He’s Beyond a Doubt

Mike Dunleavy stepped where so many others have on Friday afternoon at Staples Center, standing behind a podium, feeling the heat of the klieg lights and saying many of the things his predecessors had when they were hired to coach the Clippers.

Like the others, he heard all the doubters saying this was not the move to make, and certainly not at this time, with the looming possibility of free agency ripping apart one of the NBA’s most intriguing rosters.

“There were enough to fill the building,” Dunleavy, 49, said of those many friends and colleagues who warned against taking the Clipper job. “I heard the same things when I went to the Lakers. ‘Mike, are you crazy? You don’t want your first [NBA coaching] job to be taking over for Pat Riley.’ I like a challenge. I think when you look at it and analyze it, it’s usually worked out for me.”

After replacing Riley as Laker coach, Dunleavy led the team to the NBA Finals in 1990-91, where Michael Jordan and the Bulls won the best-of-seven series, 4-1, and began their 1990s dynasty.

Dunleavy also coached the small-market Milwaukee Bucks and the volatile Portland Trail Blazers, twice leading the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference finals. He was fired after the Trail Blazers were swept by the Lakers in the first round of the 2001 playoffs.

Nothing would seem as challenging, even to a veteran coach, as molding the Clippers into consistent winners. Alvin Gentry certainly tried and failed, losing his job March 3, with the team in last place in the Pacific Division.

Before he signed a four-year deal (the club has an option on the fourth year) that’s worth $10 million, Dunleavy re-ceived assurances from owner Donald Sterling that every attempt would be made to keep restricted free agents Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Andre Miller and Lamar Odom in the fold.

An Internet report Friday afternoon indicated the Denver Nuggets were poised to offer Maggette $42 million over six seasons when players are eligible to sign new deals Wednesday. It’s believed the Clippers would match the offer.

The Clippers also haven’t given up in their attempt to retain unrestricted free-agent center Michael Olowokandi, who earlier this week said the Nuggets were at the top of his wish list. The Nuggets have $18 million of salary cap space in which to sign free agents and improve what was one of the league’s doormats last season.

“Obviously, we’ve talked at great length,” Dunleavy said of one of the key negotiating points in his deal with the Clippers. “We’ve got a good group here. I’ll have a say in who’s here and who’s not here

Hiring a coach with an identity as clear as Dunleavy’s was among the Clippers’ top priorities during the off-season. They interviewed a number of candidates, including former Detroit Piston coach Rick Carlisle, but Dunleavy was the only one who met with Sterling.

“We thought he was clearly the best candidate for us,” said Andy Roeser, Clipper executive vice president. “The fact is, it’s important that he was a player, but it’s also the knowledge he brings to the court, the work he’ll do on the not-too-sexy things and the details of the game. We feel fortunate to have Mike.

“Finding the right coach was one of the most important things we wanted to accomplish this summer, and we’ve done that.”

Next on the team’s to-do list is sorting through their free-agent scenarios, with Dunleavy working closely with General Manager Elgin Baylor.

The Clippers have the right to match any offers from other teams for their four restricted free agents, and have said repeatedly this summer that they will do so. They also have acknowledged offering Brand a five-season contract worth $65 million.

Teams such as the Nuggets run the risk of doing the Clippers’ negotiating by signing Brand, Maggette, Miller and/or Odom to offer sheets.

“I think there is a great nucleus of players here,” Dunleavy said. “It’s a great building, a great city. All the ingredients are here.”

The only player who attended Dunleavy’s news conference was recent first-round draft pick Chris Kaman, who is expected to sign a contract this weekend. Others, including Brand, Odom and Quentin Richardson, were en route to Miami to participate in Alonzo Mourning’s annual charity game.

“I am excited about the opportunity to play for Coach Dunleavy,” Odom said in a statement released by the Clippers. “It is definitely a move in the right direction. His history of winning, both as a player and a coach, and his ability to teach will be a benefit to the Clippers and will hopefully lead to better things for the entire organization.”

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Coaching Changes

NBA teams that have changed coaches since the start of the 2002-03 season with former coach and replacement:

*--* Team Former Coach Replacement (Date Hired) ATLANTA Lon Kruger Terry Stotts (interim, Dec. 26) CLEVELAND John Lucas Keith Smart (interim, Jan. 20); Paul Silas (June 2) CLIPPERS Alvin Gentry Dennis Johnson (interim, March 3); Mike Dunleavy (July 11) DETROIT Rick Carlisle Larry Brown (July 2) HOUSTON Rudy Tomjanovich Jeff Van Gundy (June 11) MEMPHIS Sidney Lowe Hubie Brown (Nov. 13) NEW ORLEANS Paul Silas Tim Floyd (June 9) PHILADELPHIA Larry Brown Randy Ayers (June 20) TORONTO Lenny Wilkens Kevin O’Neill (June 18) WASHINGTON Doug Collins Eddie Jordan (June 19)

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Mike Dunleavy’s NBA Coaching Record

*--* Season Team Record Playoffs 1990-1991 Lakers 58-24 lost in NBA Finals 1991-1992 Lakers 43-39 eliminated in first round 1992-1993 Milwaukee 28-54 none (sixth in Central Division) 1993-1994 Milwaukee 20-62 none (sixth in Central Division) 1994-1995 Milwaukee 34-48 none (sixth in Central Division) 1995-1996 Milwaukee 25-57 none (seventh in Central Division) 1997-1998 Portland 46-36 eliminated in first round 1999* Portland 35-15 eliminated in Western Conference finals 1999-2000 Portland 59-23 eliminated in Western Conference finals 2000-2001 Portland 50-32 eliminated in first round *Lockout-shortene d season

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Difficult Assignment

Clipper coaches since the franchise moved to Los Angeles:

*--* Coach Season(s) Games Record Win Pct Jim Lyman 1984-85 61 22-39 361 Don Chaney 1984-85--1986-87 185 53-132 286 Gene Shue 1987-88--1988-89 120 27-93 225 Don Casey 1988-89--1989-90 126 41-85 325 Mike Schuler 1990-91--1991-92 127 52-75 409 Mack Calvin 1991-92 2 1-1 500 Larry Brown 1991-92--1992-93 117 64-53 547 Bob Weiss 1993-94 82 27-55 329 Bill Fitch 1994-95--1997-98 328 99-229 302 Chris Ford 1998-99--1999-2000 95 20-75 211 Jim Todd 1999-2000 37 4-33 108 Alvin Gentry 2000-01--2002-03 222 89-133 401 Dennis Johnson 2002-03 24 8-16 333

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Notes--The only winning season the Clippers have had in 19 years in Los Angeles was in 1991-92, when they went 45-37. They have made the playoffs three times since 1984: 1991-92 (lost to Utah 3-0 in first round); 1992-93 (lost to Houston 3-2 in first round), and 1996-97 (lost to Utah 3-0 in first round).