Elgin Baylor suggested he had endured a bizarre working arrangement with the Clippers and owner Donald Sterling that turned sour in recent years with the team trying to force him out.

"I worked with the Clipper organization on a contract for only my first six years, until 1993, after that it was if I had passed the smell test," said Baylor. "For the remainder of the time I was told I did not need a formal written agreement.

"Donald Sterling always informed me whenever I asked about my contract situation and my salary, that I was a 'lifer', that I would remain with the Clipper family until I decided to retire."

Baylor claims that although coach Mike Dunleavy was rewarded with a lucrative contract following the Clippers' run to the playoffs in 2006, Sterling did not provide any economic reward to Baylor for his efforts as GM.

"The team I pushed Donald Sterling to assemble made it to the second round of the playoffs exceeding everyone's expectations," said Baylor. "I was honored by the Sporting News to be named the NBA executive of the year.

"The team's coach was acknowledged and rewarded with a long-term contract worth over US$20 million. When I asked (Sterling) if he was going to take care of me, he said nothing, he offered me nothing, he did nothing, no salary increase, no bonus nothing."

Baylor further claims to have discovered in 2008 that Dunleavy had been secretly assigned many of his duties and the team was trying to force him to retire.

"This past August I was handed an agreement and told to 'take it or leave it.' Given that I had invested so much to the Clippers and the NBA I was traumatized by this situation and today I remain mentally and emotionally devastated," said Baylor. "I did not retire, I have so much more to give."