Do Nothing: The Abbreviated Version
by citizen zhiv on May 20, 2009 4:18 PM PDT
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PrintThis is the short version, as the complete zhiv/text got lost in the tubes while I was browsing photos. Hard to accept as I was trying to make a comeback, but perhaps it's appropriate to the topic: what was I really trying to do, anyway, by writing a couple of thousand words on how the Clips should do nothing? So here are the basic beats, as I can best reconstruct them.
Do Nothing is the Core Philosophy of zhiving and Club Optimism.
10 points:
1. Injuries happen. Has there ever been a real logjam, too many available big men? Just the opposite. So having a surplus is one way to address a chronic problem. Even if the problem is me having to get excited about guys like Davis3 and Fazekas.
2. DeAndre Jordan isn't ready. DJordan was forgotten by the media--he's why they didn't need Thabeet. Important piece who will complement Griffin, but very young and still raw. After Camby deal expires, then Randolph deal, then Kaman deal, it would be nice if DJordan is a monster by then. Did I mention that I'm excited by DJordan?
3. Kaman. Kaman became Kaman 2.0 after FElton work ethic and MVP-quality season--perhaps injury woes and arrival of Griffin will provide similar motivation. Best pure center, offense/defense. Also complementary, salary is good--as long as it's Kaman 2.0. Do Nothing: Kaman gets another chance.
4. Camby. Expiring deal. Can be traded up until deadline if things get funky. Veteran leadership and effort, good to have with young guys like Gordon, Griffin, and DJordan around. Would be nice to have him healthy in training camp, working with BDavis and others (instead of hurt, with BDavis hanging out with Davis2 and Tim Thomas.) Good player, nice piece: do nothing.
5. Clips did a lot last year. It didn't work. So this year: Do Nothing. Clips signed BD, got Camby, but put those aside for the moment. Big move was shipping out Thomas and Mobley, which put EGordon in the starting lineup. Also moved up Steve Novak, who eventually started playing. Collins came in, became an upgrade on QRoss, able to handle the ball and play 3rd string PG. Worth it just for victory over Celtics and battle with Paul Pierce.
6. Zbo. Think of him as the new Tim Thomas. Quality starter if Griffin needs an adjustment period. His very poor defense is no longer problematic because the Clips have the ability to be a strong defensive team now. But his scoring is valuable, and remember, guys get hurt. Poor behavior not a problem because he is less important to team fortunes, and team has acquired a hard working, high energy Big Dog. Zbo just part of the pack. Don't think that I wasn't up at 4am working the Trade Machine, but how about this: Do Nothing.
7. Baron Davis is an elite point guard. Now he has a reason to start playing like one. He doesn't have to carry the team, which he has shown he can't do. But drafting off of Griffin, Gordon, and others, he can bring poise under pressure and give the Clippers some swagger. Plays better with the wind in his sails, has been saying the 2nd year will be different, got lucky and has a second chance to prove his worth. Do nothing. That includes not eating doughnuts.
8. Al Thornton. Athleticism of Griffin will complement AT's. Team can play better defense, which will help AT's shortcomings. Might play better on a better team, make better decisions in 3rd year and have less responsibility to be leading scorer with emergence of EGordon, no time or bad shots from Davis2, better shot selection and overall play from BDavis, energy and play of Griffin, healthy front line. Not the ideal longterm SF, but a talented, quality placeholder. Do Nothing.
9. A strong bench. You know the names: MTaylor, DJordan, Collins, possibly Novak, possibly FJones. I even like Skinner as practice and disaster fodder. Perhaps Griffin starts out coming off the bench, but we'll see. With Do Nothing you have at least two starter-level bench players out of Griffin-Kaman-Camby-Zbo coming off the bench, guys with different skills.
10. MDSr. and Bill Simmons mojo. Simmons reversals of fortune can be significant. Vilified Doc Rivers as Celtics dropped to worst-record territory while he dreamed of KDurant in Celtic uniform. Rivers now valued coach of championship team, wasn't his fault Kevin Garnett got hurt. Simmons wrote book about how Red Sox World Series win made his life meaningful, made him whole, and now knows that they cheated and Manny Ramirez is just as dirty as McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds, so maybe Simmons is a little less whole. Has been merciless in criticism of MDSr, blaming him for all Clip ills, saying that 100% of fan base wants him fired. Not wrong about this, wasn't alone, but now Simmons will be renewing his season tickets, and the Clips have had the same attitude towards MDSr from the beginning, one that hasn't changed: Do Nothing.
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The only question is left is who has farther to fall?
Blake Griffin or Barak Obama?
"So what are the odds that the Clippers can compete next season given their limited flexibility? Slim and none."
Wow!
Good to have skeptics around. C’mon, John R, let’s hear the Club Realism viewpoint in full. How is this going to go wrong?
by citizen zhiv on May 20, 2009 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions
How?
haha hasn’t being a Clips fan taught you that it could go wrong in ANY NUMBER of ways?
Good post though.
Oh, we know
We know that it could go wrong in infinite ways. The scary part, however, is how it goes wrong in ways that are hard to predict. You never know just how the wheel is going to come off, and then as soon as you process the first one, the next one goes. And it goes on from there.
But those days are behind us, right?
by citizen zhiv on May 20, 2009 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Problem 1
Blake’s knees. They worry me. Athleticism goes away once the knees are shot, can his hold up? He’s had knee issues before.
thats the thing
bhe can be a dwight howard karl malone guy or he can become kenyon martin which isnt bad but its not worth the 1st pick over rubio
What are the issues with his knee's and how often has it been a problem?
by dulciusEXasperis on May 20, 2009 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions
He's had issues with his knees for awhile
Missing a good amount of playing time in Jan and he underwent surgery in March 08. He’s actually come back stronger since then and has improved his numbers, but he underwent special training during the break to keep his knees in shape.
If he’s already having concerns in NCAA imagine what the NBA schedule will do to those knees (along with our magnificent trainers).
I think he won’t have any immediate concerns, but in the long run I can see those knees breaking down and he will lose a lot of that athleticism he’s highly regarded for within the next 5 years.
Small window
but it should be fun until then. He is explosive.
F-Elton!
A very small window...
But how do you know this? Have you seen the images and x-rays? Are you an orthopedist? Or is it guesswork?
The guy is 20. You think his knees will break down at 25?
I have no idea
Didn’t even know he had knee problems. Clips should still draft him.
F-Elton!
No I'm not an orthopedist
I’m just pointing out that there’s some potential issues out there. Not all is gravy and knowing the Clipper history, let’s not get too excited.
That was less an observation on Mr. Griffin as it was on my own fears
If he isn’t everything he might be, where does that leave us?
You know me and rookies…
"So what are the odds that the Clippers can compete next season given their limited flexibility? Slim and none."
Totally valid
but, this is also an opportunity to make a trade that improves the team a lot. One move could go a long way.
Can next season just start already?
I’m a glutton for punishment.
Who wrote this?
I’m pretty sure this is the outline Zhiv writes before he writes the real stuff. So where is the real Citizen Zhiv?
The content, of course, is spot on, Zhivian quality, no doubt. But the prose is just… well it isn’t there is it? This guy has the beloved optimist locked in a basement somewhere, scribbling down those valuable Zhivian nuggets. So, when you’re out walking the dog later tonight, stop and listen carefully. Beyond the silence, do you hear the sounds of a grown man weeping, wretched, and in chains?
I'm down
You need stars to win. Next years Clippers won’t be a contender unless one or a combination of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, healthy Kevin Garnett, Brandon Roy, Yao Ming, or Derrick Rose are added to the roster. Unlikely.
But, if Baron Davis becomes a star again, and Eric Gordon emerges as one (he is on the trajectory) and Griffin lives up to the hype (and Kaman is 2.0, and Al Thronton attacks the rim, and Camby patrols the paint and Randolph works down low and Novak spreads the floor), the team may have something.
2009/2010 should not be the goal with this team. The Gordon/Griffin nucleus, with hope for Taylor and Jordan, is where our attention should be. Next years roster is fine for getting us to the future.
Basically, Zhiv, I agree wholeheartedly with your 10 point plan.
F-Elton!
OI know this sounds crazy but who knows...
Griffin=Tim Duncan in a way he changes this franchise. Crossing my fingers :)
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
Zbo trades
Now that I put up the Do Nothing post, I can mention possible trade ideas for one thing that I could easily be talked into doing: getting Zbo as far away from the Clippers and Griffin and Gordon as possible.
Easier said than done. And one reason to do it is because everybody says it’s impossible. And they say that with edge, with the idea that only the Clippers were stupid enough to trade for Zbo, although it did put Eric Gordon in the starting lineup (of course that could have happened anyway).
So the starting point is that none of these ideas makes sense. And you’re doing everything possible to get a sucker to take Zbo off your hands. You expect nothing back. Maybe it’s okay to get away from doing nothing in this case, because your expectation is to get nothing. That works.
Next step is the lousy teams that badly wanted Blake Griffin. Ha ha—guess you didn’t get him! What now, Grizzlies? Wizards? OKC? Anybody looking for a 20-10 guy?
My Grizzlies trade would be for Darko and our old pal Mr. Lima. Darko is big man fodder. I used to be excited about Marko Jaric at one time, and Minnesota was excited enough about him to give him a bunch of money and the Clips Sam Cassell. Maybe I could excited about Marko again. You never know. He plays defense and handles the ball. He can back up three positions, much like Mardy Collins. Not a bad player to have on the bench.
Pacers? How about Jamal Tinsley and Mike Dunleavy Jr? That could be interesting.
Minnesota doesn’t need Randolph at all, since they have 2 good PFs. The Wizards might want him, but they have Jamison and their money is tied up in Arenas and Butler and Jamison, and they don’t have the obvious bad contracts to shed for Zbo.
New Jersey needs a PF, and Bobby Simmons might be a good swap, but Simmons deal is expiring and the Nets want to have money for FAs next year.
And it only gets tougher from there.
All make sense
I like Charlotte. Could yield Wallace, DIaw or Vlad. They are log jammed at the 3.
I like Zach, Camby and AT for Deng, Miller and, gulp, Tim Thomas Still a logjam.
Lots of ideas, but in reality, I don’t think anyone wants Zach, at least right now.
F-Elton!
Don't think so
I looked at Charlotte. I don’t think any Zbo trade makes sense for them. They love Wallace, Diaw is a really good and versatile Larry Brown player, and Vlad might make sense, but he doesn’t get you very far on his own. Zbo is better suited to join a team that is horrible and missing a major piece, especially scoring on the block, just to reach respectability, with the idea that his monster salary will go away in two years. The more you look at the way that Zbo would fit into other teams, the better Do Nothing seems. He doesn’t really fit on a rising team. Charlotte almost made the playoffs, and losing Jason Richardson and Adam Morrison cleaned them up a little.
Chicago played the depleted Celtics very tough. They could use Randolph, but it would be a tricky fit. The stock on Noah and Ty Thomas went up, but they really missed having a post scorer.
Kaman is a completely different story. He fits in Charlotte, he fits in Chicago. The questions involve the Clippers attitude towards him, and how they feel about what happened with him last season, going to Germany, how he played when he came back. There was talk that he was definitely gone. It might be true, and it wouldn’t be nearly as difficult to move him as to move Randolph, and you might get a helpful piece back.
by citizen zhiv on May 20, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah
I’m not necessarily one that thinks Zach needs to go no matter what. He did help win some games.
But getting another solid 3 would be great, and the Clips have the bigs to do it. I mention Vlad because he played well under MDSr. He is long and can shoot. Deng would be ideal. Chicago played pretty well without him, and you’re right, they did suffer from a lack of low post scoring.
I don’t think they would take ZBo + Camby, but I do think they may look at Kaman. I would move Kaman and Thornton for Deng.
F-Elton!
I keep thinking...
…that the Knicks took so little for ZBo, there really ISN’T anyone out there looking for him. I can’t believe your seriously talking about Vlad (maybe you’re not), which adds up to a straight dump. Clips need a willing defender on the wing. I’d rather keep Randolph.
But can the Clips really afford to trade Kaman? Camby seriously wore down last year and didn’t really play much interior defense anyway. DJordan’s a thousand miles away from anything. Maybe Thornton and Camby for Deng? You could add a pick but Chicago wants to win now.
If I'm Chicago
Camby is somewhat redundant with Noah and doesn’t solve my scoring problem. When the Bulls need a bucket down the stretch, they have nobody to dump it inside to. Randolph, despite his inadequacies, is such a guy. Not sure if the Bulls regard Kaman the same way.
I wouldn’t be excited about Vlad, but he did fit in well here and showed on the s/r defensively. He was on the court for most of the Clippers record breaking second half against the Hornets a few years back, when they held NOK to 16 points.
But that was a contract year for him, so maybe he was overachieving. I’m cool with keeping Zach and “doing nothing”.
F-Elton!
Zbo for RJ
Now that I have a better idea of what’s going on in Milwaukee—although I need to do more study—my favorite trade idea is Zbo for Richard Jefferson. Zbo fills an acute Milwaukee need, and he would be a good fit there. Jefferson presents a compelling alternative to Thornton, and it could be amazing to have them both on the roster.
Good straight up deal for both teams.
But maybe the Clips should keep Zbo. Do nothing.
I’m not sure, but that’s the best deal that I’ve seen so far.
Next step is to consider Kaman deals.
by citizen zhiv on May 21, 2009 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
You forgot about Ricky Davis
I am not ready to write the guy off yet. He had a bad season, his worst ever, but maybe he can come back with a vengeance and surprise everyone.
BD/MT/Collins
EJ/Collins/RD
AT/Collins/RD
ZBo/Griffin
Kaman/Camby/DJ
If Ricky Davis steps up this season, we will not have a lack of depth.
No Davis2.
Didn’t forget him. Would love to forget him. SP has reminded us that he has value for making trades work, so that he shouldn’t be waived.
His season last year was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. There’s no coming back from that. He’s done. And I believe he was a bad influence on Baron Davis also—there were lots of reports about how Davis2 was a solid, experienced vet, good for the squad, and all that it resulted in was minutes when Eric Gordon and Steve Novak were buried on the bench. Baron Davis was horrible, and he was worse when he and Davis2 were playing together. Davis2 had better be done as a Clipper.
Bill Simmons chat
Bill Simmons did a chat today where he entertained a lot of Clipper jokes, talked about how depressed Blake Griffin must be, and got off all of the expected shots at Mike Dunleavy.
There was nothing at all helpful in it, no sense that the Clippers have some very good players, no breakdown of the reality and complexity of their situation. Mike Dunleavy isn’t going to be fired, but Simmons insists that’s the only thing about the franchise that every single fan cares about. His default position is about how horrible the Zach Randolph trade was. But these things are what they are. He won’t accept that. It’s trite and boring after awhile.
He makes some points on trade scenarios for Kaman, but they’re not especially helpful and he doesn’t come up with any larger approach on how to make the Clippers competitive now that they have Blake Griffin. He only thinks in terms of how two years from now the Clippers will have Griffin and Gordon and Dunleavy will be gone. That’s as far as he gets.
I thought his Griffin + next year's #1 for Durant idea was interesting
Griffin is the hometown boy, and Durant may not stay once his contract is up anyway.
F-Elton!
I'd do Griffin and Thornton for Durant
KD is lights out. He and Gordon on the wings would be just deadly.
F-Elton!
Griffin plus next years 1 for Durant?
I would do that trade before the ink dried
by Michael White on May 21, 2009 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Hypothetically....
how much do we like griffin?
say the hornets offered CP3 for griffin and baron,, would you do it?
or deron williams
yes
a PG is more imporant in todays game.
not to mention CP3 is gonna be an MVP one day
cp3 is not going to be an mvp
wrong era lebron,wade,durant
I bet he gets one
Realistically, he could win it every year. Hornets are bottom dwellers without him.
F-Elton!
what is cleveland without lebron
and even more what are the fakers without kobe.?? lottery teams for sure.
I think Durant has unlimited potential
He isn’t the athlete that LeBron is (no one is), but he can flat out put the ball in the hole. He will lead the NBA in scoring for many years, and once he fills out, be a very good rebounder/defender.
F-Elton!
Baron is an elite PG, and he can carry a team,he just needs one or 2 legit scoreres (zbo eric thorton)
and he needs the style his way, i think a great player kind of puts his label on his team and the coach shoud do that, cause trust me a happy BD with a BD oriented system will get you to the playoffs, and expecially with gordon thorton camby griffin
those are all players who will thrive in a loose fast tempo game
I've been pretty down on Baron. I don't know how many games your able to catch up north,
but he flat out suc*ed this past year. I’m not sure if he even has the will to play anymore. I’d keep Griffen and we’d be fine without BD.
I just tried to congratulate the Magic on their win tonight (on their blog), but it's
just going nuts. I can’t even post. Too much traffic.
as it should be lol
huge win for them.
by dulciusEXasperis on May 20, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Incredible game if you watched it. Howard got called for a few phantom fouls (including his 6th).
James carried his team. The guys a monster. But the Magic still managed to pull it out – no way the Celtics do that.
i wonder if camby is willing to give up his #23 though I doubt he will. (not that he wouldnt but im guessing blake wont bother). whats with the obsession with #23 ? at least Eric Gordon is a guard, blake and camby, you guys cant be jordan
swim
i like this zhiv summary type post…I think reading some of his War&Peace posts contribute to my rapid need for new eyeglasses prescriptions! doing nothing sounds good, except for doing something about Novak and releasing D2 and snatching up Ariza for the MLE.
Roger Sterling: I bet there were people in the Bible walking around, complaining about "kids today."
Don Draper: Kids today, they have no one to look up to. Cuz they're looking up to us.
Enough of the Ariza talk
Ariza has been so valuable for the Lakers the past 1+ seasons (I think him being injured in the Finals, not Bynum, is what really hurt them) that he is going to command a lot more than the MLE and thinking he will sign for that is a pretty big pipe dream. He is one of the few guys in the league that actually insists on playing defense and putting the team first. I could see the Lakers bringing him back but not Odom.
Wow...
MLE for Ariza? More than the MLE? For a defender? Nah. But I think you’re right, if it’s between one or the other, Odom’s gone.
I love Ariza, but...
Greater than the MLE? I don’t see it. Especially in this economy. You have to remember, going above the MLE severely limits the market. Detroit, Memphis, a few others – there aren’t many teams who can even offer more than the MLE. And they will likely be making plays for Carlos Boozer or someone else high profile.
I think Ariza is going to need a bidding war just to get to the MLE – but we’ll see. He’s been great, but he’s still 24 minutes, 9 points per game.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on May 21, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Ariza may not even get the MLE
Posey struggled for $$ after a brilliant NBA Finals.
I think the Lakers would rather keep Odom, who may take a reasonable salary to stay.
F-Elton!
James Posey
is actually a really good comparison wrt $ and the type of players they are/what they bring to a team. I didn’t realize that the MLE was so high this season (around $5.6 mil) and I might have been confusing that with the Veteran’s Minimum. Either way Ariza is making around $3.1 mil this season and if I were him I would expect that to about double. But I would also expect the MLE to decrease because of the way a lot of teams will be shedding payroll and thus reducing the overall salary/player.
You make a good point
about the economy. That is really the only thing that I could see that could limit his payday. It will be really interesting to see what happens with NBA salaries if the economy does not turn around soon. If you are a baseball fan you saw how that crippled the free agent market and something similar could happen in the NBA as most teams are looking to shed payroll. If that is going to be the case then someone like Boozer would be smart not to even opt out.
Haha, your ideas are just the complete oppisite of Nike's slogan
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
I appreciate the optimism, Zhiv, but...
The Clippers have to do something. I think that its great that we got the first pick, but things aren’t going to turn around because the Clippers get a top notch rookie. Baron isn’t going to magically get thinner and start playing well again and Zach isn’t going to stop getting into trouble any time soon. This team still needs to make some changes.
This is the one negative part of the team winning the lottery. It really serves as a stopgap measure for the team. Spirits are high, so people might start buying tickets rather than jumping ship. That works as an excuse for Sterling to keep MDsr around and we’re no longer angry. This is no time to be content. We need more.
"If a Clippers fan is reading a newspaper in his living room and the ceiling falls on him, he'll just shrug and move to another room." -Bill Simmons
by WestsideBrandon on May 21, 2009 9:43 PM PDT reply actions
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