L.A. Clippers 09/10: De luto (Mayo 2008 - Marzo 2011) Zona de consulta para conocer cómo éramos antes Moderador: Louis de Funès

[Caron&Wade]

Seguro q el pobre Mr.Catering nos lo agradece,porq menudos monologos se pega aqui el pobre.Y el de los Heat estamos Calvin y yo con apariciones esporadicas de Wade,Jwill y el lince q se pasa por todos,pero mu triste tb.

Un poco off topic, pero...¿qué pasó con todos los Heat que pululaban por aquí el año del anillo? es una pregunta un poco estúpida y me la puedo responder yo mismo, pero joder, me extraña que hayan desaparecido tantos.

En el hilo de los Bulls por suerte aún quedamos unos cuantos (albier, yugos_lavo, Krpvksprv, BrxaB, LimpiaKristales #91, alberto19, yo mismo...).

Eso me gustaria saber a mi,sobretodo donde anda Xkasy,Starbury y alguno mas que no recuerdo ahora.El q menos mal q se fue el ignorante del Shotta ese.

[Calvin Johnson]

Seguro q el pobre Mr.Catering nos lo agradece,porq menudos monologos se pega aqui el pobre.Y el de los Heat estamos Calvin y yo con apariciones esporadicas de Wade,Jwill y el lince q se pasa por todos,pero mu triste tb.

Un poco off topic, pero...¿qué pasó con todos los Heat que pululaban por aquí el año del anillo? es una pregunta un poco estúpida y me la puedo responder yo mismo, pero joder, me extraña que hayan desaparecido tantos.

En el hilo de los Bulls por suerte aún quedamos unos cuantos (albier, yugos_lavo, Krpvksprv, BrxaB, LimpiaKristales #91, alberto19, yo mismo...).

Eso me gustaria saber a mi,sobretodo donde anda Xkasy,Starbury y alguno mas que no recuerdo ahora.El q menos mal q se fue el ignorante del Shotta ese.

Es verdad que somos menos que de costumbre, pero en parte también es culpa de la offseason, en noviembre seremos más, sobretodo si nos movemos bien en verano.

[Mr. Cátering]

It's not like the Clippers don't have experience at making lottery picks. In the past 10 years, they've made 10 lottery picks. One year, they made two.

It's just that this year's dip into the deep end of the NBA draft's talent pool wasn't part of anyone's long-range schedule for the team following their breakthrough year in 2005-06. Then Shaun Livingston's knee buckled and Elton Brand's Achilles tendon ruptured, part of a series of unfortunate events that derailed the Clippers the past two seasons.

But late June always offers a consolation prize for those who experience misfortune during the regular season, and Thursday night the Clippers will try and make the most of that opportunity with the seventh overall pick in the NBA draft.

"The payoff to all of it is coming up with a good player for your future. And we're going to get a good player," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Who exactly that player will be depends on several key factors: Whether Miami makes a trade, either for the No. 2 pick or involving Shawn Marion; how much the team believes that Elton Brand and Corey Maggette - both of whom can opt out of their contracts June 30 - will be back in Los Angeles next season; and what the other six teams ahead of them in the draft do.

The answers to the first and third questions will come swiftly over the next two days, but the Brand and Maggette situations require a leap of faith.

Dunleavy and general manager Elgin Baylor said they are operating under the assumption that both players will be back in Los Angeles next year. Both players are working out daily at the Clippers' practice facility in Manhattan Beach, doing about the same thing as the club is with the situation: waiting to see how the draft plays out.

"I don't know anything yet," Brand said Tuesday. "When's the draft, Thursday? Well, call me on Friday."

The team's most obvious need is at point guard. Livingston only recently got clearance to begin basketball-related activities and the team has not decided whether to extend him a qualifying offer for next season. Brevin Knight and Dan Dickau are better suited to be backups.

Not surprisingly, most of the high-profile players the Clippers worked out over the past couple of weeks were guards. The list includes USC'sO.J. Mayo, UCLA's Russell Westbrook, Texas' D.J. Augustin, Indiana's Eric Gordon and Arizona's Jerryd Bayless.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the Clippers will draft a guard.

"We've got to come away from this with something good," Dunleavy said. "When you're picking seventh, you better go for the best guy available. If you draft just for need, you're liable to take yourself down a couple notches. You may get someone that's serviceable, but long-term, you'll be regretting it."

The Clippers have had a couple of the draft's more intriguing prospects - 7-foot French center Alexis Ajinca, 7-foot Nevada center JaVale McGee, and 6-foot-9 LSU center Anthony Randolph - in for workouts. They've also taken a long look at UCLA center Kevin Love, though he's not expected to fall out of the top five.

Dunleavy said the Clippers are unlikely to take a gamble on an unproven prospect, as they did in 2005 by taking Yaroslav Korolev with the 12thoverall pick. Korolev played in only 34 games in his two seasons with the club, and is now back in a Russian league.

"The guy can be young, but we gotta know he can play," Dunleavy said. "There's a couple guys in the draft that I think have big-time potential that aren't going to be ready for a couple years. If that's the case, I don't think that'd be a guy for us. We want a guy with upside, but who can give us some minutes right away. You'd like to draft a guy in this position, who can ultimately be a starter for you."

After all, this isn't a rebuilding project. If Brand and Maggette are both back next season, most of the core of the 2005-06 team that came within a game of knocking Phoenix out in the second round of the playoffs would be back.

"The only thing that will revitalize anybody and everybody is winning games," Dunleavy said. "You could draft somebody from your hometown, you could draft a name, you could draft whoever. But if you want people on your bandwagon, go win games. That's how I look at it, and that's going to be what we do."

Meanwhile, across town, the Lakers will have a draft party of their own, but don't expect many fireworks. The Lakers have only one pick in the draft, No. 58, after shipping their first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Pau Gasol trade.

"I'm trying to move up to 57or 56," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak joked last week. "We seem to embrace the draft when it comes. We always feel like we can get a player, whether it's in the 20s or in the 30s and, quite frankly, we'll get somebody at 58 ... But I think our primary concern is addressing our free-agent situation during the offseason."

Kupchak said that he'd explore moving up in the draft if there was a player the Lakers particularly liked. Even so, the Lakers don't have many future draft picks to entice another team.

"You could always trade a pick for a pick, but we already traded two first-round picks to get Pau, so you would be talking about something five or six years down the road," he said. "There are a bunch teams in the NBA that have multiple picks. Maybe they would look at changing a second for a second, which wouldn't get us into the first round. It would just get us closer, or a better pick in the second round."

That said, expect the phones to be quite a bit busier in the Clippers' war room at Staples Center on Thursday than at the Lakers' headquarters in El Segundo.

"We really haven't talked to anybody yet," Baylor said. "Nobody's been calling us. Everyone's pretty much waiting to see what happens. But between now and the draft, a lot of teams will be calling, and a lot of things could happen."

Good thing the Clippers have experience in this kind of situation.

[Mr. Cátering]

They now hold seventh pick in NBA draft tonight, and could be trying to help out a thin backcourt. But they might surprise and go for a big man.

This one is nearly as predictable as an anniversary, with the Clippers shoveling away another disappointing season with a draft party and clinging to the seventh overall selection entering tonight's draft.

The Clippers, who also hold the 35th pick, have tried to move up in the draft. The most detailed talks have been with the Miami Heat and Seattle SuperSonics, to move to the second or fourth overall picks; however, as of Wednesday, both prices were deemed too high.

Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor said Wednesday no moves appeared imminent. A day earlier, Coach Mike Dunleavy said he expected the team to stay at the seventh slot.

Should the Clippers remain seventh, who they select remains hinged on the flurry of activity that happens before them. They are thin in the backcourt, but the top two guard prospects -- Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo -- will probably be swept away within the first three picks.

The next names high on the Clippers list are Jerryd Bayless, a shooting guard who moonlighted at point while at the University of Arizona, Texas' D.J. Augustin, who is only 5-foot-10 but is regarded as the best pure point guard in the draft not named Rose, and Eric Gordon, a sweet shooter from Indiana who is considered a short shooting guard.

Or the team could defy expectations and choose between big men Kevin Love of UCLA or Stanford's Brook Lopez, if they remain on the board.

"I think it's a good draft. However it goes when it gets to us, we will get a good player," Baylor said.

Amid all that uncertainty is one certainty.

The Clippers covet a contributor similar to when they came away with Al Thornton last season with the No. 14 selection.

Thornton went on to finish on the NBA all-rookie first team as the injury-plagued Clippers ended 23-59.

"When you go through a tough season, the only payoff is coming up with a good player for your future," Dunleavy said.

The draft is just the first in a laundry list of tasks for the Clippers this off-season.

The status of some of their other potential free agents:

* Elton Brand: David Falk, Brand's agent, Dunleavy and team President Andy Roeser have held discussions regarding his ability to opt out of the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. On Wednesday, Falk said the decision will be taken to Monday's opt-out deadline.

Facing an off-season in which few teams have abundant salary-cap space, Falk said Brand's preference is to work out a new, long-term deal with the team or play out the last season of his contract, in which he is due $16.44 million.

Brand missed all but eight games last season while recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon.

"It's not a question that we demanded anything or negotiated anything," Falk said, adding that his good working relationship with the Clippers' front office would benefit both parties. "We've had discussions with both sides on how he can finish out his career with the Clippers. My hope has been we can make a deal with both parties. That's our goal."

* Corey Maggette: He still plans to opt out of the final season of his contract Monday. Maggette, who is owed $7 million if he chooses not to become a free agent, has said his desire is to return under a long-term contract with the Clippers.

However, the team could also work out a sign-and-trade for him that could yield the sought-after point guard. Owner Donald Sterling called Maggette on Tuesday and reiterated that he wanted Maggette to remain a Clipper.

* Shaun Livingston: After a devastating knee injury sidelined him for nearly a year and a half, Livingston has been cleared to play one-on-one under monitored conditions.

However, he is still unable to play full court with contact and there are concerns from the organization on whether he is healed enough to withstand the rigors of an NBA season. The Clippers will bypass giving Livingston a $5.8-million qualifying offer due July 1, making him an unrestricted free agent.

[sugarfree]

venga vaa k nos caee baylesss! i sin subir spots!

[slayeru]

Todo lo que no sea Bayless, Gordon o Lopez es hacer el ridiculo. Que nervios ¡¡¡

[sugarfree]

gordon!

preferia a Bayless pero ya veremos...

[slayeru]

Pues toda una incognita lo de Gordon. Esto nos deja aun sin base y con las dudas que plantea el juego interior.... Todo huele a traspasos.

[Mr. Cátering]

Más o menos la opción esperada. Esto me da a pensar que en un posible sign and trade con Brand se busque otro "4" (¿Marion?). El base, otro puesto que me preocupa bastante, vendrá seguramente dentro de los agentes libres, y un posible sign and trade con Maggette servirá seguramente para reforzar el banquillo.

Eso sí, importante colocar también los contratos de Thomas y Cuttino, cosa difícil al no ser expirings, pero hay que intentarlo.

[sugarfree]

Bueno, dia 1 despues del draft. Pick 7# Eric Gordon, mas o menos nos lo esperavamos.. pero la sorpresa, grata sorpresa, a sido DeAndra Jordan en el numero 35#!!! este chabal puede acabar siendo Saer Sene 2.0 o Stromile Swift 2.0 o lo que querais.. pero llevarse un jugador con ese potencial y que apuntava a lottery pick en el puesto 35# es un lujazo.. Haber si por una vez tenemos suerte.

[clipper]

Bueno, dia 1 despues del draft. Pick 7# Eric Gordon, mas o menos nos lo esperavamos.. pero la sorpresa, grata sorpresa, a sido DeAndra Jordan en el numero 35#!!! este chabal puede acabar siendo Saer Sene 2.0 o Stromile Swift 2.0 o lo que querais.. pero llevarse un jugador con ese potencial y que apuntava a lottery pick en el puesto 35# es un lujazo.. Haber si por una vez tenemos suerte.

He estado leyendo sobre Deandre y está muy muy muy verde...Tiene un gran cuerpo pero de saber jugar a baloncesto muy poco.

El gran interrogante sigue siendo el puesto de base. Como lo véis??Se habla principlamente de Hinrich, Udrih...Pero a Hinrich lo veo demasiado caro y a Udrih no le veo como un PG puro. Además Udrih sólo ha hecho una buena temporada teniendo competencia 0 después de la marcha de Bibby.

A mí me gusta Marcus Williams de los Nets...Qué os parece?

[Mr. Cátering]

Bueno, dia 1 despues del draft. Pick 7# Eric Gordon, mas o menos nos lo esperavamos.. pero la sorpresa, grata sorpresa, a sido DeAndra Jordan en el numero 35#!!! este chabal puede acabar siendo Saer Sene 2.0 o Stromile Swift 2.0 o lo que querais.. pero llevarse un jugador con ese potencial y que apuntava a lottery pick en el puesto 35# es un lujazo.. Haber si por una vez tenemos suerte.

He estado leyendo sobre Deandre y está muy muy muy verde...Tiene un gran cuerpo pero de saber jugar a baloncesto muy poco.

El gran interrogante sigue siendo el puesto de base. Como lo véis??Se habla principlamente de Hinrich, Udrih...Pero a Hinrich lo veo demasiado caro y a Udrih no le veo como un PG puro. Además Udrih sólo ha hecho una buena temporada teniendo competencia 0 después de la marcha de Bibby.

A mí me gusta Marcus Williams de los Nets...Qué os parece?

Otro al que le gusta. Ignoro su situación contractual (preguntaré en el hilo de los Nets a lo largo del día), pero me parece un jugador con grandes condiciones al que están dando poca bola en NJ (este áño jugada un acabado Darrell Armstrong más minutos que él).

Habrá que ver como se desenvuelve Baylor, y, lo más importante, como resuelve los casos Maggette, Brand y Livingston. Con los dos primeros creo que podemos sacar buena tajada.

Sobre De Andra Jordan, que tampoco nos salga un Schortsianitis, quien si tuviera la cabeza amueblada hubiera dado el salto después del Mundobásket. Y bien que nos hubiera venido de perlas (tenemos sus derechos para la NBA).

[slayeru]

Gordon como tirador nos viene de perlas. Despues del fiasco Mobley necesitabamos alguien que no tenga miedo a jugarselas y creo que Gordon puede ser el indicado. Sufrio una lesion a mitad de temporada, pero este chico ha estado mas arriba en el Draft durante varios meses, y cuando digo mas arriba me refiero a un Top 3.

Lo de Jordan es una jugada a largo plazo mas que interesante. Conseguimos a un portento fisico al que habra que enseñar a jugar y visto nuestra endeblez por dentro me parece una eleccion mas que acertada y rezando para que con el paso del tiempo sea uno de los robos.

Para mi sobra el 80 por ciento de la plantilla. Intentar colocar a Cuttino me parece una obligacion y los Smush Parker, Ross, Knight, Dickau, Powell y compañia que hagan las maletas.

[Sehnsucht]

ejercio Brand su player option???

[clipper]

ejercio Brand su player option???

EB se quedará. No sufras.

Qué os parece Udrih? A mí no me acaba de gustar. El año pasado hizo buenos números pero no me parece un base puro.

Prefiero a Marcus Williams aunque este ni es agente libre ni nada. Pero lo tienen sin jugar y es un base que con minutos creo que lo puede hacer muy bien.

[Mr. Cátering]

ejercio Brand su player option???

EB se quedará. No sufras.

Qué os parece Udrih? A mí no me acaba de gustar. El año pasado hizo buenos números pero no me parece un base puro.

Prefiero a Marcus Williams aunque este ni es agente libre ni nada. Pero lo tienen sin jugar y es un base que con minutos creo que lo puede hacer muy bien.

Udrih como microondas está muy bien. Quizá le pase un poco como a Leandrinho Barbosa, que siendo un base su juego sea más propio de un escolta (excelente anotador, pero pésimo director de juego). Por poco dinero (3-4 kilos) me lo llevaría para hacer el papel de microondas, sin duda, pero me huele que después de su año en Sacramento pedirá más pasta. Yo, por lo menos, no le ofrecería más de 4 kilos por año.

Marcus Williams si que parece una excelente opción.

A esto, acabo de echarle una ojeada al Los Angeles Times, y me he encontrado con esto:

Eric Gordon habla de su elección por los Clippers:

"They tried to see if I could guard guys that were stronger and bigger and I think I pretty much showed a good taste of that."

"It is fully healed. I thought I would be better off if I did not have an injury throughout the season, but stuff happens and you play through it."

A día de hoy, las opciones del mentado Udrih y Calderón son las favoritas para el puesto de base. Lo de Udrih ya lo acabo de comentar, y Calderón desgraciadamente es imposible (y más después de que los Raptors mandaran a TJ Ford a Indiana):

The Clippers are expected to shop for a point guard once free agency opens with Sacramento's Beno Udrih, whom they had already made one failed attempt at landing last season, and Toronto's Jose Calderon as early targets.

Sigo con la chapa, y ya sé a quien colar por Marcus Williams: Brevin Knight, quien cobrará dos kilos el próximo año (Williams estará en poco más de un kilo), y responde al tipo de base reserva que pone cachondo a Lawrence Frank (véase Darrell Armstrong esta pasada temporada).

[Sehnsucht]

no se porque me dices eso de no sufras, se que los Nets a dia de hoy es imposible que lo traigamos porque no tenemos casi nada para ofrecer, pero mi pregunta no iba por ese camino, lo preguntaba mas por si se iba a los Bulls por ejemplo ya que es uno de los rivales directos de mi equipo para luchar por los PO, a mi me parece perfecto que se quede Brand en Clippers.

[Badboycervantino]

En detroit para el ansiado 4 o 5 que se busca suena mucho elton brand,Kamman tammbién pero viable suena brand y maguette por prince y billups, pero solo rumores,como son agentes libres por lo del sign and trade, ¿veís viable a Billups o Prince en los clippers?
Billups es el mejor jugador nuestro pero por el base rookie y porque se necesita un tio de garantias en lapintura se ha hablado de estos jugadores.
No es una noticia que haya salido,solo que son jugadores que a veces pones los columnistas en detroit y quería saber si os parece realista.
Un saludo

[Mr. Cátering]

En detroit para el ansiado 4 o 5 que se busca suena mucho elton brand,Kamman tammbién pero viable suena brand y maguette por prince y billups, pero solo rumores,como son agentes libres por lo del sign and trade, ¿veís viable a Billups o Prince en los clippers?
Billups es el mejor jugador nuestro pero por el base rookie y porque se necesita un tio de garantias en lapintura se ha hablado de estos jugadores.
No es una noticia que haya salido,solo que son jugadores que a veces pones los columnistas en detroit y quería saber si os parece realista.
Un saludo

Hombre, Prince en LA sería un jugador digamos que mediático (es nativo de Compton, una localidad del área de Los Ángeles), pero ya tenemos a Thornton como "3" titular.

Kaman, por lo menos a medio plazo, es casi imposible que salga de los Clippers, ya que es una de las piezas sobre la que construir la franquicia, aunque a él seguro que le haría ilusión ir a Detroit (es nativo del estado de Michigan). Pero vamos, si hay un jugador al cual los Clippers no van a traspasar a no ser de que venga a cambio un Lebron James ese es Kaman (lo mismo para Thornton). El resto de la plantilla (excluyendo los rookies), para mi, es transferible.

[killermiller]

A mi williams me parece un base bastante bueno pero que no es constante en su trabajo, se suele pasar de peso, algunos entrenamientos como si no estubiera ....