Last offseason, the Clippers were the target of front-office poaching. Minnesota was interested in GM Michael Winger for its president of basketball operations opening, and New Orleans wanted assistant GM Trent Redden to be the Pelicans’ general manager. Both Winger and Redden ultimately stayed with the Clippers in lesser titles.
The understanding was that the two executives were each keen on seeing through what the Clippers had built, but also that Steve Ballmer had opened up his checkbook to keep them in Los Angeles.
Now, Ballmer is using his checkbook to do the poaching himself.