The official 2003 NBA free agents thread

[Guest Lethargic]

Where are the positives for the Clippers anyway? They lost Miller, Olowokandi, Rooks and Piatowski and the only thing they got in return was Eddie House and Olden Polynice. They don't have a decent true PG or center on the whole team and don't appear to be active in trying to get one of either. Brand and Maggette both wanted to leave as well but got forcedback, who says both of those guys will be happy next year? They, most likely Maggette, could cause just as many problems as Odom.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

The positives for the Clippers is the same positives they have every year: They are gonna get a top 5 draft pick. And who knows, one of these days, one of them night not suck/skip town.

Edited August 13, 2003 by Mindless_Aggression

[Rendclaw 0]

as long as Sterling owns the team, MA, I seriously doubt it.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

First off, sign and trades are a stupid thing if you are in the driver’s seat like the Clips when you have a RESTRICTED FREE AGENT. That’s why they’re RESTRICTED – so you have the RIGHT to MATCH ANY OFFER – regardless if they want to stay or not. By doing a sign and trade, the Clips will be locked in a huge contract with players that they do not want. They would rather spend the money on players that they do want to keep.

 

That being said, I think this is one of the best off-seasons in Clipper history. They have/will retained the core of the team. Now that they have secured contracts, the leaders of this team will bust their asses and play team ball for the betterment of the club as a whole. The problem last season, besides the horrid coaching was that players were trying to pad their stats in hopes of getting long term contracts.

 

Sterling has done a wise job selecting the personnel that he retains and allows to leave. Let’s breakdown who we chose to let go this summer and why. We lost:

 

Cancerman – Kandi played half a good year in 5 disappointing seasons after we made him the #1 pick. He whines like a bitch when a call does not go his way and he whines and moans at the refs instead of playing hard and running back for defense. GOOD RIDDANCE.

 

Old-Man Rooks – was a very solid veteran and will be missed. However, Olden Polynice is all about the hustle and he will instill a working-man attitude with our young studs Ely and Wilcox.

 

Pike – The “Polish Rifle” is obviously my favorite Clip but he was just taking up playing time from Maggette and Quentin Richardson, who both have brighter futures with the team.

 

Dre – was a HUUUUGE disappointment last season. I hope his career rebounds in Denver but the fact of the matter is Keyon Dooling is ready for a breakout year and Marko Jaric has led the Yugoslavian National Team to prominence and is ready and willing to do the same for the Clips.

 

The new and improved Clips with the owner who has shaken off the stigma of his frugality, will be a force to be reckoned with this season. The centerpiece led by Elton Brand will set the tone for what is to be expected from the Clipper – Hardwork, hustle, determination and skills. Surround him with a good coach and a plethora of talent like Maggette, Odom (I hope), Q, Marko, Dooling and we have the makings of a solid foundation that will be good for years to come. The Clips have always had an unstable lineup that gets shaken up yearly. This is the first time that a solid core of talented players will be playing along side one another which will translate into team chemistry, a healthy environment and winning.

 

Bring on the Clipper-hate.

[Ripper 0]

Odom, long contract or not, has went to the press, Baylor, everyone begging for the CLippers to not match the offer. If they do, he will be unhappy. He will be like Rodney Rodgers and Maruice Taylor or Lawrenson Wright, all ready to RETIRE instead of coming back to the Clippers. That is not the environment of a team that wants to win. If they were smart, they would sign Lamar and Trade him to get SOMETHING back. Bringing him back in will do nothing for the team whatsoever.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Odom was just doing and saying all he could to convince the Heat to offer him a lucrative contract. He will survive regardless of who picks up the tab. He bluffed last week that he was going to fly straight from NY to LA on Sunday to meet with Elgin Baylor to ask them not to match. Sunday came and went and nothing happened. He said he was going to do the same thing on Monday and nothing happened. Well, then he changed his mind and said he will meet with Baylor on Wednesday, but since he has now signed his offer sheet, I doubt he will be making much noise for the next 15 days.

[SteakGrowsOnUecker 0]

Odom can go to Miami for all I care. He'll use up a lot of their money and thats good news for the Bulls because the east will be weaker and they can reclaim their rightful place at the top of the east.

 

Odom will probably play 35 the entire season. Then he'll get hurt or suspended of drugs. It happens every year.

[Guest Lethargic]

The funny part is everybody assumes that Sterling is this big spender now cause he brought two players back. In reality, ESPN posted the payrolls figures, took what they're spending now, assumed that they resign Odom AND assumed that they'll sign 3 or 4 more lower free agents to round out the team. After all that, their payroll next year will STILL be 27th in the league and only 4 million more than they paid last year.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

^ It's still more than he's ever paid. Besides the huge contracts that he matched will increase in dollar amount each year.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

I'm predicting the Clippers go 27 and 55, any takers? We'll do it like the Price Is Right, closest who doesn't go over the actual amount wins a toaster or something.

 

On a sad note Arvydas Sabonis has called it a career. I woulda liked to have seen him with 2 working legs in the league, he coulda been an all star with ease IMO.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

In my unbiased opinion, I will predict they will go 41 - 41.

[Gert T 0]

I'm predicting the Clippers go 27 and 55, any takers? We'll do it like the Price Is Right, closest who doesn't go over the actual amount wins a toaster or something.

 

On a sad note Arvydas Sabonis has called it a career. I woulda liked to have seen him with 2 working legs in the league, he coulda been an all star with ease IMO.

1 Dollar!

 

I expect the Clips to finish about 10th or 11th in the West.

[Gert T 0]

Sorry I tried to edit my last post, but the TSM monkey won't let me.

 

I will predict 38-44.

 

But I'm a Jazz fan so we will be looking up at those 10th and 11th spot the Clips will finish in!

[Rendclaw 0]

if they break more than 30-35 wins, I will be shocked.

 

PR - I am going to say this to you, and then I'm going to hang it up, because there is no debating with you. Its like spitting into the wind. You should have been on that ESPN commercial where you saw different fans of the Lions, Cubs, and Red Sox, were holding out hope for their sad sack teams.

 

Sterling spending 4 million more on the team is like me going into my change jar and getting out 75 cents to buy an ice cream bar. He doesn't care about winning and is only making a token effort AT BEST to improve his ballclub. Most players do not want to play there for long than their contracts will allow, because IT IS THE CLIPPERS. He is the wrong kind of owner, in that all he cares about is making money for himself. He is not innovative or willing to try new ideas like a Mark Cuban, who despite some run-ins with the league, took a below average Mavs team and got them close to playing in the finals.

 

I could understand your myopia if you were a fan of a more successful team, like say, the Jazz. but the Clips are a bottom-feeding team with a bottom-feeding attitude. Until major changes are made at the top, nothing is going to change. Only if they are extremely lucky, the Clippers are not going to make the playoffs this year, or the next, or the one after that. Whoever said that they are going to get the #1 pick in the draft is right. They always do, and look what happens to them. Always one of the worst teams in the league, despite their talent. Blame it on lack of a good coach if you want to, but it goes beyond the abilities of the coaching staff or even the players on the court.

 

It starts and ends with upper management.

[SteakGrowsOnUecker 0]

41-41?? They lost Michael O. Though he wasn't great he's a lot better then the rookie Sofoklis "Don't Call Me Baby Shaq" Schortsanitis. They lost Andre Miller. Marko Jaric is good but he's no Andre Miller yet. They lost Piatkowski, thats 10 pts a game that won't be there. Scoring wise they just have Richardson and Brand. And Brand has been proven to not do no more then a 20 pts 10 rebs a game. Those are good numbers but he isn't a team player and doesn't make anyone around him better. And there bench is so bad they should be in slam ball.

 

 

My prediction 19-63

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Rendclaw, let the poor man dream. Its gotta be hard being a Clipper fan every year and thinking "This is OUR year baby!" Just let the poor soul hold onto the hope that was killed so long ago.

 

Now watch some bizarre Disney like miracle happen and the Clippers go 82 and 0 and decimate everyone in the playoffs.

[Rendclaw 0]

They're in that black hole of suck, MA. I just read Dr. Tom's AFC article and while he was decidedly pro-Ravens, he at least acknowledged his teams weaknesses. In PR's case, while I respect him for his dedication to the Clippers, you would think they won three of the last five championships.

 

I want to laugh sometimes, but its kinda sad.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Give PR credit he's raised the discussion level of a bad NBA team on this board. Can Cardnials, Brewers, or Lightning fans say the same thing.

[Rendclaw 0]

if he was actually DISCUSSING the Clippers, I would say yes, but every move they have made either is applauded by him or gets spin doctored into a positive situation. The Lamar Odom situation is a prime exmaple.

 

when discussing my Magic, I try like all hell not to look at the situation with rose-colored glasses, unfortunately at times its easy to do, especially in their playoff series against the Pistons. the series showed what was right and what was wrong with the Magic at the same time. I'm thinking that John Gabriel is going to have to go if their draft picks don't work out. The Grant Hill situation is a constant source of disappointment for me as a fan.

 

I'm not dumping on Polish Rifle at all, but when he puts the blinders on and closes his eyes to the realities of what is going on with his team, and in his mind all bad things become good, it is a little hard to take.

[Guest Lethargic]

I would be shocked if the Clippers don't win 40 games this season. But I thought the same thing the last two years looking at their roster and they still never did it. Still, I think they'll get 40 or close to it and still be 2 or 3 slots out of the playoffs.

[alfdogg 0]

The Clippers are likely still battling for 6th in the division, along with GS. We all know the Kings, Lakers, Suns will make the playoffs, along with either Portland or Seattle probably in the eight spot. I don't see anything that would make me think they would finish any higher than that. I think the 27-55 prediction is pretty accurate, but I think they COULD get to 30.

[Guest Lethargic]

No way will Seattle finish higher than the Clippers. Even the Clippers aren't that bad.

[alfdogg 0]

Why not? Allen is more than a fair trade-off for Mason, and Barry is good enough at PG to at least get them more wins than the Clips, even if they don't sneak in for the last playoff spot.

[SteakGrowsOnUecker 0]

What! Seattle has a much better team than the Clippers. Seattle will atleast win 25 to 30 games.

 

Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis is a devastating combo. And they have a collection of european center/pf/sf 3 pt shooters. Not to mention Brent Barry comming off the bench. LAC has absolutely none of this. They don't even have a game breaker like Lewis or Allen.

 

The only sure wins LAC will get this year are against wasteland East teams like Miami and Atlanta.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Wow, I'm gone for 1 day and...

 

This is OUR year baby! Enough said.

 

Here's what ESPN.com's insider Chad Ford had to say about the Clips:

 

Maybe I need my medication. I do believe in addition by subtraction and I think the Clippers did the right thing this summer by matching Brand and Maggette and letting Andre Miller and Michael Olowokandi go. I also think they'll be making the right call if they match Odom.

 

Miller struggled to find his place on the team once Odom returned from his injury last season. Odom is so good with the ball in his hands, his presence on the floor meant that Miller spent too much time just standing around. I'm a big fan of Marko Jaric and think he'll be a better fit. Jaric can play three positions and doesn't have to have the ball in his hands to be effective. He's a much better defender than Miller and has the passion and aggression that the Clips have sorely lacked in the past.

 

Losing Olowokandi is a bigger blow just because the Clips don't really have anyone who can fill in. Of course, when you factor in that Olowokandi played just 36 games last year and shot only 42 percent from the field when he was on the floor, I don't think his loss is as big as people have made it out to be. Second-year big man Melvin Ely, rookie Chris Kaman and Olden Polynice will have to fill the void. The Clips will be vulnerable in the middle, but most teams are in the same predicament.

 

Meanwhile, the offense will now center on Brand down low and Odom and Maggette on the perimeter. Odom will be better this year without Miller on the court. If his head is in the right place (and who knows if the Clips match) he's a triple double threat every night. Maggette was the one Clipper who actually improved his game last year. After watching him work out this summer, he appears poised to have a breakout year.

 

Second-year forward Chris Wilcox also has shown signs of life this summer and Keyon Dooling and Quentin Richardson form a pretty nice backcourt bench. Add new head coach Mike Dunleavy to the mix, take away the uncertainty about impending contracts and the Clippers should be able to refocus and get back to where they were during the 2001-02 season. I wouldn't go so far as to claim they are a playoff team, but I think 35-40 wins isn't out of the question in L.A. this year if they keep Odom.

Edited August 15, 2003 by Polish_Rifle

[Guest Lethargic]

What! Seattle has a much better team than the Clippers. Seattle will atleast win 25 to 30 games.

And I said I thought the Clippers would win 40. If all Seattle can do is win 25-30 then obviously I think Clippers are better.

 

So far all I've seen said is that Seattle has the only white player to win the dunk contest in years, they got a player that's as soft as tissue paper, they got a overpaid crybaby underacheiver then a bunch of big foreign busts. Is that it? I'm supposed to be impressed by that?

[Ripper 0]

West coast two guards are Ray Allens bitches. Thats all that needs to be said.

 

After the trade last year, he went on to prove even more that he can make ALL west coast 2 guards his bitches. He averaged 36 vs the lakers this year. about 34 against the Mavs. and 30+ against the Kings. And those are teh only teams in the west that have REAL DEAL 2's. Brent Barry is a solid shooter and passer, Rashard Lewis can score from anywhere and the big foreign white guy connection stretch defenses further than any big men this side of Pat Garrity.

 

I say that if anyone is winning 40 itwill be Seattle.

 

Unless about 15 major players out west have injury plaged seasons, the Clips ain't getting 40.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

The foreigners on the Sonics are not busts.

 

Vladimir Radmanovic is a 6'10 SM that can shoot the lights out. This kid (his number is 77 BTW) can flat out play and has produced for the Sonics in both his years there.

 

Predrag Drobnjak is a 6'11 center that has the ability to be effective on the perimeter as well as in the paint. He is a restricted FA I believe and wouyld be a solid pick up.

 

As far as Vitaly Potapenko is concerned, he's shown flashes of being a credible NBA center which is a rare commodity these days.

 

But I still agree with you that the Clips will be better than the Sonics and should win at least 40 games.

[SteakGrowsOnUecker 0]

Maybe I need my medication.

He needs medication.

 

Every year is said to be the clippers year. They play really great in all they summer leagues and play great in preseason. Then comes the regular season and they play good at the beginning making everyone believe that it will be the year. Then 2 months into the season they start dealing with injuries and from then on out they go straight to the bottom.

 

If the Clips were in the east I think they could easily get 40 wins. But they're in the west and they have to play teams like Dallas, San Antonio, Sacremento, Golden State, Denver, Minnesota, Seattle, Phoenix and Houston.

 

The Lakers, Portland, and Utah should be east wins for LAC. Then they'll win a variety of games over random east teams. Games they won't win against east teams will be Detroit, Orlando, New Jersey, Memphis, and Chicago.

 

If you look at Seattle's record after they acquired Ray Allen and were playing with terrible point guard Kevin Ollie. After the Ray Allen trade they went 18-12 for the rest of the season. Before the trade they were 22-30. That's a 60% winning percentage good enough to get them in the playoffs and they DIDN'T have a decent point guard. They've added Antonion Daniels to the mix who has shown that he's a winner throughout his career.

 

I agree that Drobnjak and Radmanovic are excellent players. Potapenko has been around the league and has never showed that he's no more than a role player off the bench.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

The Kings have signed Anthony Peeler. I guess Jimmy J. is going to Minnesota.

 

Good pick-up.