Clips, Holy Smokes What Are You Doing??

[MylesKnight]

Maybe the other L.A. Team actually doesn't have a NBDL Payroll.. (http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0720/1583168.html)

[Chief Rum]

Man, as a Clippers fan, I don't know what to say. I mean, I am forced to participate in NBA discussions on this board as a casual Lakers fan, rather than as the true Clips fan that I am. So it's nice to have something to talk about.

I wasn't surprised about the decision on Brand. IMO, that was a no-brainer. Why encourage further bad blood by negotiating a contract when you can let some other team do it for you, and then match it? The Clips are doing both with Magette and Brand (according to that report, they will also bring back Magette at Utah's price).

I actually really like what they have done so far. The only things I don't like is the hiring of Mike Dunleavy (sorry, but I have been convinced of his pedestrian coaching skills since he was a rookie coach with the Lakers--why not Carlisle?), and the fact that wehave let so much go without getting anything for it.

But we're allowing Miller to leave, who by local accounts was entirely too concerned with his stats this season; Odom, who I don't have to tell anyone here has been a headache the whole time, between drug suspensions and injuries and not improving on his rookie year; and Olowakandi, a #1 overall pick who never even approached his potential in five seasons and whom we already have a replacement for (6th overall pick Chris Kaman, who does, unfortunately, invoke too many images of Bryant Reeves).

But if they follow through on this (and Arenas accepts_, their lineup would be:

Arenas
Richardson
Magette
Brand
Kaman

IMO, if Kaman even begins to approach using his immense size with any skills, that's a pretty good starting five. Certainly enough to at least contend for a playoff spot (although obviously far behind the big four in the West). I am concerned about depth, of course. We'll have the two power forwards we picked last year in the lottery and Wang Zhiy-Zhiy for frontcourt depth, but is it quality? We don't know yet? And where is our depth along the wing? I have a lot of questions still, but I would at least give the Clips a B-range grade for pulling out of a bad situation pretty well (but an F for how they got themselves in the situation in the first place, thank you, Donald Frickin' Sterling).

Chief Rum

[TroyF]

But we're allowing Miller to leave, who by local accounts was entirely too concerned with his stats this season

I'm with you on everything you said outside of this. I just do not see any evidence to show this. The last three years, Miller's shot attempts look like this: 999, 1045, 928. His free throw attempts: 450, 447, 391. His rebounding totals: 360, 379, 316. Steals: 119, 126, 99. Turnovers: 265, 245, 206. Blocks 28, 34, 11.

If he was being selfish and caring about his stats more than anything else, he did a pitiful job of it. What I see is a guy who never really fit into the scheme and had some injuries to boot. Every number was down significantly. He didn't approach anything near his previous two years in Cleveland.

If he was selfish and only caring about his stats, I'd expect to see more shots, more turnovers, more steals (getting out of position on defense) and something that appears to be an overly selfish game. I don't see any of it.

TroyF

[Chief Rum]

Now, Troy, it was more of the attitude that infused the team last year. Miller was among several that was constantly mentioned in media stories surrounding the in-team bickering that went on last year.

I agree that Miller had some injury problems and troubles adjusting to the Clippers' system, and I am sure that had a lot to do with his problems this past season. I am just relying the reports we were getting on a pretty consistent basis out here by the local media--who cover the team every single day.

In other words, don't kill the messenger. When Gentry got fired earlier this year, Miller's name was mentioned prominently as one of the ones who's attitude toward gunning for free agency was getting in the way of his commitment to the team. This was also levied at several others, including Odom (when he played), Magette, Olowakandi and Richardson. The general media impression ran from gunning it up for personal stats to playing half-heartedly because they knew they would be out of here in a few months, and all attitudes in between.

Hey, I give you some leeway when you tell me Eagle County's DA wouldn't pursue the Bryant case without very convincing evidence, so I only ask you give me a little leeway when I am relaying to you that which was seemingly common knowledge around here in LA all year long. ;)

In other words (again), don't automatically discount it.

Chief Rum