Donald Sterling

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

from ESPN.com/Clippers message board:

 

During the radio postgame show 1150 am, Lawler, Smith and Lee Kline took phone calls and discussed this team's future.

 

Lawler made very candid comments on Elton Brand. He stated that he was revealing inside info to refute how people critize Sterling being "cheap".

 

Here's his inside info: Brand was offered $60 Million for about 6 years (similar to Wally Szerbiak in Minn) just before Brand left to play in the World games. Brand hurt his knee while the offer was still on the table. For some reason, Brand did not accept the offer right away (perhaps it was his agent's fault).

 

After the knee injury news came back to the team, the Clippers quietly withdrew the offer since they didn't know how bad the injury was or if it may affect his future play. Lawler thought any other business would have recinded their offer as well.

 

He felt that if Brand did not get hurt at those World games, Brand would be sitting pretty with that $60 M contract to begin next season. This would have boosted team morale and sent a strong message to other players that Sterling was ready to open up his check book to keep a core of talent together.

 

When asked by a caller which 3 players this team needed to lock ups for next year, here were the replys:

 

LAWLER: Brand-Odom-Miller

MIKE SMITH: Brand-Odom-Maggs

LEE KLINE: Brand-Odom-Kandi

 

At the end, the three all agreed that due to the economics of other teams, Clipper money available, and deminished stats by players, there could be 4 core players signed this offseason.

 

The all agreed that Kandi would be necessary to win a NBA title in this era where there are few athletic centers.

 

Lawler also revealed some more "inside info". He said that this year, the Clips will profit in the area of $30 Million. They turned a profit a year ago as well. Lawler believes that profit money will be reinvested into the team for next season. Lawler sort of defended Sterlings "cheapness" again. He said that during the past era where free agents never signed with the Clips, it was mainly because they didn't profit much and had little money to offer free agents. Now that the team is "very" profitable, they have money to lure players to this team.

 

One other note is that this team is required to pay a league minimum in player salaries. It's about $28 Million. Any amout they are under that figure, they have to pay a penalty. I believe the penalty works the same way as if a team were over the salary cap. This league minimum prevents teams from stocking up with all rookies making the league minimum salary. This should make Clipper fans confident that at least 3 core guys will be resigned for next year. Right now, we don't know who they are, but all signs point to Elton Brand as #1 and Lamar as #2.

 

Anyone at the game notice that after the game ended, Odom was the only guy to walk up to Sterling and they exchanged a handshake and hug. Sterling said something into Lamar's ear. I take this as Lamar showing Sterling respect and saying "if you keep this team together, we can win".

__

 

As a Clipper fan, I've heard all the talk before. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Guest Lethargic]

ESPN has been saying for a year that Brand and Odom are the two main players they want to re-sign so that's not a shock.

 

If the Brand story is true, why didn't they bring back the offer after the world games and after the knee was cleared?

 

Every article I've ever read on Sterling's spending has said that the Clippers usually ALWAYS make a profit which is the reason he doesn't resign the players and try to make a winning team. His mindset is if he can have a low payroll and make money that way then why try to spend extra money to make a winning team? Maybe he's changed his ways but that's always been said about him in SI and on ESPN and what not.

 

Why does Jerry Lawler know so much about the Clippers?

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I wouldn't take a chance on Lamar Odom. He's been suspened a few times already for pot, I wouldn't take the risk.

[Guest Space_Cowboy]

Let Lamar go to Portland, he'd fit right in there.

 

I expect Sterling will probably resign Elton Brand, but who knows with everyone else.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

The all agreed that Kandi would be necessary to win a NBA title in this era where there are few athletic centers.

Obviously these guys are experts.

 

And I don't know about you guys, but Brand and Miller are the only ones I'd want to keep on that team. Maggette and Kandi are bums, and Odom's just an idiot.

 

Expect the Clips to sign one of thier big name players in the offseason, and then trade him after he holds out for a few months rather than play for the Clippers.

[Guest Lethargic]

I'd keep Brand too, don't know about Miller. Looks like Miller was just good on Cleveland cause he was all they had. He's done exactly jack and shit on the Clippers. I'd say he's the biggest bust of the year. Everybody proclaimed that Miller would put the Clippers over the top and put them in the playoffs. He didn't do anything but suck.

 

But on the Clippers, why bother keeping any of them?

[Guest Still Fly]

Smell the ratings, these guys ARE experts. They cover the Clippers all YEAR every YEAR so you would think they know what they are talking about in regards to the Clippers rather than an outsider looking in.

 

Regarding the Clippers, the summer will be the summer of truth for them. I would denfintely keep Brand, the best player on the team. I would also keep Maggette because if you watched at all last year he devolped into a 15 pt. 10 reb. player. I would also keep Odom. When Odom is focused, sober and clean the kid can play. Even Polish Rifle knows it. I mean look at him pre injury. He was special and still is. If there was to be a fourth a would keep Kandi man because he could still devlop into the player that Clipper fans know he could be.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

One other note is that this team is required to pay a league minimum in player salaries. It's about $28 Million. Any amout they are under that figure, they have to pay a penalty. I believe the penalty works the same way as if a team were over the salary cap. This league minimum prevents teams from stocking up with all rookies making the league minimum salary. This should make Clipper fans confident that at least 3 core guys will be resigned for next year.

 

If this league minimum is true, then this should just be called the Clipper Rule. They will be forced to spend at least $28 million so they might as well sign some of their own talent.

 

They should definitely keep Brand, Odom, Maggette (if they don't get lucky in the LaBron lottery) and of course the Polish Rifle Erix Piatkowski.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Don't get me wrong, Odom's definatly skilled, I remember his rookie year when he looked like fuckin Magic Johnson. But between all the injuries and the ever looming drug supension, I wouldn't risk the max contract he'll surely demand, especially when Brand and Miller want one too.

 

And these guys may be experts on the Clippers, but anyone who thinks you're never gonna compete for a world title without Michael Olokandi is forever a dumbass in my book.

 

PS - do they really still have the Polish guy? That's like the one guy Sterling's willing to resign ever year.

[Guest Still Fly]

Come on now, The Clippers need a least a token center like the Kandi man toi be competitive in the West. The West is stacked with good centers and power forwards it would only make since to keep arounds. The Kandi can play but can he do it consiestenly? Time will only tell.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

I don't think a lot of players will be getting the maximum amount on contract extensions this season. The LA Times ran a story a few weeks back and it said that with the exception of 4 teams, the maximum that each team can offer a free agent is $5 Million dollars. The 4 teams that can offer more are the Spurs, Nuggets, Jazz and Clippers.

 

I see them signing Brand to a big contract and then matching whatever Odon will get from another team and same with Maggette. They don't need Miller since Marko Jaric has shown that he can start in this league. He was the starting PG for the Yugoslavian National Team so I think Miller is expendible.

 

As for Kandi???

[Guest Lethargic]

There is no way Kandi is going back after last season, all the experts pretty much agree that's a lock. Unless the Clippers go insane and give him some maxed out offer or something, he's gonna end up a Spur, a Heat or a Nugget.

 

The biggest problem with the Clippers is that they may truly WANT and be WILLING to resign all these guys, but who says THEY want to resign with the Clippers?

[Guest Still Fly]

Quite a few Clippers have interest in returning to the team. Elton Brand has gone on record many a time saying that he wants to stay on to make it work. Odom went as far as BEGGING Donald Sterling to keep the team together. Kandi Man has also expressed some interested in staying on board. The thing is they want to stay but the front office seems like to break up the team all the time.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Bottom Line is that only Kandi, Rooks, Parks and Piatkowski can sign with any team they want. Odom, Brand, Maggette and Miller can sign with another team but if the Clippers match the offer, they are forced to play for the Clips.