Lawrence Frank Reportedly 'On Track' for New Clippers Contract amid Chris Paul Rumors
Amid the recent shakeup for the Los Angeles Clippers following Wednesday's announcement that they're parting ways with veteran point guard Chris Paul, things reportedly are more stable in their front office.
The Athletic's Joe Vardon reported that Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank's job is not only safe, but he's expected to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
"Multiple league sources briefed on the discussions said Frank and his associates were on track to receive contract extensions, with one source saying those extensions 'have been in the planning stages for a while. It hasn't happened yet, but it will,'" Vardon reported.
Vardon added that "Clippers' sources emphasized ownership's commitment to continuity, but said discussions of contract extensions were 'premature.'"
Frank has been a member of the Clippers' front office since 2016 and was promoted to president of basketball operations the following year. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2020.
Unfortunately, the 2025-26 season has not gone as Los Angeles had hoped, as its veteran-laden roster has struggled to gel after a slew of offseason changes. The Clippers had lost five straight games before Wednesday's 115-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks, which improved their record to 6-16.
Paul, who announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season, became the first domino to fall amid the Clippers' struggles. Frank insisted that the decision to part ways with the 40-year-old floor general was not a result of the team's lackluster showing to start the year.
"We did not make this move because of our underperformance," Frank told reporters on Wednesday. "He had nothing to do with that. I take full responsibility for our record. We are not scapegoating Chris Paul. We have many issues and we are going to address each issue."
However, it doesn't sound like many more major moves are coming, as Vardon noted that Frank and team owner Steve Ballmer "value continuity above almost all else, and it doesn't appear any major changes are in consideration."
