The Clippers are SO SCREWED

[Guest GameCop]

For what its worth, the LA Times reported today that Donald Sterling intends to match the offer sheets of Brand and Maggette, but not Miller's.

 

Moreover, Sterling is looking to land Gilbert Arenas, as well.

 

It'll be interesting to see how all of this pans out in the next few weeks.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

I read the Arenas tidbit on espn.

 

BTW, the Sixers were the team with 9 wins I believe.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

For what its worth, the LA Times reported today that Donald Sterling intends to match the offer sheets of Brand and Maggette

 

Moreover, Sterling is looking to land Gilbert Arenas, as well.

what planet am I on?

[Guest Lethargic]

According to David Aldridge's chat today....

 

"The Clippers have plenty of room. They only have around $15 million committed for next season. They can easily match all of the offer sheets out there and still have room. I think they'll match Brand and Maggette and let Andre Miller go."

 

From what ESPN said, Arenas is the one that wants to go to the Clippers, not the other way around.

 

Odom is already in discussions for an extention.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

I think the police in the Bay Area is also looking for Arenas.

 

Come on Sterling, for once make me proud to be a Clipper fan.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Arenas is the one that wants to go to the Clippers

 

and then, nobody could find him!

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

It all sounds too good to be true…I would feel a lot better if they can get at least one deal done by the end of the week.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

why dont we have 2 NY teams and 2 Chicago teams since they are just as big of a market as LA?

Nets are sorta the second team for the Greater New York market. I think Chicago should definitely have a secodn team since we have two very high-quality arenas in the United Center and the Rosemont Horizon/Allstate Arena. If you put a second team in Rosemont they can appeal to the north suburban crowd who don't want to venture downtown.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

I would mark out for an NBA team in the Horizon. I would actually drive past the United Center to see them play. I've loved Rosemont ever since I saw Razor Ramon and Papa Shango there as a little kid.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

I would mark out for an NBA team in the Horizon. I would actually drive past the United Center to see them play. I've loved Rosemont ever since I saw Razor Ramon and Papa Shango there as a little kid.

You know I think the only thing in Rosemont IS the Horizon.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

WOO! And so it begins...Clips will match offer for Brand.

 

The Clippers told restricted free agent Elton Brand's agent Thursday that they intended to match the six-year, $82 million offer sheet Brand signed with the Miami Heat and retain the power forward, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

 

"We told them that before they got an offer sheet," Clipper Executive Vice President Andy Roeser said to the Times. "That won't be a surprise when it happens ... We've said all along that we intend to match the offer on Elton and we shared that with them again today."

 

Brand, who could have signed a one-year tender and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer, didn't seem fazed that the historically penny-pinching Clippers were going to keep him from going to Miami.

 

"If they match, I'm going to be excited either way," Brand said to the Times by telephone from Chicago. "I'll be ready to go in a new direction with the Clippers, start winning some games and get into the playoffs. If they're going to match, that's saying they're in the direction of trying to get players."

 

The retention of Brand would be the first step in an unprecendented outlay of Cash by the Clippers, in efforts to retain much of the team's core. The Clippers also have indicated that they will match the six-year, $42 million offer Utah made to guard Corey Maggette.

 

The Clippers already lost center Michael Olowokandi, who signed with Minnesota earlier this week, and likely will not match Denver's offer sheet to Andre Miller, a disappointment in his only year in L.A.

 

According to the Times, new Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy called Brand on Thursday and repeated the team's interest in retaining him. "I told him it's all my fault," Dunleavy joked. "I said, 'I signed on to coach you, that's the way it's going to be.'

 

After opting not to lock up Brand last summer, the Clippers made an initial offer of $65 million over five years on July 1. They later increased the offer to $78 million over six years, the max they could offer with the salary cap assumed to be $42 million.

 

When the official salary cap figure of $43.8 million was released by the NBA on Wednesday, the Heat were able to include an additional $4 million in their offer, which the Clippers now must match.

 

"I honestly think that if they do match, and other players are here, it can turn around," Brand said to the Times. "The problem was, players weren't getting paid, so they were leaving or trying to do their things to get paid by other teams ... If we're there, then it's on us. It's in L.A., it's a great city, we've got great fans. We've just got to get over those old problems. We should be able to do that."

[Guest Ripper]

If they just say Fuck Lamar Odem and get Gilber Areanas (since he wants to play in the LA area) then they might not be as fucked as they thought.

[Guest Ripper]

According to David Aldridge's chat today....

 

"The Clippers have plenty of room. They only have around $15 million committed for next season. They can easily match all of the offer sheets out there and still have room. I think they'll match Brand and Maggette and let Andre Miller go."

 

From what ESPN said, Arenas is the one that wants to go to the Clippers, not the other way around.

 

Odom is already in discussions for an extention.

Now maybe my math teacher wasn't as good as Davids, but if they resign Maggette, they will be at 42 million for next year. Let them use the 4 mil exception...do you REALLY think that Odom and Arenas will take that.

 

They will not get all 3 of the big names back.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

I’m not a mathematician but the Miami Herald is reporting that the Clips are in the works of structuring an extension with Odom. That means they could have Odom, Brand and Maggette in the bag for the long haul. Also, Arenas was offered a 6-7 million contract by the Wizards but did not sign and returned to California to meet with the Clips. He would rather take that amount and play closer to home.

 

I think that means goodbye for Piatkowski, Rooks and Cherokee Parks.

 

I'm shocked!

[Guest Ripper]

Well, the signing of Dunlevey for a 4 year 10 million dollar deal was sign number one that Sterling was ready to play ball.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

To be honest, I still can't believe that everything is being set into motion.

[Guest Ingram Paladin]

As a massive Clips fan, allow me so say whoo..! Hopefully they can finally gel their talent as a team under Dunleavy and harness their ability together in a positive manner.

[Guest Ripper]

There on course to be the best number 10 seed ever.

[Guest razazteca]

Clippers will still be in the lottery next year.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

^ No way! We could easily take Utah’s spot in the playoffs next year and the Rockets will take over Portland’s spot.

 

Kings

Mavs

Spurs

Lakers

Wolves

Clippers

 

Last two spots…

Suns (coming off a fluke year)

Rockets (If Yao can play a full season)

Blazers (No Pippen, no direction…)

Jazz (right.)

Nuggets (HAHA)

Grizzlies (don’t think so)

Warriors (see Suns)

 

BTW, nice to see the Clipper Nation growing on this board!

[Guest Ripper]

Um, Stephon owns any 3 guards you have, Penny Hardaway is smarter than the whole team and owns any 3 guards the Clippers have, Shawn Marion will make any SF you have his personal bitch, Amare OWNZ the Clippers, and Bo Outlaw and jake Voskal out hustle anyone on the clipper team. The Suns have missed the playoffs once since 1986...I wouldn't call last year a fluke.

 

Antwain Jamison is better than any Clipper, Troy Murphy hustles more han any Clipper, Earl boykins is quicker than any Clipper, Jason Richardson will bitch the Clippers.

 

The Blazers without Pippin the Blazers will STILL own the Clippers (Wallace, Anderson, Wells, druggie, plus the younger guys)

 

Its nice you sign back your free agents but just remember IT IS THE SAME TEAM. They will STILL be in 10th place in the west...maybe 9th.

[Guest razazteca]

I think the Blazers and Jazz will not make the playoffs also but I do not think the Clippers can become a playoff team overnight. The Suns and Rockets will be in the playoffs next year.

 

The Clippers still need to prove themselves, keeping free agents from leaving town still means nothing.

[Guest Ripper]

I don't think you all realize how much time Pippin missed last year...and the Blazers finished 6th. All bullshit aside, they are a very talented team that will make it to the playoffs but miss the first round. The only spot that will be open is the Jazz spot and the Rockets will be taking that. The Warriors will probably come in 9th with the Clippers in 10th place...or vice-versa. Bottom line, there are still 8 teams in the West better than the Clippers. And I actually think that the Grizzlies might just be better. And the Warriors...and with there additions, the Nuggets could be...

[Guest Lethargic]

I still disagree with Ripper about the Payton and Malone stuff but we're on the right page now. Re-signing these players does nothing to make them a playoff caliber team in the West. The West is even MORE loaded this year than ever before. Utah is the only team that is gonna have a drop off from last year. They'll probably be the worst team in the league I think. And so Utah slips, that opens up ONE slot. That slot will go to Houston most likely. With Yao having a full year and with Van Gundy coming in, they'll be a lot better I think. Even if the Clippers DO sign Brand, Maggette and Odom, they still lost their starting point guard AND center. PG won't be a huge loss, but who in the hell is their starting center now? Big Wang? That ain't gonna get ya in the playoffs. I think they'll be better but still not in the playoffs. Not in the west. Too many other teams there. I think they'll challenge for it, no doubt, they won't be next to last again most likely, but not IN the playoffs. They're still not better than the Suns or Rockets. If Amare actually improves on last year, Clippers have no shot at catching them. Then even got lowly teams like the Sonics, Nuggets and Grizzlies who look to be better this year as well. (I also agree on them, I think the Grizzlies might be the surprise team this year like the Suns were last year. They played so much better once Hubie came in that him being from the start next season could see a huge improvement.) None of those teams will be in the playoffs most likely but they're now good enough that you can't think playing those teams is a automatic win. West is just too competitive from top to bottom to think that this Clippers team will actually be much better than last year.

[Guest Ripper]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Sonic who played incredibly after the Allen trade.

 

Big secret about the west 2 guards...if you can shoot the deep ball well, the can't guard you. Ray Allen murders the west coast 2's.

[Guest Snappy Nappy Dugout]

Bah, I think the Sonics can make the playoffs. Look At the Line-up

 

PG-Brent Barry

SG-Ray Allen

SF- Rashard Lewis

PF-Vladimir Radmanovic(or Nick)

C- Elden Campbell

 

With a good bench: Luke Ridnour,Predrag Drobnjak, and Joseph Forte being a few.

 

I think they really could make the playoffs, I think the rockets won't make it.

[Guest Ripper]

I am pretty sure the Joe Forte will NEVER see the court for any team in this country. They are just waiting out his contract and you will never see him again.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Grizzlies played well under Hubie last year, but I think The Logo has gone senile. He's making bad moves, especially in the draft, and that's not helping.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

The Clips have the talent but what they lacked last year was a real coach and a sense of playing TOGETHER for the common good of the team. That was evident because of all the uncertainty with contracts and the stigma that comes with being in the last year of a contract and playing for the Clips. The team lost a lot of close games last season that they won the year before, when they came in ninth place and was very close to making the playoffs.

 

Now my response to the other teams:

 

Suns -- sucked the year before but was impressive last season. Amare is the real deal but I don’t think Penny/Googs can last a complete season. Marbury and Matrix are good so they are on par talent wise with the Clips.

 

Warriors – Last year was a FLUKE and they won a lot of the close games that the Clips won the year before. Earl Boykins is a one trick pony and without Arenas leading that club, they are a 30 game winner max. BTW, Jamison is not better than Brand or Odom in his drugged up state.

 

Rockets – Dangerous up and coming team. I like Yao, Franchise and Van Gundy. Rumor is that they are close to signing the Polish Rifle so they are also a team on the rise. We’ll see if Yao will continue to improve and if he will burn out again half way through the year.

 

Wolves – KG is good and they have talent but if the Big 3 of Glen Robinson, Ray Allan and Sam Cassell can’t make the playoffs in the East like they did in ’02, then that just shows that nothing is a given.

 

Sonics – they have great Yugoslavian players and Ray Allan is a star in this league, but I don’t see them winning more games than the Clips.

 

I can go on and on but the bottom line is that we can compare notes about teams on paper but they have to prove it on the court. Nothing is a given, but at least the Clips have/will put themselves in a position to compete.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

The Wolves will not miss the playoffs. Once they get 1 or 2 more players for Brandon. They might be on par with the Mavericks for 4th best team in the West.