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Clips sign Azubuike to offer sheet

Lastdragon06_tiny by Badd on

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3494107

 

I think this is a great offer, not much money to someone who could be a huge offensive spark off the bench.  In my opinion another great sign from management!  Golden State will have a week to match the offer, but with offers going out to Ellis and Beirdrins and Turiaf, will they resign Azubuike?  Multi year offer for $3m/year.  Great insurance if it's not match for EG to have time to develop and to prepare for the possible departure of Cat.

 

This is another thing to easily make me forget FElton! Go CLIPS!

 

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Another piece

This has to be the most active offseason in Clipper history!
Hard to see GSW match this offer, since they have so many guys ahead of Azi.
An athletic 2/3, young, and still developing. Anyone know anything about his D?
And you can’t help but wonder if BD had his hand in this a little as well. I mean, if he was a stiff, BD surely would have told MDsr.
Props to Citizen Badd for finding this first.

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:00 PM PDT   0 recs

Very nice

Going off the strong impression he created as a Clipper killer—didn’t he have a monster game against the Clippers in the earlier part of last season? He was spectacular, and Ralph was raving about him.

Seems like a solid player. Not sure about his defensive prowess, but he seemed to have more offensive chops than QRoss (not hard), and to be steadier than Matt Barnes.

Presumably this is based in part on a recommendation from Baron Davis. He has to know the guy and how he plays, and must have approved the offer.

It’s also opportunistic. Azu was the dangling player in all of the GSW wing activity, which included adding Maggette to the mix, resigning Ellis, working in Bellini, not to mention the offer to Turiaf.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 3:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Huge early game...

versus the Clips…
Box Score
a nice piece if they get him

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah

Time to go through the next few games to see what happened. He was awesome in that game.

There’s this whole weird thing with guys who play incredibly well against the Clippers, who are then somewhat overvalued by them. I know there’s an amazing example out there I can’t remember—it might be Glenn Rice, but I don’t think so. Ricky Davis is a vicious Clipper killer. Camby played out of his mind against the Clippers up until the 06 playoffs, when he became mortal.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Cat Mobley

He used to kill the Clippers

F-Elton!

by mikey p on Jul 17, 2008 3:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

What about...

Hinrich…Clips always had problems with the pick and roll…

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Season stats

season

Looks like when he plays, he is above average.Decent shooter, decent from the 3pt line, I would say above average rebounder for a 2, decent FT percentage…and assist to turnovers is above 1….
I would have to say this guy is solid.

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dan Dickau

I think the Clippers signed him because of one game in 2006.

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 17, 2008 3:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Banned

Oh yeah, it’s your blog

by Jax on Jul 17, 2008 3:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Classic

Exactly right. There’s an older example that’s even better, and I just can’t think of it.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 3:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

A broken down Dominique Wilkins

But then again he torched everybody in his prime…

by MichaelCage on Jul 22, 2008 9:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Very much so...

This was the guy most likely to be lost in the fray of signing/resigning. I don’t think the warriors will match. (keeping my fingers crossed)

How much $ does this leave us for minimum contracts?

Oh me, oh my!!!! The Red Baron has come home!!

by Clipper T on Jul 17, 2008 3:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This would be the "one small shot"

So now they can only sign players to minimum contracts.

But there is no limit to those.

This includes Livingston.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 3:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

forgive my ignorance...

so, minimum contracts don’t count against the cap?

Oh me, oh my!!!! The Red Baron has come home!!

by Clipper T on Jul 17, 2008 3:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

also,

can someone please provide a basic explaination the “bird rights” I’ve been hearing about?

Oh me, oh my!!!! The Red Baron has come home!!

by Clipper T on Jul 17, 2008 3:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good luck =)

The long version.

The short version is it means that if a player hasnt changed teams as a free agent in 4 years, then when his contract expires his current team can sign him for any dollar amount they want. Cap rules do not apply.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 3:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

but since we renounced Livingston ...

I think that means we don’t have any Bird rights
to him for at one year, which means we can only
sign him to the minimum this year

by Clipper Oz on Jul 17, 2008 4:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Exactly correct

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 4:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

They count against the cap

But the cap can’t block you from signing a player to the minimum amount a player can make, based on years in the league.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 3:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well played

Decent efficiency, hits the long ball, some nice rebounding from the guard spot, takes care of the ball.

A very nice piece.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 3:04 PM PDT   0 recs

It was the opener

39 mins 12-17 2-3 3s 7-7 ft 8rebs 2ast 1 stl 1 blk
33 points

Did not sustain that pace over the course of the season. Started that game, with SJackson out and JRich gone. Clippers won.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 3:07 PM PDT   0 recs

The fact he didn't sustain it....

Is actually better for us. Once SJax came back his minutes went way down from 31.5 in the first month to an average of about 17 mins a game. Had he sustained it and had to opportunity to show what he can do with starters minutes we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get him for $3m a year, so I LIKEY!

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 3:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Agree 100%

This is a young player with substantial upside. BD picking apart the Warriors.

by Jax on Jul 17, 2008 3:21 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Jackson and Monta Ellis

A quick glance shows that it wasn’t Stephen Jackson coming back so much as it was Monta Ellis blowing up. For the first 10 games Ellis was the first guard off the bench, coming in for Azu I assume, and then Azu would come back while BD took a break. The big game against the Clips made Azu look very solid, and in game #5 he went for 27/11. Thanks to those two games he was averaging 18.8 ppg after the first five games. He averaged 10.1 over the next 5 games, settling at 15.0 after 10. He went for 15 and then 10 in his next two starts, and hit the game-winner in overtime in game 12 against the Sixers. But that was pretty much it for the starting lineup, although he did start 5 more games. Jackson and Ellis joined Davis as starters, along with Harrington and Biedrens.

A couple more interesting notes. It’s important to remember that at the beginning of the season Azu was replacing Jason Richardson, who had been a featured player in the epic upset over Dallas. More importantly, the odd man out in all of the early season changes was the rookie Bellini, who wasn’t playing at all until the end of the season. So the minutes went from Azu to Ellis, then what was left trickled back down to Azu before they got to Bellini. Even with Baron gone, these are still important factors in GSW matching this offer—they have Maggette and Jackson and Ellis, and they want to play Bellini now.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 3:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

This

makes no sense considering Jason Richardson was traded on draft day for the rights to Brandan Wright. And the name is Bellinelli, not Bellini. Were you the announcer for the summer league game?

by boomdizzleness on Jul 20, 2008 11:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

If this goes through...

How does the roster shake out?

BD/Knight/Taylor
Cat/EG
AT/Azu/Williams
Camby/TT/Fazeke
Kaman/Jordan

So does that leave 1 or 2 spots left on the roster?...Livingston? Powell? Paul Davis?

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:14 PM PDT   0 recs

Roster is filling out

WOW! So wierd not to see Brand and Maggette in the lineup.

It is a new era.

F-Elton!

by mikey p on Jul 17, 2008 3:18 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Agree...

weird…but in a good sense I guess. I never thought I would see the day when FElton was in another uniform. As it stands now, his defection may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to this organization (pure speculation at this point of course). But you can’t really blame the Clippers for NOT trying to pick up the pieces after he bolted…because for all intents and purposes, they have been super aggressive and determined. Its a new era here in the Nation…and I like it…

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:22 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hell...

So maybe the new t-shirts SHOULD read in Management we trust :D

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 3:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Why not

start him over Cat? He’s young and athletic, good complement for BD. Have him back up Thornton as well so he can play with Cat and BG.

by Jax on Jul 17, 2008 3:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

WP48

Win Score would dictate that KA should be the starter, at least until/if Gordon proves otherwise.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 3:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good point...

I am not sure exactly where Azu would fit on the roster. I think we all agree that EG is NOT starting. So in theory, Azu could slide right in and take Cat’s spot. I think MDsr will start with his blanket though, and then adjust accordingly, at least for the beginning of the season.

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:26 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think that he's a good SG for this team

Strong, athletic, can hit the three, great boards, aggressive, good defense.

by Jax on Jul 17, 2008 3:14 PM PDT   0 recs

Essentially...

this offseason could potentially turn into a FElton and Maggett for BD, Camby AND Azu…
Wow…who would have thought…nothing wrong with that…

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 3:24 PM PDT   0 recs

The Team is completely different....

And you know what, I LIKE IT. This will be the most exciting year we’ve had from the standpoint of excitement going in. Considering what it was 2 weeks ago I am ecstatic. Now we just have to make sure GS doesn’t match. Anyone live in Oaktown that can cause some sort of ruckus? Maybe start a rumor that he went to the Shawn Kemp school of insemination???

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 3:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

TEAM CHEMISTRY

hey guys. new to the thread but been following for some time now…

i’m just really speculative about the chemistry this new team brings…a lot of new pieces mean a lot of different viewpoints/attitudes…someone’s gonna have to step up and take the helms…baron shook things up right away in GS so hopefully he’ll carry the new team…but i’m really interested on the mental side of the team and how that will shape up this coming season…

by yongstar on Jul 17, 2008 3:37 PM PDT   0 recs

Camby was also the captain in Denver, if I understand correctly

Its an interesting point, and this team has leaders. And guys like Thornton seem to want to learn and be a part.

Get me BD and 75 and I'm in

by John R on Jul 17, 2008 3:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Camby and Baron

I think Camby and Baron will hold the locker room together.

by CLiPPz WeRD 42 on Jul 18, 2008 7:27 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Poor Steve

Man….I love this Summer….you must be going out of your mind for research!

FAZEKAS!!!!!!

by killerbeetim on Jul 17, 2008 3:40 PM PDT   0 recs

Trying to keep up!

Go on vacation for a couple days, come back to a new team. Finish my Camby post, and now I have to write an Azubuike post. (Not to mention the problems with spelling Azubuike.)

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 17, 2008 3:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Haven't crunched their roster yet...

But I have a feeling their in a tight squeeze. With Maggette signed, needing offers to Ellis and Kaman, an offer sheet to Turiaf (let’s hope the Lakers don’t match that one) and needing playing time for Belinelli and Wright, they may not feel like they can keep Azubuike. We’ll see.

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 17, 2008 3:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

you called Biedrins....

Kaman, Freudian??? :P

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 3:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good catch

Weird. Yes, offers to Ellis and Biedrins. I’m not sure what Herr Freud would have to say about it. Very long white men are clearly an obsession, but aside from that….

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 17, 2008 4:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

or as Bill S. Preston Esq. would say...

Bill: [responding to Freud’s invitation to examine him] Nah. Just got a minor Oedipal complex.

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 4:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

LMAO!!

It’s that Frude Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by CLiPPz WeRD 42 on Jul 18, 2008 7:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Actually the

Warriors will still have about 6 mil. for FA even if Turiaf signs.

by buky on Jul 17, 2008 5:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Warriors fan here...

I really hope that we match the offer, but I just wanted to let you guys know that if you snag him you got a steal. He is efficient offensively, rebounds the ball well for his position and has nice range on his shot.

His D is definitely his weakness although he did show some very improved defense against Kobe (of all people) late in the season. He is a much better defender when his man is playing in the post or on the high post at the elbow or the elbow extended (like Kobe was that night) where he can use his strength to defend. His lateral quickness on the other hand is suspect. When he is defending out on the perimeter his man blows by him far too often. Another bright spot on D is his ability to block shots spectacularly (if infrequently) from the weak side.

I should also mention that he was suffering from knee tendinitis for most of the season. He started of very hot when Jackson was out and after his injury never quite got back to playing as well.

If he ends up with the Clipps I think he could have a break-out season with you guys. Hope this helps some of you who haven’t seen much of him.

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 3:43 PM PDT   0 recs

Thanks

What do you think the odds are that the Dubs will match? Both money and roster spots (especially on the wings) must be getting tight.

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 17, 2008 3:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Hard to say...

Speculation about Monta and Andris salary figures have varied wildly. If it was me I would match, but I’m a little worried. I think that Mullin is probably going to roll with Marco at that spot for better or worse. Also Pree (a writer for Hoopsworld and a mamber at GSoM) said that when he spoke to Buike a few days ago it sounded like he had one foot out the door. If the W’s front office had interest in retaining him I’m guessing his attitude towards them may have been a little different.

With the way this offseason has been going for both of our franchises nothing would surprise me at this point. I’m wating to hear about a S&T of Andris for Kaman =P.

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 3:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Also...

I meant to add that the best financial estimates (IMO of course) show that we should have room under the tax to match this offer. I’m just not sure if the interest is there from Mullin/Nelson. I’m going to be on pins and needles for a week.

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 4:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Money under the tax threshold...

Let’s face it, that’s big boy money, even if it’s not yet in the tax range. Certainly it’s a no brainer to not match if their talking about hitting the tax – that $3M per gets doubled. But if their team payroll is getting into the $70M range, that’s a lot of money, and I just don’t see Cohan signing off on that.

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 17, 2008 4:45 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Correct...

If the contract would in fact push us into the tax Cohan will not match. In fact you are probably correct that we might not match even if we are just getting close to going over the tax threshold.

It’s easy for us fans to spend the owners money on a borderline playoff team but you think twice if it’s your money.

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 5:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Well said

The Clippers! The (second) Best NBA Team in LA!

by ClipperSteve on Jul 18, 2008 11:00 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Video...

Here is a tase of what he can do…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKE5eJua00&feature=related

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 4:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Another possibility

Say that Azu comes in playing very well-he’s not playing in summer league, is he? and didn’t GSW pluck him out of nowhere in early 07?-and he seems to be the obvious starter at SG, beating out Cat. You can never have too many guys and too many shooters, and Cat is the proverbial wily vet who plays tough D, but you also don’t want to step too severely on Gordon’s chance at minutes either.

Azu might be good enough to make Mobley semi-expendable, or at least it’s worthy of a discussion. Mobley of course represents a nice chunk of present and future money for the Clippers.

As long as the Clips are going around picking off guys, maybe they could talk to the Knicks now about a deal for David Lee that would involve Mobley. I don’t know that Crawford is the guy with the new players-and there’s no reason to rush, and it would probably be easy enough for GSW to match the 3 mil-but there might be some new choices here.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 3:56 PM PDT   0 recs

So...

I assume the bad news for the Clips would be that is either Bierdrins or Ellis can’t agree to a long term extension, then they would get a one year qualifying offer for much less, so it would give them room to resign Azu. so HOPEFULLY GS gives n ice big contracts to Biedrins and Ellis and they believe that Bellini is good enough to replace Azu. I guess it’s good news that Bellini is tearing it up in the summer league! BAH one week to wait, I am going to go crazy.

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 4:01 PM PDT   0 recs

Don't forget the $$$

for Turiaf. That may be the deciding factor. If the Lakers match Ronny’s offer, then GSW will most likely keep Azu. A little annoying knowing the Lakers could have a hand in how good the Clippers can be.

by Clip Show on Jul 17, 2008 4:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Qualifying offers our enemy now

Especially with regards to Ellis. Ellis is in something of the catbird seat. He’s a 20ppg scorer that the team wants to build around, along with Maggs, who they just gave 10m/yr. There’s some question as to how he’s going to get his shot, but he’s also going to pick up some opportunities from the departure of Davis. He can go out and play and have a great year and be a prime UFA next year. He doesn’t need to settle for less, and somebody might overpay him next year.

The problem for the Clips and Azu is that if Ellis takes the qualifying offer, they might want to match the deal with Azu as a backup in case he ends up leaving—it’s a low-cost backup. If they do make a deal with Ellis, with Belinelli (getting the sp right now I think) around and the new deal with Maggs and everybody else, it really wouldn’t make much sense for them to make this kind of deal with Azu. It seems cheap, but there’s some real money involved. And what’s their PG situation?

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 5:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

QO

I don’t think that Ellis will take the QO. The risk is just too great to play the year out for a couple mil when he could probably get a deal for about $10-12 per this year. He has waited a long time to get a raise and I suspect they will work something out.

Re: W’s PG
Very thin. We are counting on Monta learning the position. We have no legitimate back-up at this point (CJ Watson). Reports have the front office shopping Al Harrington for a PG and frontcourt depth. But I think that the most likely scenario is that we pick up a vet for the minimum and scrape through a season without a true PG, hoping that Monta can pull it off in the mold of Arenas (scoring PG).

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 5:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Ellis...

I really believe that he can become a PG similar to Arenas in the nba. I am a big fan of his, plus he never jacks up bad 3’s.

So hopefully you are right and he signs and GS doesn’t match :D

FYI, thanks for coming in here and being classy in the light of possibly losing a good young talent and an amazing PG. It takes far more courage to be classy in an “enemies” forum then it does to come in blasting away at everyone. Cheers

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Jul 17, 2008 5:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks

Clipper Steve was always really classy when coming over to GSoM. I even remember a congratulatory post when we made the playoffs instead of you guys in 06-07. That sort of thing leaves an impression. You guys seem to be good people, it must be something about rooting for perennial losers that brings us closer together.

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 7:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

PG situation is significant

It seems like a strong reason why they wouldn’t match on Azu—unless I’m wrong, they should identify and spend the money on the Azu of point guards. Ellis was so good and so productive playing SG, but you would know how he fared as the primary ballhandler when Davis was out of the game.

No disrespect intended, but it’s an incredible thing to have a point guard on your team who has played as well as Davis did at GSW. ClipsNation here was ecstatic to have rickety but relatively effective Sam Cassell operative for one full season (05-06). Cassell was injured in 06-07 and 07-08 (before leaving), Livingston was hurt more than he was healthy, which left us with Knight and Dickau. Before Cassell arrived it was Brunson and injured versions of Jaric and Dooling, after one horrendous year of sullen Andre Miller. It has been a nightmare. Playing multiple games with a 3rd string PG has been routine for the Clippers in the last 5 years, interspersed with mediocre combo guards who were unable to penetrate and dish or finish, or make routine entry passes.

by citizen zhiv on Jul 17, 2008 5:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

PG

Yeah, losing BD really hurt. Ellis actually handled the ball quite a bit last year. He brought the ball up quite a bit while BD was on the floor (giving him a breather) and obviously while Baron was resting. He is not a finished product by any means and he is not in the same league as Baron as a distributer but he is an incredible scorer and was the best player on the floor for a good part of last season (Baron included).

I think that at this point it is sink or swim for Ellis. If he has to guard SG’s in this league he will never be a truly great player IMO. If he wants a shot at being an All-Star it will have to be at PG. I’m not sure how quickly he will adjust but it’s time to find out. Last year Monta showed a lot of improvement, including the ability to drive and dish to the open shooter or to Andris with a short pass in the lane. Having said that he still has a ways to go and picking up a reliable back-up would be a huge plus for this team.

"...OlympicMike is clearly the Barack Obama of GSoM"-Sleepy

by olympicmike on Jul 17, 2008 8:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

PG

If he’s that good-and there’s every reason to think that he is-than it’s probably the type of thing where you want to give him the best chance to do his thing, allow him to be who he is, let him succeed. Nelson seems to be very good at that type of thing. So it doesn’t sound like “sink or swim.”

The undersized combo guard is an interesting NBA phenomenon and question. AI is a classic example. He can play PG, but it’s not necessarily the best thing for him or his team, and he would probably be most effective if he’s playing with a good PG. Ellis may be similar. It was one of the questions in looking at Jerryd Bayless in the draft this year. Sometimes these kinds of guys are frustrating because you want them to be one thing or the other, but good coaches like Nelson who get the best out the talent on their roster seem to have a real feel for this type of thing. It will be really interesting to see what happens with Ellis without Davis, but my own sense is that it would be a mistake to try to push Ellis into the role where a big part of his function is to be the replacement for Davis. He should be Ellis. You don’t want him to be a lesser Ellis and a lesser Davis.

If it were me, especially after picking up Maggette and wanting to get Belinelli out there, I would be looking really carefully at backup PGs and trying to find one or two or three that might work. It just seems to be an advantage to have Ellis as the #1 SG on the depth chart, who is also essentially the #2 PG, but it leaves 3 PG slots and room for different shapes and sizes. Big guy, little guy, defender, penetrator, solid set-up guy—there are a lot of different varieties. We spent a ton of time looking at PGs around here in May and June, as you can imagine.

All of this, of course, is from the perspective of a Clipper fan who wants to make a convincing argument that GSW doesn’t really need Azubuike and shouldn’t ma