BlogsAbout that other LA team
by citizen zhiv
on Jul 3, 2009 7:01 PM PDT
0 comments
I'm promoting Citizen Zhiv's excellent Lakers post to the front page - I'm not actually sure why Zhiv relegated himself to the sidebar in the first place. I have a couple of additional thoughts on Ariza/Artest as well. The story prior to these signings was that Ariza was disappointed that the Lakers weren't willing to go higher than the MLE. So it makes little sense that he would turn around and sign for the MLE with another team. But if Ariza was unwilling to give the Lakers a post ring discount, and the Lakers were equally unwilling to give Ariza a post ring bonus, it seems to indicate that things aren't all that wonderful in purple and gold. It does seem strange to have Ariza and Battier on the same team. I can't think of another team, really ever, who had two such glue guys starting on the wings - NBA teams almost ALWAYS have a primary scoring threat on the wing. What is TMac's status? Did they sign Ariza to the full MLE to come off the bench? Is Battier coming off the bench? Morey knows what he likes, and Adelman can coach, and Houston has been the single biggest over-achiever in the NBA for two straight years, playing competitively even as their mega-stars drop like flies - so it will be interesting to see what happens. But with Yao's injury, TMac's uncertainty and Artest gone, from a Clipper-centric standpoint it's hard not to think that a spot at the playoff table just opened up.
As for the Lakers, Zhiv hints at what I'll say outright - that team is loaded, and would likely be the favorite to win another title in almost any scenario. BUT the one thing that can screw up a loaded team is bad chemistry, and there's a boatload of that in Ron Artest's brain. He's the one guy in the NBA I would not have touched if I was Mitch Kupchak, talented as he is.
Zhiv after the jump.
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have the utmost confidence in our team and management!I am busting everyday to prove that clipps r going to be the talk of da NBA!! C4L!
1 day ago
Lawler's Law
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Randolph to the Grizzlies a Reality
by Steve Perrin
on Jul 2, 2009 12:22 AM PDT
in News
126 comments
First things first: thanks to Citizen Zhiv for getting the news up on the front page of Clips Nation. I had just finished posting earlier in the afternoon when Mark Heisler of the LA Times broke the story. I'm not sure what this one says about my legendary reverse-mojo - yes, I had just written that the Clippers were likely to have a quiet July. But in the same post, I surmised that Randolph for Richardson was still a possibility if the Grizz were interested. So was I exactly wrong or exactly right? Hard to say.
But what's important at this point is the trade, and frankly it's about as good as the Clippers could have hoped for. It's being reported as Zach Randolph for Quentin Richardson, straight up. Of course Richardson doesn't make nearly as much as Randolph, but the Grizzlies are under the salary cap, so they are allowed to take on the extra salary. Because Zach had two seasons at $16M and $17.3M left on his deal compared to Richardson's $8.7M this season, the Clippers will save about $24.6M overall because of this trade. More importantly, they'll clear cap space for the 2010 off season when some huge names are going to become free agents.
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July Fireworks: Zach Randolph traded
by citizen zhiv
on Jul 1, 2009 5:38 PM PDT
226 comments
Looks like Steve Perrin is just as charmed as good old Clipper Steve. News notes saying that the Memphis deal for Randolph is going through, with the Clips bringing back our old pal Quentin Richardson. Clips save a lot of money, get a backup at the 2 and 3, and become players in the 2010 free agency sweepstakes.
Explosive!
226 comments | 2 recs
Don't Expect July Fireworks From the Clippers
by Steve Perrin
on Jul 1, 2009 4:09 PM PDT
in News
39 comments
Last July was the most eventful month in the history of this blog in the midst of the most active month in the history of the Clippers franchise. The level of activity, from June 30th when Elton Brand and Corey Maggette each opted out of their Clipper contracts and Baron Davis opted out of his Warriors deal, until July 31 when LA signed free agent Brian Skinner, was dizzying. It was also, in hindsight, foolhardy. The Clippers began the season with only five players from the year before, and by January were down to only two (only one who was playing, since Kaman was hurt so much) and the unprecedented roster turnover was at least one reason that the team chemistry was so poor (or at least that's one of the excuses du jour we've heard from the organization).
So don't expect a lot of early July activity from the Clippers this season. For one thing, they'll be peddling a 'stability is a virtue' storyline in the wake of a 19 win season - something like "We changed 12 out of 14 players and had a terrible year - if we keep 12 out of 14 players, we'll have a good year." Of course, it's not quite that simple, but one can definitely see the advantages to limiting the changes going into training camp.
And that 12 out of 14 estimate is entirely possible. We know there's at least one new face - this Griffin-kid they picked up in the draft looks like he will make the team. But they've also got ten returners with contracts as of now - and two other contributors from last season (Steve Novak and Fred Jones) who are probably more likely to stay with the team than to end up anywhere else. So one very real possibility is that the Clippers re-sign Jones and Novak, don't find any trades to their liking, and sign a non-descript veteran at the end of July or the beginning of August. Voila - 12 of 14 players return.
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Of Clipper Rosters and Settling Dust
by Steve Perrin
on Jun 30, 2009 4:38 PM PDT
in News
99 comments
On this last day of June 2009, we have a slightly clearer picture than we did a few days ago. Most of what I wrote over the weekend is still true - although in my opinion the Clippers caught a major break when Brian Skinner opted out of the second year of his Clippers deal.
There were status changes today on five players from last season's team:
- Skinner had a player option for $1.3M with the Clippers, which he decided not to exercise. Presumably he did this because he believes he can find a better situation elsewhere. It's clear that with three players making 8 figures on the squad, plus the first overall draft pick, plus another promising 20 year old prospect, Skinner was unlikely to get decent minutes with the Clippers. I'm just worried for him that he won't get picked up, but hopefully he and his agent have some reason to believe otherwise (more than a hunch, I'm saying). At any rate, he did the team a favor, and they now have eleven contracts more or less on the books.
- The Clippers extended a qualifying offer to Steve Novak. This was essentially a no-brainer, and doesn't necessarily mean that Novak will be back. His contract was so minimal that the QO is like no more than the vet's minimum (which goes up for him now that he's got three year's of service). The QO means that he's a restricted free agent, and the Clippers can match any offer he receives from another team. Also, since the Clippers have his full Bird rights, they don't have to use any portion of their mid level exception to sign him. It's up to the NBA marketplace to set his value, which the Clippers can then decide whether they want to match or not.
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Free Agent Follies Set to Begin
by citizen zhiv
on Jun 30, 2009 4:04 PM PDT
21 comments
Carlos Boozer becomes the first domino, electing to take the one-year money and stay in Utah. This makes life a little more difficult for the Jazz, as Paul Milsap is expected to get a sizable offer from OKC, and they also have to deal with Okur. But what prompted Boozer's decision (he doesn't want to make less money), and what does it mean for the other free agents who are a few hours away from turning the ignition key?
In LA, a good test for the basketball knowledge of Laker fans is their awareness of the free agent situation and luxury tax consequences on Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom. As bitter Clipper fans, we probably have 10 times the financial awareness of the average denizen of Lakerdom. Of course Laker fan, enjoying champion status for the 15th time, has every reason to be optimistic and to believe that things will work out. It's the Lakers! And so we see statements about how the Lakers made $6 million by selling draft picks, which will certainly help them sign their free agents. That 6 million, of course, should pay for 20-30 games of one season from Lamar Odom, at a very hopeful discount rate of 10m/yr, doubled by the luxury tax. It's one thing to pay Zbo 18 million when you don't need him, but can you imagine contemplating a 60 or 70 million dollar deal for Odom that will cost you twice that amount--and that's after you sign Ariza. Does Boozer's decision mean that Detroit, OKC, or Memphis is more likely to make a generous offer to LO or Ariza?
What a difference a year makes. Oy. I can't even think about last summer, and how it turned into last year. If the pain is going to come this year, at least it will be a new version.
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Work ethic, indeed. Griffin finally got to L.A. from New York late Friday, after missing a flight and being delayed on another.
The next morning at 9, Dunleavy and his staff got word that Griffin wanted to work out. So, at 10 a.m., Griffin was in the gym. Same thing Sunday, same thing Monday.
"This is my job now," Griffin said. "College, I had class, whatever. Now, it's a business, and that's the way I look at it."
3 days ago
Steve Perrin
8 comments
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Pacific Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Lakers
|
65 | 17 | .792 | 0 | Won 2 |
|
Phoenix
|
46 | 36 | .560 | 19 | Won 3 |
|
Golden State
|
29 | 53 | .353 | 36 | Lost 2 |
|
Los Angeles Clippers
|
19 | 63 | .231 | 46 | Lost 3 |
|
Sacramento
|
17 | 65 | .207 | 48 | Won 1 |
(updated 7.3.2009 at 4:19 PM PDT)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
