Alonzo Mourning??

by Spontane on Jul 28, 2008 10:36 PM PDT Comment 12 comments

After the RD signing I believe we still need a C. Josh Powel is a good 3rd string pf. I think Josh is a good player but undersized to play the C position. That most likely would be our guy coming off the bench for Kaman. Jordon has a lot of potential but he is 19 and really raw. I just don't feel comfortable about our bigs experience. We have jp/dj signed don't think fazekas has excepted our offer so really that is all we have and TT. TT is good but not a center and he is already playing the back up PF min. I have always like Alonzo's game. Yes, he is old but we would only need about 12-15 min. a game from him(probably not even that much). There isn't much talent out there for the C position left. I think we should offer him the league min and see if he excepts. Depth would look like:

Davis/Hart
Mobley/Gordon
Thornton/Davis
Camby/Thomas
Kaman/Mourning

I would feel much better about our over all team with another veteran big. He is probably not the only option I heard we were talking to ellis(don't know his game but doesn't look so special). What do you guys think or who else is an option? Do we need another big?

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Good idea

I’ve always like Zo. He would be a nice addition. Who else could we get for cheap?

by POZUNO on Jul 28, 2008 10:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see it

I would expect that there are only a few options for Zo. He could retire, he could play with Miami where he’s had his best seasons, or he could sign with a major contender and try to get another ring. No way he plays for the Clippers (behind Kaman and Camby no less) for the min. Sorry.

Theo Ratliff?

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

by Steve Perrin on Jul 28, 2008 11:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Didn't Theo

have 9 blocks in a game against the Clippers while still in Portland? With Kaman, Camby, Ratliff and Jordan, points in the paint would not come easy.

by oneight on Jul 29, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If not Ratliff

how about Francisco Elson, Dwayne Jones, or Andre Brown?

by POZUNO on Jul 28, 2008 11:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry...

I meant elson…not ellis…

by Spontane on Jul 29, 2008 12:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

clippersteve...

After this seasons roller coaster of signings, non-signinga, overpaid, overseas, etc. I wouldn’t put the alonzo signing completely out, honestly you never know. Theo Ratliff doesn’t sound to great, I would probably stay with powel/fazekas/jordan. I was looking at our roster after the post and if we signed another big we would probably not have room for a lot of players on this team(ross,livi,williams, smush(j/k)).

by Spontane on Jul 29, 2008 12:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LA Times article...

mentions the possibility of the Clippers signing Elson, going as far as saying the Clippers have even had talks with him.
Link
I think Zo is out of the question though. No way he wants to come out to LA in the twilight of his career.
As far as filling out the roster…looks like it is going to come down to about 3 remaining spots for the following guys: Shaun L., Paul Davis, Josh Powell, Fazekas, Marcus Williams. Just looking at that list, I would have to say the Clips would most likely try and sign SL first, then maybe Josh Powell, Paul Davis then Fazekas, in that order. I think Marcus William’s time on the Clipper ship is over…a lot depends on whether SL wants to come back though.

by Clip Show on Jul 29, 2008 9:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Livingston

Livingston is on the team if he wants to be. The Clippers are in the position of being unable to negotiate on anything other than years, so he they can offer him the minimum and however many years he wants (most advantageous to him is probably 1 year with a player option for the second, like Ricky Davis got.) It’s up to him to decide if he’s got a better offer somewhere, or if he wants to continue to be a part of the Clippers. But they’ll keep him for the minimum, I feel certain of that.

But you’re right, basically every player they sign now means someone else whose currently on the fringes of the roster is gone. Don’t forget about Harris and Jordan in the list above. Most second round picks only get contract offers that are contingent on making the team – so there’s nothing guaranteed for them. And then there’s the question of carrying 14 or 15 contracts. MDsr has always started the season with 14 in the past. But with Livingston of limited use in the early part of the season, maybe he’ll start with 15 this year.

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

by Steve Perrin on Jul 29, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had assumed...

Jordan and Taylor (thats who you meant by Harris, right?) were making the team. If one of them doesn’t end up making the cut, then I suppose the decision making process gets a little easier. Of the 2 rookies, I assume Jordan is on the team just based on the Clips need for size/length and because he is so young. Taylor has a legit shot as well.
It will be interesting to see what SL ends up doing. If he can’t even play 5 on 5 at this point, then would any team out there, aside from the Clips, want to take a chance on him for more than the minimum? I would venture to say no right now. Like you say, SL is on the Clips if he wants to be here…and at this point I don’t see any other teams lining up to offer him MORE than a min. contract.
Depending on the SL situation, I think this might be the year that MDsr carries the full 15 too. It sounds like it will be very competitive in training camp this year, with possibly 5 or 6 guys vying for 3 spots (maybe 4).

by Clip Show on Jul 29, 2008 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Taylor, not Harris

You’re right… my bad.

For Jordan and Taylor (and Williams and Powell and Fazekas for that matter) it just becomes a numbers game. Taylor is clearly vulnerable – if a veteran point guard gets waived in October and Dunleavy likes him better, it’s bye-bye Taylor. Think Dan Dickau, Jared Jordan. DeAndre is probably safe – he was drafted for his potential, and you don’t give up on that much upside easily.

As for Shaun, I’ve been meaning to do a post on the subject when everything else settles down, but I agree that no one’s going to offer more than the min. Oh, maybe a couple dollars more if they have it, but nothing significant. So his decision is going to come down to other factors. The Clippers have the loyalty factor. But I can also see reasons he might not want to be here. After all, the Clippers just paid $65M for a point guard for the next 5 seasons, and they have two recent lottery picks playing the 2 and the 3. In other words, let’s assume he comes back and is fully healthy in 09-10 – he’s still likely to be coming of the bench in LA.

He’s a great fit for teams with short two guards. Think Golden State, where Ellis should be playing the two, but they’re going to force him to play the one. Next to Iverson would be great also, but it makes no sense for Denver to sign him since he likely won’t be able to help this season, and there’s no reason to expect that Iverson will be there next season. The Wizards – next to Arenas? Livingston and Eric Gordon could be a great combo in 4 or 5 years, but the Clippers have this Baron Davis kid who might be expecting to get some minutes.

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

by Steve Perrin on Jul 29, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs