Who to take
by BenoitBenjamin on Apr 20, 2008 12:39 AM PDT
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PrintFirst before I post this, let me apolgize. I didn't realize there was already a BenoitBenjamin poster on here (although I know it is not spelled the same). When I chose the name, I went back to the days when my friend and I would go to the Sports Arena and watch the debacle that was Benoit. It just seemed to summarize my Clipper experience. I could have easily have chosen Randy Woods or LeRon Ellis (although they worked out about the same, Lancaster Gordon, Bo Kimble, or Reggie Williams didn't seem as bad of ideas at the time). They would have sufficed as easily as Benoit Benjamin. To me Benoit was just the most pronounced mistake the Clippers have made (with Michael Olowakandi a not to distant second).
Anyway, on with the topic. Let's assume the Clippers get the #6 pick in the draft, who do they take. I go to NBADraft.net quite a bit to check out draft projections. They have Rose, Beasley, Mayo, B. Lopez, and Bayless going in the top 5. Assuming it goes that way, who do the Clips take at 6? They project the Italian Danilo Gallinari going to the Clippers. I just want to say that I hope that isn't the case. This guy might be as good as he projected to be, but with the Clippers luck, he will be more of a Korolev than a Nowitzki. Eric Gordon is a possibility, but I'm not that sold on him. Although he is not projected to go for another 7 picks, I would love to see the Clippers bring in Kevin Love. I know all the downside that people have brought up about his game at the NBA level, but there are things he brings to the table. He is a smart player who will bring effort to the floor everynight. He also has a following in LA that will bring people to Staples for curiosity sake. Do I think he will be an all-star? Not necessarily, but I do think that he is more of a sure-thing than some of the other options out there. If Brand does come back, Love presents a pretty good C/PF rotation with Kaman and Brand. If Brand doesn't come back, Love plays PF, with Kaman at C. I know the Clippers need a PG, but I really don't think any of the available PGs that will be left are worthy of the #6 pick. Thoughts?
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Draft
As you might expect, there’s been a fair amount of talk about the draft also.
The consensus right now is that 6 (or even 7 or 8) is probably too high for Love. More importantly, it’s more than likely that Brand and Kaman will be back, and Love is simply not that right player in that scenario. I like appreciate adore love Love, but when you’re best two players are bigs, you don’t spend your lottery pick on a big – certainly not when that big is anything but a sure thing.
I think we all feel the same about Gallinari – not that anyone has seen the guy play, but the Korolev wounds are too fresh. A ‘precocious’ European forward with size and ball skills? Sounds a little too familiar.
Things will continue to change. Two months ago Gordon was rated above Mayo and Bayless. My assumption as of now is that, if Mayo, Bayless or Gordon is on the board when the Clippers draft, that’s who they should take. If they’re all gone, it gets much dicier. I’m not sold on Augustin. Westbrook can’t shoot. So as of now, I’m hoping that at worst Gordon is there.
Of course, if we just get the first or second pick and take Rose, then that would be fine too.
The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!
Overstrike
Not sure why the first sentence got the overstrike. I was trying to be cute with the synonyms for love.
The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!
by Steve Perrin on Apr 20, 2008 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes
First, great new format.
Second, obviously they have to take a guard at that spot, although I love the Bruins. Draftexpress.com has some interesting information about Gallinari. Yes, I’m gunshy, but it appears that he’s much more skilled and battle-tested than Korolev was. I suspect that they will take Gordon or Danilo (even though the latter is another SF) unless they get lucky and have the opportunity to take OJ.
Draft uncertainty
I realize 6 might be high for Love but he seems less likely to be a flop than what might be out there at 6. His upside may not be as high as Gordon, but watching Gordon in the NCAA tournament scared me to death. He disappeared! I’m not sold on Agustin either, I don’t think he is what we need at PG. His problem is much like Collinson’s was against Rose in the tourhament…TOO SMALL! That will only get worse in the NBA.
As far not needing Love because we have Kaman and Brand, I see the point, but what a great 3-man rotation for the 4/5 positions! You play Kaman and Brand 36 minutes a night and Love gets 24 subbing for them.
I really like Westbrook as a player and I know he would there at 6. I agree that he can’t shoot now, but he would be an option at PG. I know he is not ready to be a PG in the NBA right now, but look at his development in just the last year. It gives me hope that his game is still developing.
I know that suggesting the Clippers take one of two UCLA players makes me sound like a big UCLA-honk, which may be true, but they seem like players that might fit.
Agreed, that the easiest solution would be to get the #1 pick and end up with Rose! That would be a dream come true. The only problem would be that we would all be holding our breaths to see not if, but when he had his major injury. The kind of luck the Clippers need to get the number one pick is always repaid with some sort of horrible luck (like a major injury).
It wasn't all Collison's fault
If you had an opportunity to see the Kansas game, you would have noticed what success a team can have playing a zone against bigger guards. Howland’s refusal to play a zone can be a problem at times.
zhiv's ESPN draft notes
I just read it! What a great post about Love!! I agree 100%!
Post-NCAA draft update
Let’s assume the Clips pick 6th.
First, let’s talk about Gallinari. It’s not just being traumatized by the Korolev pick. I’d call that a minor factor, making us all just a little skeptical. A much bigger factor is Thornton. I think that the Clips can be very happy with AT at the SF for at least the next few years. And you have a Maggette issue on top of that. If you can resign Maggs for a reasonable amount, he’s a great asset to the team.
One of the important things to consider about AT and Maggs is moving Tim Thomas down on the depth chart. I know that elsewhere CS mentioned that putting Maggs at SG is the only way that Kaman, EB, AT, and CM could all be on the floor at the same time. But there are a lot of minutes out there for the backup 4/5, the first guy off the bench for Kaman or Brand. And Thornton could be that guy, and share minutes at SF with Maggs too. The Clips could be very effective playing with Brand-Thornton-Maggette or Kaman-Brand-Thornton. I, for one, could get by with just the occasional smidge of Tim Thomas.
So, in that scenario, where would Gallinari fit in? The only way I see it, is if Maggs opts out. You would use the Maggs-Cassell money to try to find a guard, hope for good things from Livingston, and Gallinari would be a backup to Thornton. My fear would be that he would be playing behind Thomas and would have trouble getting minutes, but he might be very talented. With Thornton solidly established, however, able to shoot the 3, rebound, and score in crunchtime, I don’t see Gallinari being much of a fit. And it’s weird that he has been projected as the Clippers pick on the draft boards for so long.
I would rather pick Love than Gallinari, Gordon, Augustin, or Westbrook. A lot of the above argument applies to Love, but he seems like a legitimate #6 pick, a highly skilled, closely-studied player. As a more pure 4/5, rather than a 3/4, he won’t be fighting for minutes with Thornton. It doesn’t solve the guard problem.
At this point I’m curious about what’s going to happen with Maggette opting out and possibly trading down and taking Collison or Augustin. They’re not worthy of the #6 pick, but they would both be good complementary players to Livingston.
What is this fixation on Love?
There’s no bigger Bruin homer than me. But come on. With Kamanl Brand and Powell they don’t need another big. Repeat after me – the Clippers need a guard, the Clippers need a guard, the Clippers need a guard.
"the Maggs-Cassell money"
Be careful on this type of thinking. Sometimes money is the ability to re-sign free agents, and sometimes its just money. As in just money in Donald Sterling’s pocket. Cassell is gone, but the Clippers are not much under the cap (07-08 cap = $55.6, Clippers at 52.2 or thereabouts – the cap will go up if NBA revenues go up, but probably not enough). The bottom line is, you can spend more on a free agent using the MLE, than you can with “the Maggs-Cassell money.” Yes, it’s real in that DTS has spent it before, so he may be willing to spend it again. Yes, it’s real in that the Clippers get further under the REAL cap, the luxury tax threshold (67.8M in 07-08), but it doesn’t mean you can sign a FA for $13M (Cassell’s $6M plus Maggette’s $7M).
The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!
by Steve Perrin on Apr 26, 2008 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Trade the pick
Clippers aren’t in the rebuilding stage just yet, I doubt they’re willing to sit and wait 3-4years for a PG/Combo guard prodigy from this year’s draft (Westbrook, Mayo, Gordon) to grow and mature, whilst the powers of Brand, Kaman and Magette are at their prime or on the decline.
Sign and trade the 6th pick to a team that is on the rebuild, and get a savvy veteran PG/SG in return.
May 20
The lottery is May 20. Keep the pick, trade the pick… all of this is premature until we know what pick we’re talking about.
Although I’m not sure what savvy veteran PG you would have in mind. Andre Miller? Been there, done that. Mike Bibby? No thanks. All of the point guards in the league are either untouchable or not really of interest. The pick could certainly end up in the equation for a Gilbert Arenas or Baron David deal of course.
The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!
by Steve Perrin on Apr 30, 2008 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
I know...
I may be getting a little ahead of myself here, but after reading that Gilbert is shutting it down for the rest of the season due to what he calls a “pinched nerve”, do we really want to go after ANOTHER guy with knee problems?...I mean, we tried with Kittles and that failed miserably. Livingston’s injuries are well documented. BD and Gil both have had what I would call major knee surgeries. This just seems to be a common theme these days. Unfortunately, I don’t really see anyone else out there (aside from Jason Terry perhaps) besides these 2 guys who can make an impact at the PG position and are actually available via free agency, sign and trade (with Maggs) or trade straight up. Are the pickin’s really this scarce at the PG postion this off season in the NBA?
Pickings are always slim
Point guard is a tough position to fill. Name a team that has addressed a point guard need recently through anything other than the draft or a blockbuster trade. (The Lakers almost qualify with Fisher, but they’re an exception because they don’t really need a traditional point guard.) The simple fact is, you don’t solve a point guard problem using the MLE. Moreover, you don’t solve most point guard problems. Period. There aren’t enough of them to go around.
The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!
by Steve Perrin on Apr 30, 2008 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
calderon
thats who i will love to get….lets hope toronto chooses to keep ford and shops calderon..
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