal, editor of the Sporting News. “To me ... that says his peers thought he was the guy this year. It was the Clippers’ year, and it was Elgin’s year.”

Colangelo, last season’s recipient, also recently finished second to Baylor in NBA.com’s survey of general managers, but the Sporting News award is the only one officially recognized by the league.

At 47-35, the Clippers had their highest victory total since moving to California, second-best record in franchise history and set a road mark with 20 wins.

They qualified for the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons, and won a postseason series for the first time in 30 years, defeating the Denver Nuggets, 4-1, in the first round.

“I’m elated,” Clippers forward Elton Brand said. “He deserves it. Sometimes you don’t get the credit you deserve, and Elgin hasn’t, but people need to know he orchestrated putting this team together.”

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Baylor acquired point guard Sam Cassell and a lottery-protected first-round pick in August from the Minnesota Timberwolves for guards Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. Before the trade deadline, Baylor sent inconsistent forward-center Chris Wilcox to the Seattle SuperSonics for three-point specialist Vladimir Radmanovic.

“He’s probably the lowest-paid GM, from what I hear,” center Chris Kaman said. “He’s worked hard for it, and I’m glad to hear that it finally paid off.”

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