Clippers and Mike Dunleavy: Officially divorced

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It didn’t even last until the end of the season. The very last part of Mike Dunleavy’s Clippers job description – general manager -- vanished Tuesday afternoon. It came when the team announced it had severed ties with him.

And it didn’t come at a hastily arranged news conference. The news arrived, via e-mail, just as the struggling Clippers started the second half of their game at Orlando.

(Assistant general manager Neil Olshey will take over the vacancy created by the move.)

Moreover, the Clippers’ language in the release was more blunt than you usually see under these circumstances:

“The organization has determined that the goal of building a winning team is best served by making this decision at this time.

“The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure. The Clippers want to win now. This transition, in conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.”

Dunleavy, who stepped down as coach on Feb. 4, was not immediately available for comment, nor was Olshey.

-- Lisa Dillman