[quote="clipperfan714"]Call me premature, or getting ahead of myself........but with the lack of a bench or depth, I am not sure if the CLIPPERS can make it in the play offs. But I am not sold about Dallas either.
Looking at the West, this is how I see it.........

1)LAKERS - Should they have all players reporting to duty, they'll be at the 1 spot from the beginning. This team feels that they are destined.

2)NEW ORLEANS- Poise to make another run with the same team intact and reasy to do more damage. This team is no longer a sleeper, but CP# is the real deal.

3)UTAH- Just another successful season- Yay

4)HOUSTON- This team could've been something different with Yao in the lineup. Now they know what they have, and they know how to play. If they can keep it together, they'll make some noise in the West.

5)SAN ANTONIO- This team is a year older, but with all that veteranship, they still know how to get it done, but they are on their last leg.

6)PHOENIX- To many questions, but the talent overshadows that turmoil and 100's of questions that will face the Suns this year. They are no fountain of youth!

7)DALLAS- They are still a good team, but Kidd, their age, and their coach will keep them at the 7 spot. Not even a EURO can save or lift this team. It's gonna get ugly, and the trade will come back to haunt them.

T8)PORTLAND- So much young talent, so much depth! With ROY at the helm, a versatile ALDRIDGE, not to mention an unproven ODEN, and numerous young players that have tremendous upside........There is no where to go but UP with this team. They will give the contenders fits, and they are here to stay.

T8)CLIPPERS- With the addition of Baron Davis, his outside game will open up the inside game for Elton & Kaman. With the versatility and agility of Thornton that replaces Maggette, the CLIPS will be in the mix to make a run, but with the lack of depth and an aging bench, they may be a tad short to get over the hump. Barring injuires, the CLIPS will be poised to make some noise.

I agree w/ JLemm ... the bench needs improvement no matter which FA we get. All great teams have had good benches. Pietrus could be a good bench addition if we can't hold on to Corey (good D and need a vet backing up Thornton) ... MLE could get him. Azubuike as well, much less D but more O.

Folks, the reality is we'll probably have to keep Cat and Tim. Their contracts are almost untradeable (heck, if you guys don't want them, why would another GM?). So we need to build the bench around them.

P.S. to 714: I'm at Staples (season tickets) and am loud! See ya there.

Assuming they sign Baron Davis...which in my opinion is 50/50 at best, I think they are not only a playoff team, but will be going for a home court first round as well. This is also pending the health of both Baron and Elton, but if healthy, the following rotation, in my opinion, can compete with anyone. They should also go after another ex-Bruin Matt Barnes as backup support:

PG: Baron Davis, Brevin Knight, Dan Dickau
SG: Eric Gordon, Cuttino Mobley
SF: Al Thornton, Matt Barnes (or comparable)
PF: Elton Brand, Tim Thomas
C: Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan (could get crowd going with monster dunks)

With this lineup, we might have two all stars (Davis and Brand) as well as a rookie of the year candidate.

Replace Dan Dickau with Mike Taylor....I like the Matt Barnes idea. Bonifide scorer...might want starter money...but if Baron comes here, he might take less to compete for a ring (something GS wont be doing soon).

I beg to differ- with Baron Davis, if everyone stays healthy the Clippers will make the playoffs comfortably- make the playoffs AND do some major damage too. How deep into the playoffs we go will depend. We know what we'll get from Baron, EB, Kaman, and Mobley, so a lot of it will be up to Thornton's play (assuming we can't keep Maggette) and the play of Eric Gordon.