After Smush passed his physical, it was reported that he was headed to Atlanta to join the team for a couple of days of practice before Friday nights game against Atlanta. Before his nightmare in Miami, he was coming off his best two years as the starting PG with the Lakers where he averaged 11 PPG while shooting 44% from the field and 36% from the 3. He was 9th in the NBA in steals and 8th in the NBA in the steals to turnover ratio. He brings size and quickness to the Clippers. He is also a lot more athletic that our current crop of PG's and will bring a little show to an offense that currently is stagnant and boring while the team plays out the string this season.

So, what is the rap against Smush. He is actually a nice guy but has been a head case at times. But I watched him play over 100 games with the Lakers and his reputation is his lack of defense because he can not stay in front of the fastest PG's when they explode with the first step. Smush is quick and quick enough to always be a steals leader, so what is the problem. My thought has always been that he shouldn't crowd the fast PG's out high and back up a half a step giving himself more room to move side to side. It is a containment stategy. If he can solve this one aspect of his game he can actually help any team. He can run the break, shoot from the outside, make athletic plays, and be fun to watch. He came out of the school yards playing the "show" game.

After this road trip Smush will return to Staples Arena and it will be Deja Vu all over again, just in a different uniform. Smush is not likely to be our starting PG next season. But if it works out he could be a valuable back up as a combo guard available to play the 1 and the 2. Go Smush.....this is your last chance Buddy. Don't mess it up!

JamFan

He then went on to proclaim that it was Sterling who nixed two trades last summer that would have improved the team. One trade was Corey Maggette, whose contract is expiring this summer anyway with no guarantee you can sign him, for Jason Terry. Sterling is in love with Maggette so, No Deal.

Dunleavy also wanted to sign former San Antonio free-agent guard Beno Udrih, but the Clippers' bean counter, Andy Roeser, decided Udrih wasn't worth the money it would take to sign him. Beno is one of the most improved players this season, so that was a poor judgement. The problem seems to be that I have always felt that the reason the Clippers have drafted so poorly in past years has been because Sterling was meddling in player personnel matters. That is a problem because Sterling isn't a basketball man. And when you have bean counters instead of basketball people making player decisions, you have a big problem. I wonder if that same bean counter has noticed how badly ticket sales are and TV ratings. The loss of revenue this year must be astounding. It seems evident to me that is the reason that everybody's tempers are so short.

Elgin Baylor and Coach Dunleavy are always going to be a better judge of horse flesh that a real estate investor. Now that Sterling has meddled in the job that he supposedly gave to Coach Dunleavy, and that is to make player and drafting decisions, he wants to cry about how things are not working out. Two days ago in an interview he complained about the job Dunleavy and Baylor were doing and Baylor was apparently on the other end of the room. He went on to say if things didn't get better and they didn't make the playoffs this season, changes would be made, suggesting that Dunleavy or Baylor could be gone. Dunleavy implied again yesterday that Sterling just doesn't know what he is talking about and doesn't know basketball by saying that the Clippers would have to go 34 -10 the rest of way to make the playoffs which is not a practical thought under the current circumstances. "Where we are today as far as making the playoffs, nobody in their right mind would bet on that."

As far as future decisions on player personnel matters, "You give me the budget," Dunleavy said, "and I'm going to be OK with it. I'm not asking anyone to go to the luxury tax." "But if we gather information and put deals in place that I think benefit the team and somebody who is not in basketball operations disagrees with it, sorry, you've just taken it out of my hands."

So, the the family fued begins. The battle lines have been drawn. The only way this can be fixed is by Sterling getting out of the way. I have not always been sure about Coach Dunleavy's decisions on drafting, trades and free agent signings, but now I am not so sure those decisions were Dunleavy's to make on his own. But one thing is for sure, Dunleavy knows more about players than Sterling and the bean counter. Putting a good team together is hard enough without having to get the approval of the owner and FO people who have no clue.

Jam Fan

He was honored as the MVP of the All Star Game where he scored 26 points on 7 of 8 from the 3. This was after he had just placed second in the 3 Pt shooting contest during All Star weekend. One scout said, if he shoots the 3 and hits the 3, there just isn't much you can do about it.

http://www.interbasket.net/players/zhizhi.jpg

JamFan

An MRI exam in Los Angeles on Saturday performed by team physician Dr. Tony Daly revealed the extent of the injury.

He sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a stabilizing ligament within the center of the knee, and also tore his lateral meniscus, cartilage around the knee. He is scheduled to meet with Daly again Monday and his surgery will probably take place within 10 days, once the swelling in his leg subsides.

"He has worked hard and this was the year he was getting an opportunity to play and the last couple of games he was playing well for us," Coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Hopefully, he has a speedy recovery and bounces back."

Rehabilitation usually takes six months for a torn ACL, which would put Davis on track to return for summer league. Trainer Jasen Powell said he talked to Davis on Saturday and said his spirits were high.

"Once he found out the extent of the injury, he kept his same calmness," Powell said. "He was a hard worker before the injury and I don't expect anything to change."

Davis, a second-year forward from Michigan State, averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 22 games, but was coming into his own recently, scoring 10 points twice in the last seven games. He said his confidence was growing with more playing time and he even called for the ball in the first quarter of Friday's game before nailing a jump shot.

Read the entire story

Guard Richie Frahm, who was cut by the Phoenix Suns before the season, was signed to a non-guaranteed contract to fill the spot on the roster.

The organization is concerned over the lingering injury to point guard Sam Cassell, who has missed the last eight games because of a strained left calf, and may seek help at that position.

Patterson was the only Clipper whose salary was not guaranteed. His one-year contract of $770,610 would have become guaranteed on Saturday.

He is coming off a career year for the Milwaukee Bucks, where he averaged career highs in points at 14.7 and rebounds with 4.7.

Patterson, 6-foot-5 and 223 pounds, is considered an undersized forward but an aggressive defender.

He waited deep into the off-season, looking to sign a large free-agent contract, but found the market frigid.

Instead, he signed for the veteran's minimum with the Clippers after forward Elton Brand sustained his Achilles' tendon injury.

Patterson started five of the Clippers 21 games, including the season opener against the Golden State Warriors, when he was charged with the task of defending Warrior point guard Baron Davis.

Entire Article.

Jerry is reportedly recovering from a golfing accident where a golf cart tipped over and pinned him underneath for about 15 minutes. But that didn't keep him from coming on down to visit with Clippers GM Elgin Baylor. Unconfirmed reports say he briefly addressed the players and watched one of the practices on Thursday.

Elgin Baylor and Jerry West are old friends going back to the days when they played together for the Los Angeles Lakers. They were one of the best "one-two punch" tandems to ever play the game. Jerry could drill it from the outside and Baylor made a living driving to the hoop. He was unstopable. Baylor had one of the best stretches ever recorded in the history of the NBA where he was going for 50-60 points every night with around 20 rebounds. His career was cut short because of injuries. Jerry went on to become the NBA's logo. Both are legends.

Jerry, while the GM of the Lakers made great trades over his career. His first big trade was to bring Kareem Abdul Jabbar to the Lakers. Most notably, he engineered that trade that brought the draft pick used to draft Magic Johnson. Also traded chump change for Kobe Bryant. The biggest trade was for Shaq, who joined Kobe and brought three championships to the Lakers. Reportedly stressed out or burned out, Jerry retired from the Lakers only to resurface as the GM of the Memphis Grizzlies, where he enjoyed only limited success. Recently many have believed that Jerry would come back to the Lakers in some capacity, especially with Kobe asking for his return. So far, it hasn't happened.

So one has to wonder why Jerry made the trip to check out what was going on with the Clippers? What was Elgin and Jerry talking about? Old times? Or maybe the future of the Clippers organization? Maybe, what role Jerry West could play in the Clippers scheme of things? Player consultant? Trademeister? Maybe play a role in the Maggette for Pau Gasol trade? Who knows? If he comes to work for the Clippers, are we going to see the Maggette and Thorton traded for Kobe? Just dreaming!

JamFan...aka Don Allen

After being traded to the New York Knicks in a 5 player deal, Dan has accepted a buyout from the Knicks and will be taking a physical today in LA. No announcement has been made, but it is expected that he will be in training camp with the Clips on Thursday.

You have to wonder if this scenario had something to do with the Clips trading Jared Jordan to the Knicks at the exact same time they were buying out Dickau and the Clips picking him up.

Dan is a pure up tempo point guard who hasn't as yet had a starting role, so his minutes have been limited. If you project his career numbers over 40 minutes, he would score 15 PPG while distributing 8 APG. His 40% from the field and 34% from the 3, is good enough so long as he is getting his assists.

Bringing in Dan, makes one wonder how much confidence the Clippers have in Sam, Brevin Knight, and Guillermo Diaz. Sam and Brevin get hurt a lot, so maybe they are thinking that if they do get hurt, they do not want to have to rely on a raw rookie Guillermo Diaz. Also, Sam is in the final year of his contract. And Shaun's Livingston's return to the team is uncertain. The most important thing is that if Dickau's contract is guaranteed, and no trades are made before the beginning of the season, there literally are no roster spots available for Diaz and Korolev.

Only time will tell what Dickau's role will be on the team, but he will be fun to watch. He is another young speedster who will fit into Coach Dunleavy's new found committment to an up tempo game. I can't see Sam leading a run and gun game, so are we going to have two offenses? One, when Sam is on the floor, and another when any other PG is running the show?

Today could be the day. The Clippers long search for a PG, not only to replace the injured Shaun Livingston, but also to support the ageing Sam Cassell, could be over today as Steve Francis, whose contract has been bought out by Portland, will decided between Miami and LA.

Playing time seems to the overiding concern for The Franchise. But could his relationship with Cat Mobley, whom he played with in Houston, be that which tips the scales in favor of the Clippers. Will the hugfest between Cat and The Franchise be revived in LA?

Stay tuned

Jamfan

Paul Davis finished up his solid Summer League campaign with a respectable 16 points and 7 rebounds. Over the 5 games he averaged 12 points (45% FG) and 8 boards. Paul managed only 1 block the entire league, however, and at times shied away from contact down low with his shots. But it was nice to see him shooting well from the outside, and playing hard in general.

Jared Jordan didn't put up great numbers tonight but time and time again he was able to get his teammates open looks. In the fourth quarter alone he setup Abukar for 3 or 4 open jumpers- unfortunately all those shots clanged off the rim. Overall Jared averaged 4 points, 5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds a game. Defensively he struggled at times against quicker guards, but I would not be surprised to see him play some important minutes this year for the team.

Guillermo Diaz had yet another rough shooting night- 2 of 8 for 6 points. In the 5 games he shot only 31% and averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.4 assist/game. He is athletic and is a terrific free throw shooter, but he certainly didn't help himself in these games in his quest to make the team. He might have a chance if he plays drastically better during training camp & the pre-season.

Ivan Radenovic finally got an opportunity to play some meaningful minutes tonight. He showed a nice shooting touch and made all 3 of his shot attempts, and ended up having 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He seems like a pretty unselfish player, but a bit lacking on strength. At this point he appears like a smaller version of Paul Davis.

Mohamed Abukar had a nightmarish game tonight as he missed a ton of open shots, going 2 for 13 overall. Despite his struggles this game he ended up shooting a respectable 43% FG for the summer league and averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds. He would be another long shot to make the team.

Mike Gansey didn't shoot well tonight but had an impact while he was out there with 6 points, 7 boards, and 2 assists. He seems like a heady player who has a chance to make it in the NBA if he can improve the consistency on his outside shot. His play reminds you a little bit of Brent Barry, except Brent is taller, more athletic, and a better shooter.

Will Conroy had a solid game with 4 assists. He is a steady point guard who's not going to make too many mistakes. At this point though Jared Jordan looks to be the better PG, so Will's shot at making the team in October will probably be slim.

So that is it for the summer league- it was fun and exciting watching these Clipper prospects play and seeing what they could bring to the team. Pretty soon we should find out which free agent(s) the team will find. USA Basketball is also around the corner and we might get to see EB in action.

Overall it was a solid team effort against a talented Grizzly summer league team. The Clippers will finish their schedule with a game vs. the Kings on Sunday. That game will be web-only, but it was definitely nice being able to watch this game on regular TV.