Baylor out as Clippers exec

From Tribune wire services

Published Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Elgin Baylor is out as vice president of basketball operations with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Coach Mike Dunleavy will assume his responsibilities as general manager.

"We greatly appreciate Elgin’s efforts during his time with the Clippers, and we wish him the very best," Clippers Owner and Chairman of the Board Donald T. Sterling said in a statement yesterday.

Baylor became vice president of basketball operations with the Clippers in 1986 after an outstanding 14-year playing career with the Lakers and a brief stint as coach of the New Orleans Jazz.

● REDICK RENEWED: Eight months ago, a frustrated J.J. Redick asked to be traded after feeling he wouldn’t ever be in the Orlando Magic’s plans.

Yesterday, an upbeat Redick discovered that he might have a future with the franchise.

The Magic picked up the team option on his contract, guaranteeing the third-year shooting guard a fourth season in 2009-10.

● BACK ON THE SIDELINE: The Indiana Pacers will have a new head coach - at least briefly - when they play New Orleans in their preseason opener tonight.

Pacers Coach Jim O’Brien said he’ll spend the first quarter helping on the radio broadcast, while former Indiana coach and current radio commentator Bobby "Slick" Leonard handles his duties from the bench.

The switch was O’Brien’s idea to show Leonard "how much we appreciate everything he’s done for the organization." Leonard became the Pacers’ coach in 1969, leading them to three American Basketball Association championships before the league merged with the NBA.

● COOL TO DOOLING: Although he was linked to a Miami Heat reunion while a free agent this offseason, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native Keyon Dooling said the Heat never made an offer.

"Nope, they didn’t, not that I know of," the former Missouri star said before the Nets left for Paris. Instead, Dooling signed a three-year, $10.8 million contract with the Nets, built off the $3.3 million trade exception New Jersey had from last season’s trade of Jason Kidd.