Clipper Grist for the Rumor Mill
by Steve Perrin on Sep 3, 2009 11:59 PM PDT
in News
34 comments
After a very quiet week in Clips Nation, two rumors involving the team began circulating this afternoon.
First up, at around 5 PM Pacific, RealGM reported that the Clippers had extended an offer sheet to point guard Carlos Arroyo, most recently of the Orlando Magic.
A source close to the situation tells RealGM's Alex Kennedy that the Los Angeles Clippers extended a contract offer to point guard Carlos Arroyo on Thursday.
Arroyo's last stint in the NBA was with the Orlando Magic. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 assists per game in 2007.
Last season, Arroyo led Maccabi Tel Aviv to an Israeli Premier League Championship and was named Finals MVP.
He would be the fourth point guard on Los Angeles' roster, which would suggest that they're no longer pursuing restricted free agent Ramon Sessions.
Notice the wording; this is not conjecture, it's not talking about intent. It says they extended an offer. A simple, declarative sentence.
Only problem is, Eric Pincus declared it to be bogus about an hour later on his Twitter feed:
I've been told by rock solid source that the Clippers did NOT make an offer to Arroyo - and aren't planning to
The minor detail that no other agency had reported this supposed contract offer was a bit of a red flag also. I'm going with Pincus on this one - no deal on Arroyo.
Which is a little too bad. I've always liked Arroyo, and he knows how to run a team. His problem, it seems to me, is that he's best when he's the indisputed leader on the floor, as he is when he's playing for Puerto Rico in International competitions. Unfortunately, in the NBA his talent level doesn't quite match his attitude. One common attribute of truly great point guards is that they can be real pricks - think John Stockton, Chris Paul. They'll do whatever it takes to win, and they'll get in their teammates' faces if something is wrong. That works great when you're John Stockton or Chris Paul - or even when you're Carlos Arroyo and your bossing Larry Ayuso around. It works less well when you're dealing with Rashard Lewis.
In that sense, it's probably best that the Clippers don't in fact seem to be making a run at Arroyo. He's not cut out to be third string, and he has worn out welcomes in a couple of NBA towns. The last thing you want when you're filling out the last few roster spots is someone causing trouble.
A few hours after the Arroyo rumor came and went, Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times put another Sessions story out there. Suddenly, there is a new suitor on the season - the Timberwolves! There's a certain logic to it - you're Herb David Kahn, you've been trying to get Ricky Rubio to come to the states, and when you find out for sure he's signing with FC Barcelona, you look up and the three point guards on your roster are Jonny Flynn, Bobby Brown and Chucky Atkins. (For one thing, don't you want at least one point guard who doesn't have a kindergartner's name? Maybe we can call him Charles Atkins and it will seem better. Can you imagine if Rubio HAD come over? Jonny, Ricky, Bobby and Chucky? Are you kidding me? When's nap time?)
But as with all things Sessions, I'll believe it when I see it. It would seem ill-advised to say the least for the Wolves to offer Sessions more than two seasons with Rubio having an affordable buyout in 2011 - do they want a free agent and two lottery picks at the same position two seasons from now? But with only $3.7M of their MLE left, that seems like a pretty puny contract - it seems like the Clippers should have already offered something in that ball park. So I'm taking this report with my usual grain of salt, the one I have around for anything related to Ramon Sessions.
Taken together, these two reports would have gone a long way to answering some lingering questions of the Clippers off-season. Will they sign Sessions? (No.) What will they do with the last roster spot? (Arroyo.) It would be a relief to feel like the roster is set. Unfortunately, those questions weren't answered after all.
UPDATE: ESPN.com is reporting that Sessions has indeed signed with the Timberwolves (hat tip to Citizen Qlippers in the FanShots), for 4/$16M. So that portion is at least settled.
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Man...
Midnight posts…. Herb Kohl and David Kahn’s love child. I woke up this morning thinking “Did I write Herb Kahn?”
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 Sep 4, 2009 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i hope bobby makes it...he's a former Titan, so I have to cheer for him
your little kids name joke cracked me up! good one!
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
by Lawler's Law on Sep 4, 2009 12:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The Arroyo rumor was reported by Alex Kennedy.
He’s a 17 year old who somehow gets his tripe posted on the RealGM wiretap, which itself should always be taken with a grain of salt.
Stuck in limbo.
by PaperClip on Sep 4, 2009 2:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
There's no bio on RealGM for Alex Kennedy...
None that I could find… but judging by his twitter photo, he could be seventeen or twelve.
This additional bit of genius-ness from young Master Kennedy: “The Memphis Grizzlies have offered point guard Mike Taylor a contract following his workout with the team on Thursday, sources tell RealGM’s Alex Kennedy. Memphis also worked out Juan Dixon, Jason Hart, and Bo McCaleb. They planned to bring in Brevin Knight, Luther Head, and Tyronn Lue for workouts before extending the offer to Taylor.”
Well, which is it, did they make him an offer or not?
Alex Kennedy’s “sources” are who? An older student he overheard in the middle school caf? This is annoying junk not worth Clipsnation’s time.
by swamigusto on Sep 4, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's possible, swami
Re-written — “Before extending an offer to Taylor, they had planned …”
Not to say the kid’s right or wrong, just that there isn’t necessarily a contradiction.
by pipedreams on Sep 4, 2009 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, I see that now, my mistake...
But the whole thing stinks. RealGM is junk… worse, Hoopsworld picked up both stories and sourced Kennedy as though he was a reputable reporter. It makes bloggers look bad.
by swamigusto on Sep 4, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Nik Caner-Medley?
He proved he should get a chance to roll with the team at trying camp…..if we have the sport avaliable.
by dulciusEXasperis on Sep 4, 2009 7:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Minnesota sign and trade for sessions?
Hoopsworld is saying that Minny is amenable to offering around 3-4 million to sessions and may start talking sign & trade with the bucks. Great, more “serious” sing & trade talks.
by MTM22 on Sep 4, 2009 7:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sessions signed with Minnesota
4 years 16 million
by sqrebck on Sep 4, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good for him.
Going to be interesting in Minny in 2011 when Sessions, Flynn and Rubio all want to start.
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 Sep 4, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope so
I don’t want to hear about Sessions for sometime.
by Qlippers on Sep 4, 2009 10:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
ditto
"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.
by cliptakular on Sep 4, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
wait me have three pgs already?
who are they? maybe someone could edumicate me?
i only see two true pgs on the roster (bd and seabast).
if someone could splain to me who the other pg is, i can stop hoping the clips will sign will conroy.
free me!
No gang...... Independent....
by Clipochistic on Sep 4, 2009 10:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yup, Collins
As of now, Collins would be third on the depth chart at the point guard. EJ would be fourth.
MDsr has ALWAYS carried three true PGs, and the team’s injury issues the last few seasons would have reinforced that tendency. On the other hand, if you’re third PG is going to be someone on the order of Brevin Knight or Jason Hart, then I don’t think it makes sense. If two guys really do get hurt and you need an emergency PG, then you can sign someone from the D-League. Sign Kyle McAlarney. But using up a roster spot on an insurance policy you never really want to use doesn’t make much sense to me.
If they could find a decent combo guard for that roster spot, someone who could provide depth at the one and the two, fine. But I don’t see any of those guys out there.
Ray Felton anyone?
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 Sep 4, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i have a hard time accepting mardy as the pg archetype
cant see him guarding other true pgs for any long stretch of time (imagine mardy trying to stop marbury). i suppose that given gordon’s smallerishness, they could switch it out as far as matchups.
given baron’s last year, i would hope for some continuity at that 3rd pg position, a combo guard who can guard the 1 well. let’s build a frankenplayer!
i personally would feel better having 3 ‘true’ pgs on the roster.
but i get paid to write code, so it’s a typical appeal to authority argument, haha.
No gang...... Independent....
by Clipochistic on Sep 4, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i aint no scientist
i have nothing against mardy, he is uber versatile, no doubt there is a place on the team for him, no doubt he is a hole filler.
but, i would take arroyo or brevin knight (or will conroy, hehe) over mardy running the show. plus it gives you an extra dimension on d. in that a guy like arroyo can play really physical, while telfair can play really quick. plus the added advantage of there being a little competition in camp for the backup pg minutes. and there is that insurance policy we WILL use for at least ten games (BD) this season.
do you think felton is gettable for the clips? think he wants to play 20 minutes a night?
No gang...... Independent....
by Clipochistic on Sep 4, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mardy Collins Fan Club Signups
The fact that MDSr knows that Collins can play PG presents an opportunity for The Stubborn One to change things up a little bit. We’ll see if it happens. The arrival of RButler takes away some of MC’s wing defender responsibilities and potential minutes, so the flexibility exists for MC to slide over to the 3rd PG slot. I agree with SP that minutes for MC means that BD and Bass are both down, the Clips have problems, and it’s D-League shopping time. Nothing wrong with midseason shopping in the D-League. You don’t want to have to do it, but it’s certainly a viable strategy.
And by the way, what happend to EGordon playing PG in summer league? Not one minute, unless I’m mistaken. A lot of posting up and going to the basket, doing his Maggette efficiency imitation, but no PG minutes. I gotta say, now with the Rubio/Sessions shuffle, it seems kind of lame—let’s see EGordon play some PG! Of course, if the Clips had signed Sessions, there wouldn’t have been much use for it. But now it seems like an important potential strategy, even if it’s very limited backup minutes. It would be nice to see it in preseason.
Although the Mardy Collins Fan Club is getting psyched up rignt now for his preseason PG minutes, expecting some dominant play and big things, and we don’t want any of those precious moments taken away.
by citizen zhiv on Sep 5, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Finally the Sessions madness is over
After reading about Ramon Sessions for months on end, I’m glad everything is said and none. Now, we can move on to more exciting subjects….like Steve Novak and Brent Barry.
This is going to be my team, and we're going to rise together.
-Clipper Darrell
by oasisman on Sep 4, 2009 10:57 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
The only way Arroyo would make sense with the Clippers is as the clear-cut number 2 PG
And even in Orlando, in his most recent NBA season, he wasn’t happy being no. 2 behind Jameer Nelson. When Stan Van Gundy demoted him in favor of Keyon Dooling, it got worse. I could see Arroyo being a good fit with L.A. if it didn’t already trade for a no. 2 (Bassy Telfair) earlier this summer. But since that happened, it’s not a good fit for either party. Other teams need a backup PG more than the Clippers do.
Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Brandon Bass: "I just play hard."
by Ben Q Rock on Sep 4, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Clippers will rue not signing Ramon Sessions
He is a steal at $4 million/year and he makes less than Madsen and Ricky Davis combined. I’m sure MDSR could’ve worked out a sign and trade for Sessions i.e.(Telfair and Madsen for Sessions).
Bad decision to not move MDSR
by Eric P on Sep 5, 2009 11:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
IDK about Sessions
I don’t think we will be okay with Bassy as a backup PG, unless we are totally giving up on Baron he wouldn’t be getting much minutes any ways. Also we can use that money in season if a need makes itself apparent. I think we are better off looking for more of a SG to backup EJ. Also since we didn’t sign Sessions to a big contract we will have more cap space to try and sign someone next off season when hopefully the FA market will be better.
In Gordon we trust
by bestclipfan on Sep 5, 2009 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Doubtful he would have signed
Sessions made a nice deal. It’s a much better situation for him than being on the Clippers. It turns out that the other shoe dropping was Rubio’s deal in Europe—that’s what everybody was waiting for. Minnesota must have told Sessions, perhaps early on, that if they couldn’t get Rubio to come over, they would make him an offer. How come none of us figured that out?
At any rate, now Sessions has the starting job that he wants, and Jonny Flynn is a talented backup/promising rookie. Minnesota will be in much better shape for the next two years while Rubio plays in Europe. They still won’t be good or especially competitive, but now at least they have players and a strategy.
New York didn’t want to give Sessions a longterm deal, and on the Clips he would be backing up Baron Davis, and perhaps even halfway hoping that BD is in decline, maybe a steep one—that would have been the best case scenario, right? For Sessions at least, but not for the Clips.
And the Clips didn’t want to overpay for Sessions. They might have offered him the same deal as the Wolves. Who knows? But if you’re Sessions, you sign with Minny and start, unless the Clips make an offer that’s significantly better, at least a couple of million more dollars. And then, it would seem, the Clips would be overpaying.
Good that the Clips have Telfair on the roster now, after not getting Sessions. Still solid enough.
by citizen zhiv on Sep 5, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still don't understand David Kahn's actions...
The TWolves have so much time to develop into a contender that they pick two point guards in the top ten, even when they know Rubio doesn’t want to play in Minny? Sure, sure… he’s a valuable piece in a trade, but what are you going to get for him… a top five pick? From who?
Clips are still in the race for Rubio with that Minny number one in 2012… especially if Jonny Flynn or Ramon Sessions look like the real thing.
by swamigusto on Sep 5, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clips Don't Need Either
Sebastian will finally realize his true potential
by sir on Sep 5, 2009 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of becoming a competent backup, if anything
Someone who had only one season with a FG% above .400 in five NBA seasons and posted consecutive seasons with a PER of about 11 isn’t going anywhere fast. The only saving grace for Telfair is that he looks increasingly comfortable running an offense; considering he can’t shoot, score, defend, or rebound though, he has a long way to go.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.
by Ben R on Sep 6, 2009 1:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm wondering something
the way Baron plays is clearly opposite of Dunleavy’s Iso’s offense. From what I hear, Telfair is at his best in the open court when he can run freely and is not limited to ISO half courts.
Could there possibly be a request for a new coach since both our pg’s biggest strengths is clearly not the style (or even remotely close) to fully utilize our pg’s needs?
Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!
by JackduhSun on Sep 6, 2009 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is just for you jax, given our previous argument
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=nba&pollId=77230 not beating a dead horse & half for humor’s sake – i already debated iverson and i’m done, but i thought this was worth posting somewhere….
by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Sep 6, 2009 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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