So what do you think about the CLippers future, first and foremost, they need to start playing some defense. Brand and Maggette as secure as foundations, but what about the rest. I'l say Kaman can become a decent center, and be very productive for the team. What about Jaric? Should Jaric remain as the starting point, and do you think his production will improves drastically soon. Should we resign Quentin, I'd say yes, but he also needs to start playing some D, and chucking up less three's. He takes the most shots on the team yet Brand and Maggette score more than him b/c they shoot high % and get to the line very well. I dunno if this current lineup can be built from, but the most suspectable positions to change would be PG and SG.
Jaric and Richardson need to go....neither is very consistant and neither put any effort on defense...I know many people like Richardson, but IMO, his shot selection is horrible and his D is even worse.... The clippers have a solid core of long-term players in Magette, Brand, Kaman, and Wilcox...I would like to see the Clipps also retain Bobby Simmons (he's a free agent); he's been a solid player off-the-bench... The things the Clippers need to do in the off-season.. 1. <u>Draft a young point guard</u>..they'll probably get a choice between Gordan, Telfair, Livingston, Felton, and Nelson...if one or two is already selected, they still got a lot of good choices left...Right now, I'm feelin Telfair and Felton, so hopefully one of them 2. <u>Don't match Richardson's and Dooling's offer-sheets </u>....they'll be restricted free-agents...if they let them go, that frees up even more money for free agent signings, including #3 (look below)....unless the other teams offer a quality sign-and-trade deal, otherwise just let them go without a fight... 3. <u>Make a run at Kobe Bryant</u>...nuff said 3. <u>Sign a veteran point guard...</u> The elder point guard will be a tutor as well as insurance for # 1...there's Jacque Vaughn, Avery Johnson, Kenny Anderson, Rod Strickland, Brevin Knight, just to name a few potiential names...a lot of these names are very dependant on the state of the clippers... 5. <u>Re-sign Simmons </u> - I mentioned this above, Simmons has been solid...they need to retain this guy... 6. <u>Acquire a Veteran Swingman</u>...this will provide the Clipps with a "plan B" if they are unable to acquire Kobe...if they do get kobe, they've just gotten a solid player off the bench along with Simmons...possible canidates are Bob Sura, Eric Williams, Calbert Chaney, Ron Mercer (they can get him now if they wanted, lol), just to name a few.... I've probably left a ton of stuff out...but that's the basics...
I think this team has a very bright future. Wait....how many times have we said that? Alright, seriously I really think this team is heading somewhere. With Brand and Maggette secure like you said, if the Clips play their cards right and build around them, we could be looking at a playoff contender in the next year or 2. Yes, I also believe Kaman can be a productive Center for years to come. Let's not forget about Chris Wilcox either, when he has gotten the playing time this year he has been very nice presence inside. He has a great NBA body, and will bring solid scoring and rebounding off the bench. Jaric the future PG? No way, at least I hope not. This guy does not have the things that the Clippers need as a point guard. My basic defnition is that he's not an NBA Point Guard, period. And that's all their is to it, some may say he's a solid defender, but he lacks an offensive game. He's not aggressive to the basket, settles too much on his shot, which is not that great. Quentin Richardson? As much as I love him, because he's an exciting player who compliments Brand and Maggette so well with his outside shooting ability, I wouldn't mind seeing him walk. I think the we need to focus more on getting a Point Guard to come to Clipperland. Someone like Brent Barry would be perfect. I just don't think Q is the right fit if the Clips want to go somewhere. Brand is obviously their inside presence, and with Maggette's explosiveness to the basket, that they don't need him as much as people think. In Brent Barry you get a unselfish, good defender, and a great 3 point shooter as well, what more would you want? Add on top of that he's a veteran. I would love to see him come over here this off-season. Also, drafting a young PG isn't a bad idea either. NMG reminded me of him..... I would re-sign is Bobby Simmons. I love what this guy brings on defense. He hustles, can be tough inside, and has some decent range on his shot. Now Kobe....a lot of teams are going to be after him this off-season obviously, and the Clippers will be one of them. If they are able to get him in their hands....then your future is set. Next thing after that would be drafting a Point Guard, and then your set for the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post"> Now Kobe....a lot of teams are going to be after him this off-season obviously, and the Clippers will be one of them. If they are able to get him in their hands....then your future is set. Next thing after that would be drafting a Point Guard, and then your set for the playoffs. </div> well, the draft comes before the free agent signing period if I'm not mistaken...so its draft a pg, then go after kobe...it'll be interesting to see what happens..Through all the years, it's hard to tell if Baylor has had his hands tied by Sterling, or he's just an idiot by himself...
Do Not sign Kobe !! He has talent yes, but he will be expensive, he will think of the Clippers as his team & his legal problems will be a distraction. Remember are the Lakers winning champingships because of Kobe or because of Shaq!! - Let him stay across town and see what he does after Shaq retires. What the Clippers should do to get to the next level. 1. Trade your 1st pick and Ely to the Hornets for Baron Davis, he just signed a long term deal and is from LA. You do NOT want to start over with a rookie point guard! 2. Keep Marko - Remember this was only his 2nd yr and will make a great PG/SG coming off the bench. 3. Re-sign Q. - Scores & rebounds - Enough said. 4. Pick up a veteran forward that can score some but can really defend & rebound. (any ideas??) 5. And if we want to get greedy a 3-point specialist - comming off the bench. Making this trade and re-signing Q will set the clippers future up for a long time. Line-up C- Kaman PF- Brand SF- Maggette SG- Q PG- Baron Davis --------------- Bench Jaric - Simmons - Wilcox - New additions veterans to provide defense and leadership.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ohio-so.cal:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Trade your 1st pick and Ely to the Hornets for Baron Davis, he just signed a long term deal and is from LA. You do NOT want to start over with a rookie point guard! </div> Do you honestly think its even close to being a reality to trade a first pick and Ely for Baron Davis, an All-Star PG? Even if a team simply wanted to clear space they wouldn't do a move like that, and from what I know New Orleans doesn't want to clear cap room anyway.
What else would it take to get Baron?? If not Baron name another veteran point guard that they could get. You can use this years 1st round pick, Ely and even throw in another player to get a PG. No re-treads, I'm not sold on Jamal Crawford. Ideas ??
It will take a lot more than a 1st round pick and Melvin Ely for Davis...back a few years ago when Davis said he wouldn't re-sign with the Hornets and they were trying to unload him, they asked for the 12th pick and Darius Miles, or 8th and Lamar Odom....Odom and Miles (at the time) had much more value than Ely does now...Keep in mind, this was when the Hornets were trying to unload Davis...now he's their unquestioned franchise leader, it will take a ton to get him...very improbable.. Also, just because Q rebounds and scores doesn't mean he's important to the team...it will highly depend on how much his offer sheet is going to be worth...Richardson is notrious for taking ill-advised shots and playing in spurts...He doesn't play an defense either, which is what the clippers need...
the clips should trade brand back to chicago for chandler and crawford, the bulls would give back what they acquired and somebody else..i know it's stupid, but it was worth a try..I AM JUST KIDDING, i thought it was kind of obvious, but those replys indicated that i was being serious.. on an unrelated note - dave chappelle is hilarious (not exactly that quote from notMUCHGAME, but his show is..)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting holyace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">the clips should trade brand back to chicago for chandler and crawford, the bulls would give back what they acquired and somebody else..i know it's stupid, but it was worth a try.</div> I hope that's a joke.... <div class="quote_poster">Quoting ohio-so.cal:</div><div class="quote_post">Do Not sign Kobe !! He has talent yes, but he will be expensive, he will think of the Clippers as his team & his legal problems will be a distraction. Remember are the Lakers winning champingships because of Kobe or because of Shaq!! - Let him stay across town and see what he does after Shaq retires.</div> Or how bout not...your trying to say if the Clips had the chance to sign Kobe, pass on it? I hope that's a joke as well. Kobe would be the right fit for the the Clippers and he will still be able to play in LA. That's the only other team I think he's considering by the way. If they have a shot at signing him, they won't think twice about doing it. C- Kaman PF- Brand SF- Maggette SG - Kobe PG - Drafted PG Now that's a playoff team. Now being a Laker fan of course I would never want to see Kobe leave, but if he decides to do so, I hope he ends up in Clipperland. By the way NMG, I don't know what I was thinking when I said draft a PG after signing Kobe, I totally forgot about that already.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">the clips should trade brand back to chicago for chandler and crawford, the bulls would give back what they acquired and somebody else..i know it's stupid, but it was worth a try..</div> Ahhhh Please no!!....This was a steal for the Clippers getting a 20 and 10 guy that can also get about 3 dimes, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Chandler is still weak (in strength) and hasn't lived up to his potential, and his offensive game is no where near Brands. Crawford is too inconsistent and would be like a worse shooting, worse rebounding, better passing Q-Rich, no way please. Their is no chance of us getting Baron, as much as we want to be optimistic, its not going to happen, unless we give up Maggette or Brand. The Hornets aren't in rebuilld mode or something so no. Our best bet is drafting a real point guard, someone that is quick, a good defender and can drive and dish. We are obviously getting a lottery pick so we can find that someone. I wish Andre Miller had worked with the Clips, but he just wasn't the right fit . Simmons definately is a must sign, he brings gittyness and hardwork to the team and also agrresiveness on defense. Q isn't that important to sign and maybe if we can do a sign and trade with Phoenix for him and get Joe Johnson, oh wait I like Phoenix, no Johnson is better right now. If we can't get anything, signing Q wouldn't be bad, but he needs to be more like Maggette and Brand and try to get to the line. Wilcox is also very important, I forgot to mention him, he's a god guy as our 6th man. Dooling is gone, we don't even need to say that he needs to go, I say keep Eddie House as a reserve, he can hit the 3 and he's not too bad. What do you say about Barnes, good reserve or get rid of him? His shots not really falling but he's been rebounding well and putting out effort, but everyone rom the D league does.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Our best bet is drafting a real point guard, someone that is quick, a good defender and can drive and dish. We are obviously getting a lottery pick so we can find that someone. I wish Andre Miller had worked with the Clips, but he just wasn't the right fit . </div> You just described Raymond Felton...he's a solid, yet unspectacular pass-first point guard...his jumpshot is kinda broken but he's a "real" point guard (which is a positive)... Sebastian Telfair, from what I know and seen, is a scoring point guard...Some say he's T.J. ford with a shot, or an Allen Iverson who passes...the problem is that he's a highschooler, and I'm not sure if he's ready to run an NBA team anytime soon...perhaps he shares the same style as his cousin Marbury.....if so, would that be too much scoring in the lineup (assuming they have Kobe)...they will have tremendous speed with Kobe, Telfair, and Magette... Ben Gordan is a combo-guard. this guy is really overrated IMO...He doesn't hit big shots, and he's not a great playmaker...there's no question he's talented, but I don't think he'll be much of a fit for the Clipps...Regardless, he's a good shooter, he's strong, and quick...I just don't know about his court vision... Jameer Nelson looks like a great point but I have concerns about his size...He can score, dish, and shoot...The clippers need defense at the 1, and I'm not sure this guy will provide it... all these questions Elgin Baylor will have to ask himself before he drafts someone...Telfair has the most upside, but his style might not be what's suitable for the clippers. So who do u guys think the Clipps will draft...I'm thinking Felton if they have a legit shot at Kobe, but Telfair if they don't think they can land kobe... or should they even get a point guard if another player drops and is available?
I don't think Nelson will slip down to our pick in the draft, and I think we'll end up drafting Marbury's cousin Sebastian Telfair. Isn't this kid the first PG straight out of HS? I don't remember anyone smaller than Deshawn Stevenson, who is a SG coming into the NBA. I think this guy has some real potential, but ofcourse there is always a risk in picking high school players at a high pick, and he'll probably take a few years to develop into a real NBA starting PG. I would kind of like to see us draft Telfair, and I think we'd be sorry for not drafting him years later if we didn't. All I know is we need a PG for sure, and this draft being one with many PG's always helps...
Yeaa we gotta get PG, cause I don't really see what else we can get, we have our C, PF and SF, and we need a PG more than a 2 guard b/c we can always get Q back, or possibly get Kobe. If how you described Felton is what he is like, then we gotta go after him.
when the Clips look to get a point I think they mos def need someone like Felton,especially if they were to get Kobe. You would need the PG to be a floor leader and someone capable of running the offense,not a shoot first type cat. You have all the offense you need in C-Maggz,Brand and Kobe...just need someone to them the ball. Even if they don't get Kobe I think they should still go after Ray.
Just to add something to this discussion, in the latest Sports Illustrated, it says that the Clippers are "infatuated" with Telfair....so it looks like at this moment, Telfair is their guy (He's on the cover of this SI issue)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Just to add something to this discussion, in the latest Sports Illustrated, it says that the Clippers are "infatuated" with Telfair....so it looks like at this moment, Telfair is their guy (He's on the cover of this SI issue)</div> I think that'll be a mistake..not only is he related to Starbury,he got the shoot first type game too...I don't think gettin' him will improve them a whole lot unless they goin' for the Dallas Mavericks All Offense approach.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Dre:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that'll be a mistake..not only is he related to Starbury,he got the shoot first type game too...I don't think gettin' him will improve them a whole lot unless they goin' for the Dallas Mavericks All Offense approach.</div> In a sense, I agree...The Clipps have plenty of offensive fire power at the moment, and with the potiental acquisition of Kobe they should be racking up points with ease...so the addition of another scorer wouldn't make much sense...so go with Felton... However, if the Clipps don't feel they have a realisitc shot at Kobe, then I wouldn't mind them picking up Telfair...It's worth rolling the dice if his upside is really as high as people are saying (I only seen him once, in a rucker game, and he didn't impress me much so i dunno) Currently, the clippers don't have much quickness, nor outside shooting in their backcourt...so they can use a fellow like Telfair (he still needs to develop his shot but the work ethic is there)... Basically, what I would imagine is..... C Kaman F Brand F Maggette G Kobe G Felton or C Kaman F Brand F Simmons (or a new acquisition) G Maggette G Telfair (in a couple of years, he's not ready to run a team just yet)
I am not able to watch the Clippers as much as I want to being from Toronto. From the outside looking in it looks like they have a solid foundation with Maggette and Brand but their main weakness is the 1 for sure. Drafting a highschooler in Telfair might not be the best solution to their problem though. They need someone to really take charge and control the flow of the game. I wouldn't mind seeing Felton playing the point for the Clips because of his pass first mentality. A free agent pickup for a serviceable swingman (if not Kobe) would help out this club as well. Kaman looks like he could be solid at the centre spot playing with Brand. This club has a whole lot of potential (as do the Warriors, but what year do they not have potential?) and that has been the case for the last few years. I was stupid enough to make a bet that they would make the playoffs last year.....so no more bets on the Clips for me. Hopefully they can make good smart moves in the offseason.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">I am not able to watch the Clippers as much as I want to being from Toronto. From the outside looking in it looks like they have a solid foundation with Maggette and Brand but their main weakness is the 1 for sure. Drafting a highschooler in Telfair might not be the best solution to their problem though. They need someone to really take charge and control the flow of the game. </div> I agree, and as i said earlier, Felton appears to be the most logical choice....but if the Clippers are unable to make any big acquisitions during the off-season (i.e. Kobe), then drafting Felton will still leave them as a medicore-to-average team...they'd still be 2-3 years from making any impact in the playoffs (if they are even able to qualify)...that's the reason I'm not so opposed to them drafting telfair if they don't believe they can make a splash in free agency...Telfair has the upside but undoubtedly it will take a lot of time, and perhaps the Clipps HAVE the luxury of time if unable to sign Kobe...
