The Clippers first target was New York's Zach Randolph. They made an offer of a second round pick for Randolph but were rebuffed. Randolph's contract was for 3 years at 14 Mil per year, but his numbers were a lofty 18 and 10. They tried again, offering only a second round pick, and picked up 34 year old veteran center Marcus Camby from Denver. The often injured Camby is a career long double double machine. But his specialty is not scoring but rather rebounds, defense, and blocked shots. At 34, Camby reached his career high in rebounds with 13 per game last season. That feat was punctuated by only scoring 3 points per game while still averaging 10 rebounds during the playoffs. Still, his contract only calls for 8 Mil next year and 7.6 Mil in it's final year, so he becomes a short term rental for a year or two.

The confusing thing for Clipper fans is that Camby is a center, or at least that is the postition he has always played. He seems athletic enough to make the transition to power forward, but he may be to one dimensional on offense. Hopefully his strengths on the defensive end and rebounding will make up for it.

The Clippers gave up no assets to get Marcus Camby, and have left themselves with enough cap space to more adequately round out their roster and make sure their bench is deep. They also still have to ability to trade the contracts of Cat Mobles and or Tim Thomas to bring in another player, so they just might not be finished yet.

JamFan

Surprisingly, Josh Smith was already in LA on Tuesday, long before it was officially announced that Elton Brand was heading to Philly. He is scheduled to meet with the Clippers management on Wednesday.

Will they take a chance and give him the same offer that that they gave Brand? Will Atlanta match the offer? Can they somehow front load the offer so that Atlanta would be reluctant to match? Are they willing to lose a week of negotiating time needed to work with other free agents while Atlanta is making up their mind?

At age 22, Josh Smith just might be worth the wait. He is 2nd in the NBA in blocked shots and was 7th in steals during the playoffs. He carried Atlanta to a 7th game against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs. He went for 17PPG and 8RPG last season and his numbers have been climbing every year. He is both an offensive and defensive presence that could rock our world for many years to come.

Honored as Mr. Basketball in the State of Indiana, Eric broke all scoring records for freshman in the Big 10 and at Indiana University. Averaging 21PPG, he was also honored as Big 10 Freshman of the Year. He was also honored as a second team All American and also 2007 Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year.

All of the honors are great, but the Clippers drafted him because with his outside shooting from downtown, he opens up the offense so the Bigs can work down low. He hit 43% from the field and 34% from the 3 as a freshman. His numbers would have been even higher but he struggled with a wrist injury the last 7 games of the season. He can also drive to the bucket and draw the foul, so defenders can not cheat on him.

In one of his last pre draft workouts he hit 10 NBA 3's in a row and commented afterword that he wished he had shot better. Is he the shooter that the Clippers have so sorely missed for several seasons? Will he be Rookie of the Year? His jouney begins in NBA Summers league that is only about a week away. Look for him to be paired at SG with PG Mike Taylor who was drafted in the second round out of the D League. They should make quite a pair.

Ticket sales will be brisk. Baron Davis is coming back to help resurrect a franchise that has been decimated by injuries just after finally reaching the playoffs two seasons ago.

He joins a pair of stars in Elton Brand and Chris Kaman. He comes to tutor another young budding star in Al Thorton, the scoring machine. He comes to mentor one of greatest young shooters to ever come out of college, Eric Gordon. He is there to help put it all together into one smooth engine firing on all cylinders. He will push the offense like no other point guard in the history of the LA Clippers. He will score.

Do we have the makings of one of the most talented back courts in all of basketball, Baron Davis and Eric Gordon? Can they combine for 40 points a night? Will they shoot the lights out? With their outside shooting will they free up our big guys down low, so that they can have their way with any defense that tries to stop them? Will there be another great player that will sign a long term mid level deal with Clippers just so he can be a part of what is about to happen? The Red Baron flies again, this time in a Clippers uniform.

JamFan

Many NBA commentators were surprised that DeAndre did not decide to back to school for one more year. Even so, he was projected as a lottery pick in many mock drafts and was supposed to be gone by the middle of the first round. Had he stayed in school one more year, mock drafts for 2009 had his as a top 5 pick. Fox Sports, in their winners and loser article, stated that the Clippers were one of the biggest winners in last weeks draft. Not because of Eric Gordon, but because they were able to get DeAndre in the second round. He is a young project. But he is a 19 year old 7 footer, with a huge wingspan, off the charts athleticism, he is quick, and he can run the wing on the fast break. He has been compared to Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum. Will he turn into one of those players? His jouney begins in the NBA summer league as a member of the Clipper squad. This is one show we will not want to miss.

I can't find one reliable rumor regarding the Clippers making a trade. I really can't see them giving up an asset to trade up because they are going to get such a great player at 7. I can see some players, like Brandon Rush and a couple others, who might be worth trading down for if they can pick up a pick or player in the process.

As usual, the Clippers are not talking. The GM's who are floating rumors are usually doing their fake left and go right manuever to keep teams from putting a value on the player they are really going to take.

I have changed my mind about who is the best player in the draft. After the Final 4, I was quite sure that Derrick Rose was #1. But the more I looked at tape, and studied the stats, I have come to the conclusion that Michael Beasley is the guy. But at the 1 and the 2, you would be very satisfied taking either player based on your team's need.

Usually, there are far fewer trades on draft day than rumors. So let's assume there are no trades going down before the Clippers pick. I am going to go out on a limb and give you my first 7 picks and whom the Clippers might take in the second round, depending on whose available.
1- Chicago - Derrick Rose
2- Miami - Michael Beasley
3- Minnesota - Brook Lopez or Kevin Love
4- Seattle - OJ Mayo ( told the 3-5 teams not to draft him, he could drop)
5- Memphis- Kevin Love or Brook Lopez
6- New York - Danilo Gallinari
7- LA Clippers - Jerryd Bayless
* Bayless doesn't fall - Then it's Russell Westbrook - then Eric Gordon
2nd round - LA Clippers - Courtney Lee - Billy Walker - George Hill
In that order depending on whose available at the time.

Players we might trade down for - Brandon Rush, DJ Augustin

OK, I can hear the Hee Haws out there already. This is actually one of the hardest draft in some time to get a handle on. There are a lot of really good players among the top 16. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is also very hard to predict if any Euro players are going to make an impact early on.

So you don't like my picks. Feel free to hit the discuss buttom and let me have it.

JamFan

There are rumors about the 3rd pick that many assumed would go to Brook Lopez. Many feel that he will drop and the 3rd pick could cause a disruption that could cascade right down through draft affecting who could be available when we get to the Clippers 7th pick. Most feel that pick would have been targeted at a guard. It is now possible that the best player available might be a "Big".

Oh, yes, the second round. All of the discussion about the 7th pick means we have to analyze players, both big and small for the Clippers. If they go big in the first round they are likely to go small in the second and visa versa. And there are plenty of interesting options.

First let's look at some "Bigs" who are likley to be available early in the second round.

Joey Dorsey - PF Memphis - some felt he might move up into late in the first round, but he had an inconsistant Pre-Draft Camp. He could be a good NBA role player who can rebound and play defense, but may never be a great scorer.

Omer Asik - PF/C Turkey - the Clippers have reportedly scouted and had contact with Asik overseas. Considered one of the top 7' players in Europe who could be brought in to back up Kaman.

DJ White - PF Indiana - a short but powerful PF with a 7' wingspan. Good low post game. Likes to dunk and block shots. Explosive, athletic, and a good rebounder.

Nicola Perovic - PF/C Serbia - another good Serbian big man who some think is better than Omer Asik. Good low post game with a baby hook shot. Averaged 22 and 7 with 63% from the floor.

If for some reason the Clippers go big with their first pick, they will still have a glaring need for another shooter and a point guard.

Ty Lawson - PG UNC- lightning quick and very athletic. He is my candidate to be one of the most likely players to drop out of the first round because he is short at 5'11" for the NBA and will have trouble with defensive matchups. But if you are looking for a PG guard to come off the bench who can run the break and dish the rock, Ty would be a great catch in the 2nd round.

DeMarcus Nelson - SG Duke - was supposed to be late 2nd rounder but has had an excellent Pre-Draft Camp so he may be moving up. Scored 22 points the last day and has been the leading scorer almost every day. He is a shooter with 3 point range and the Clippers like players coming out of the Duke program.

Sonny Weems - SG Arkansas - quick, athletic, likes to run the floor. Has an Al Thorton style motor that runs and runs. Can score in a variety of ways but is considered a raw talent who would need some seasoning. It is hard to predict how good he could be eventually.

Lester Hudson - SG/PG Tennesee Martin - if you are looking for a scorer, Lester might be you man. He has 3 point range and averaged over 25 PPG in college while playing the point. He has had a sucessful Pre-Draft camp, and has tremendous skill for a player who could be taken late. He was 3rd in the nation in scoring and 4th in steals.

Kyle Weaver - PG/SG Washington St. - another combo guard who is quick, a good defender, but not necessarily a great shooter. A tall guard with a big wingspan who can play both positions.

I know there are certainly other players we could consider early in the 2nd round. We do not as yet know those who could drop or who the sleepers are over in Europe. Certainly, the Clippers have shown in the past that they will take a chance in the 2nd round on unknown quantities. They haven't been very successful in the 2nd round. Most of their picks have left the team within a year or two or never made the team at all. This year could be different. This is a deep draft with some really good talent that will be available to them late.

My favorite is Lester Hudson. We need a PG, and getting one who is already a big time scorer as well and with 3 point range seems to be the best of all scenarios for the Clippers because they need a PG and a shooter. He has a killer cross over dribble and is a very creative passer helping his team mates score while scoring a lot himself. He was also 4th in the nation in steals and third in the nation in scoring. One scouting report compares him to Rodney Stuckey. We should be that lucky.

The Clippers have surprised me just about every year in the 2nd round so I am not hopefull they will take anybody on the above list. Usually I end up saying "suprise, surprise, surprise".

Jamfan

With the draft now only one month away, speculation is starting to heat up about what all of the top teams in the draft are going to do. The Clippers have the 7th pick and two of their top players, Maggette and Brand, are in a position to opt out of their contracts. They could also seek extensions, seek trades, or wait until the following summer to figure out what they are going to do.

The consensus is that Brand will not opt out and will probably seek and extension. Maggette will probably opt out or seek a sign and trade. Trading Maggette at this point seems more likely but to which team and for whom? So far the rumors have been distant and more of media speculation than hard negotiations.

Meanwhile, what New York does might affect the Clippers more than you might would think. Danilo Gallinari is not coming to the NBA workouts starting next week because his team is still playing in the playoffs over in Europe. His first stop when he gets here, New York. His father played for new coach D'Antoni for 8 years in Italy and there are deep connections there, not to mention D'Antoni speaks fluent Italian. Danilo's people say he will work out for very few teams. Do they already have a committment from the Knicks?

If so, this really helps the Clippers if they really have there eyes set on OJ Mayo. Currently, NBADraft.net and some other mock drafts have OJ going 6th to the Knicks. But if they pick Gallinari, OJ drops right into the Clippers lap for the taking.

Morever, there is some speculation that Miami might trade down to get OJ, trying to pick an additional asset while getting the player they want anyway. If OJ is what Miami wants, and the Clippers want the #2 pick allowing them to get either Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, they would have to package their pick to move up.

It is unclear what the Clippers would offer to create such a deal or what Miami would be willing to accept. We are now only 30 days away from the draft. The rumor mill on draft picks and trades is just getting started.

JamFan

They reported it like is common knowledge. If so, the Clippers must be aware of it. So why didn't they go ahead and trade a player who is having a career season and at least get something for him? He makes so little he certainly doesn't clear a lot of cap space next summer.

So where will he sign? Will it be the Clippers? I think the Clippers can either offer him a bigger deal or a longer deal than other teams.

But will they? That same article said that EB is not going to opt out. Why not? He is paid a lot better than Corey. But will the Clippers be willing to have over 40 Mil devoted to just 3 players? That is what it is going to take to keep EB, Maggette, and Kaman on the same roster for the next few years. Q ross is also an unrestricted free agent. He certainly will sign somewhere for more than the paltry $800,000 that he is making now. So if the Clippers want tot keep him, they will have to pony up some more bucks for him as well.

Meanwhile they are taking this "injury" opportunity to give Thorton as many minutes as possible to get him up to speed as quickly as they can. Is he the heir apparent for our small forward position? He certainly will not need a raise for a couple of years. If he ends up starting at small forward next season, the 13+ Mil they would have to give Corey could be spent on a top flight shooting guard or point guard. They may feel that Livinston's knee is just to risky to depend on next season to allow him to once again play at they same level he was at last year. Or they could use the 6 Mil exception to get a top veteran PG, and spend Corey's money on an all star level shooting guard.

The possibilites are endless. The reality for the Clippers is never all that certain. If Corey opts out and is gone, just because you now have the money to spend, doesn't mean top players will want to come to a team that seems to be in such a disfunctional state of disarray.

JamFan

The reports are so positive that it's easy to imagine that all of this is going to happen sooner rather than later. Elton reports that he is jumping as high as he ever has, especially off two feet. And if he can dunk.....well then it seems he is on his way to a full recovery.

Now that we are past the trading deadline with the same roster we had yesterday, when Elton returns we know that it is possible for this team to at least return to the same effectiveness that it had before he got injured.

Will he get so excited that he begs to return in time for the Laker game on Saturday night? Or will they wait a week or two to make sure that his legs are solid as a rock? The clock is ticking. We are waiting!

JamFan

Last season many pundits picked the Clippers to make an even stronger run in the playoffs than they had the previous year. Then things started to unravel. First, after Chris Kaman signed a contract extension he decided to go into hybernation. Sam struggled often with injuries. Then Shaun Livingston ripped his knee apart. The team struggled to a dismal finish.

Last summer was again full of promise. We made a crafty draft pick in Al Thorton and things were looking up. But the Clippers failed to sign one of the top free agent point guards to replace Shaun. Then the sky fell through the roof. Elton Brand sustains an injury that would keep him out for quite some time. The end result has not been all that pretty as the Clippers have sank to the bottom of their division and sport the 5th worst record in the NBA.

Sam fought the good fight and has been a good warrior. Now, with his contract expiring at the end of this season, he sees no purpose in his being here any longer. The Clippers need to rebuild for next year. For Sam, the clock is ticking. He only has only so many more games left in those legs.

Meanwhile, Danny Ainge parlayed one of the worst rosters in the NBA into a powerhouse by trading for two super stars. A roster that is likely headed the NBA finals. Sam, has the opportunity to become a part of that party. So, he is asking for a buyout. If not traded or given a buyout, he will finish his time with the Clippers with a bad taste in his mouth. It is time for him to move on. It is time for the Clippers to move on. We either get players, draft picks, or cap space. Either way, do the deal. Get it done and let Sam go. He is a good guy and deserves no less.

JamFan

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_8007265

JamFan

2- Detroit Pistons 26-8 - Won 9 straight before running into the Boston Celtics Saturday night. How sizzling hot can you be. The Pistons are running on all cylinders.

3- San Antonio Spurs 22-9 - I reluctantly still put the Spurs in the 3rd spot despite the fact they have only won 5 of their last 10. They were on the road 7 of those games and mostly against tough opponents. Need a healthy Manu Ginobili

4- Phoenix Suns 23-10 - The Suns have looking human lately winning only 6 of 10 while struggling to be as consistant as in the past. They are winning on the road. They need to keep Grant Hill healthy. Even though they have 6 players in double figures, their bench is just not producing.

5 - Los Angeles Lakers 20-11 - The Lakers are surging of late winning 7 of thier last 10 with two of the losses against Cleveland and Boston while beating the Suns. Half of those games were on the road. With Fish, AB, Farmar and new addition Trevor Ariza making significant contributins, Kobe actually gets to take a breather on occasion.

6- Dallas Mavericks 22-10 - Won 8 of 10 and thier last 3 in a row after stumbling a little bit early on. The team in still loaded with talent and will be right there at the end.

7- New Orleans Hornets 23-11 - Won 8 of their last 10 and 3 in a row, with 6 games on the road. Most of their wins have been against week opponents. Good road record with Chris Paul leading the way.

8 - Denver Nuggets 22-12 - Won their last two in a row but only 6 of the last 10. Lots of talent here but they do not always play team ball.

9- Portland Trailblazer 21-13 - One of the hottest teams in the NBA winning 9 of their last 10 but most of the games were at home and against teams with poor records.

10 - Orlando Magic 22-13 - Started strong but fading a little losing their last two and finding only 5 wins out of the last 10.

11 - Golden State Warrior 19-15 - After starting slow they are starting to find themselves and are looking more like last years team again. They are winning on the road so now if they can only figure out how to win at home.

12 - New Jersey Nets 17 -16 - Starting to surge a little in a weak conference, but they have won 7 of 10 and their last 5 in a row.

13 - Washington Wizards 16-15 - With Caron Butler leading the way they are holding their own with Agent Zero out with injury.

14 - Utah Jazz 18-17 - Only a shell of last year's team so far this year. The teamwork and chemistry has suffered a blow.

15 - Cleveland Cavaliers 16-17 - Only team with a losing record to crack my top 16 and only because they have won their last 2 and 6 of 10. They can not seem to win on the road. King James can't do it alone.

16 - Houston Rockets 17-17 - Falling on hard times and having TMac out with injury is not helping. Hiring a new coach has not worked out so far.

On the out side looking in, who are the bubble teams?

Toronto Raptors - Indiana Pacers - Atlanta Hawks

JamFan

We just need to survive until we get Cat, Shaun, and EB back, probably in that order. So other players are stepping up. The MVP so far seems to be Chris Kaman. He is putting up All Star candidate style numbers. Through 5 games he is hitting 53% from the field, 18 PPG, 15 RPG, 1.6 blocks, and has an NBA efficiency rating of 28 EFF which puts him among the league's elite.

Corey Maggette is returning to his leading role with EB out, hitting 42% from the field, and enormous 46% from the 3, 90% form the line, 19PPG, 6 RPG, 3 APG, and has an NBA effieciency rating of 18 EFF.

Tim Thomas is another player who has stepped up with his new starting role. So far he has 15 PPG, 6 RPG, and a 15 EFF in 31 minutes.. He is only hitting 44% form the field 47% from the 3, and 90% from the line. These numbers are all better than his career numbers so this could be his best season ever. Maybe the other teams will try to pour a bucket of cold water on him to try and stop him.

After Corey, Cat, Tim, and Chris, there have been players who have had their moments but not consistantly every night. Sam went for 35 against Indiana, but is only averaging 13 PPG, 5 APG, and 15 EFF. To be fair, Sam is only averaging 24 minutes per game, which is probably a good thing.

We are all on our Al Thorton watch to see if he gets minutes and if he can produce even though he is a rookie. His best game was against Indiana where he went for 13 points and 7 rebounds. But his rookie inconsistancy is showing with 23% shooting from the field. So far he is going for 6 PPG and 4 RPG in 19 minutes. Once the butterflies are gone and he finds his game, he will be unstoppable. It's just a matter of time.

The rest of the team is playing well but not shooting a great percentage or scoring very much. We need more than 4 players in double figuers to continue this run. Cat Mobley, who is currently out of the lineup, was our 5th player in double figures with 18 PPG, 4 RPG, in only 27 minutes. And if you want to talk about hot shooting, he is hitting 62%, yes that was 62, from the field and 47% from the 3, and with an 18 EFF. It is easy to see why we need to get him back as soon as possible.

So we have a big game an home on Sunday against King James. The KTLA feed will be blacked out for many of you but we are working on that. Let's get a big reponse on TopBuzz during the game so those who can not get a feed in some other way won't feel totally left out on how well the game is going. Go Clipper Nation. Go Clippers!

JamFan aka Don Allen

OK, what you did in college, well that was then and this is now. Granted 20 PPG with 7 RPG in 31 minutes is pretty good for a college game. And hitting 53 % from the field and 44% from the 3, is pretty solid. But is it good enough to make the Clippers forget all about Corey Maggette?

The answer to that question would be easier if it were not this season. With Shaun Livingston and Elton Brand out to start the season, the Clippers are now more than ever looking for Corey Maggette to carry the team. Just prior to his last collision with injuries, Corey led the team and averaged over 20 points per game. They now need him to do that and even more.

Al Thorton finally got some significant minutes in Sunday nights game on the road against the athletic Warriors, and threw down 24 points, hitting 11 of 15 shots. It would seem that the Clippers could use that kind of play, along with Corey's, to help fill the gap while we are waiting for EB to return.

But what if come January the season is lost, and it is starting to look like a rebuilding year? They might feel that by the time EB returns, it might be too late, and EB not strong enough to make a difference, to make the playoffs, or go very far if you got there. What if Corey's agent signals to the Clippers that he is not coming back and will sign elsewhere next summer? What if Al Thorton is scoring in double figures with a high shooting percentage?

This is a scenario that could lead to the Clippers dealing Corey away before the trading deadline. They would at least get something for him instead of just letting him depart during the summer and leave the Clippers stuck holding the bag. An expiring contract and a first round draft pick would be nice. Especially if the option is........nothing.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure. Either way, if Al Thorton turns into the scoring monster that some think he just might turn out to be, we are good if Corey stays, and we are good if Corey goes. But if Al is the heir apparent at SF, then getting a stud shooting guard for Corey wouldn't be all that bad. Gilbert Arenas anyone?

1st off you can make a trade. There are fewer trade rumors this off season involving the Clippers than just about any other team. We haven't even heard Corey Maggette's name until draft night and then it was commentators purely speculating what might happen now that the Clippers have drafted Al Thorton. The only other speculation I have heard is that with Thorton on board, the player that brings the most back to the Clippers is Elton Brand. But you can be rest assured that did not come from the Clippers and I am quite sure EB will be here next fall.

Your second opportunity is the draft. It certainly seems that the Clippers made the most of their lottery opportunity in selecting Al Thorton who was rated as high as the 7th pick by some Mock Drafts. We actually improved here. Drafting Jared Jordan in the second round brought in a PG with promise but probably will not help us to much this upcoming season.

Well, for the Clippers, trades are not that likely, the draft is over, so that leaves us with Free Agency. We are already very close to the cap and that leaves us only enough money to sign Guillermo Diaz and fill out our roster with role players. We will need to sign Thorton and presumably Jordan. So that leaves us with only our MLE of about 6 Mil to go out and make a free agent splash.

Oddly enough, the Clippers have the same problem the Lakers have. They need a point guard. And the targets that the Clippers will be going after could be the same guys the Lakers want since they only have their MLE to offer as well. So who are the best free agent PG's. The #1 rated PG is Chauncey Billups. The Lakers or the Clippers can forget him unless there is someway they could trade for him. He is not signing for the MLE. The #2 and #3 rated PG's appears to be Mo Williams and Steve Blake. It is unclear as of right now exactly how much these two guys will ask for, but it is conceivable one of the could be had for 6 Mil. The next tier is comprised of Jannero Pargo, Gary Payton, Chucky Atkins, Kenyon Dooling, and Jason Hart. They are all good PG's, but they do not help in getting you to the next level. All of them could be had for less that MLE money.

So that brings us to Theo Papaloukas. He is rated the best PG in Europe and brings the history of a game in the World Championships where he humbled the best PG's that the NBA and the Team USA had to offer. Nobody could stop him. He went for 25 and dished a bunch of assists. He played with the court sense of a Steve Nash. I went a studied tape of Theo and he reminds you of the way that Steve Nash dishes the ball off. He seems more athletic that Nash. He might be the best PG available at the MLE. One problem is the buy our of his Euro contract which is reported to be 400K. If you want him and you think he is the best, that is mere chump change.

There isn't a lot more that the Clippers can do. They have to make good use of their MLE during free agency. The urgency is thrust upon us because of Shaun's injury and the thought that he may never ever come back as good as he was.

If the Clippers ever did sign Smush, it would be because they could sign him on the cheap. The Clips are hampered by the salary cap. However, they would not have to trade an asset to get Smush. He hasn't produced at a level that would command big money, so he fits in with their desire to not pay luxury tax for going over the cap.

Smush can be a credible offensive threat and can hit from downtown. But he disappears offensively at times. Some of that could be due to Kobe taking over the offense, leaving little opportunities for him to get shots in some games. If the Clips think that he could be a more consistant outside threat with Kobe not around, they might take a chance on him.

The larger concern however is defense. Smush is actually great at creating steals with his quickness and anticipation. But he is not very good at straight up defense against the best guards in the league like Nash. But a lot of guys can't guard Nash. He doesn't fight his way around screens very well. But this weakness was magnified with the Lakers because there often was nobody behind him clogging up the middle or rotating over with help.

Smush is ranked 8th in the NBA in steals vs turnover ratio, and 13th overall. He was 38th in 3 PT shooting with Kobe on the court. In two seasons with the Lakers, he averaged 11 PPG, 3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 steals, while hitting 44% and 36% from the 3. Some critics says he would be a better guard off the bench because he could be instant offense off the bench and wouldn't have to guard the starting PG for the opposing team.

So can Smush be helpful? Yes! Would Mike Dunleavey like his style? Nope! Is Smush afraid of anything or anybody? Nope! Can he play great at times? Yep! Can he take you deep into the playoffs? NO!

JamFan

Doug Chistie is not coming back to the Clippers after the break after he had just signed his second 10 day contract. Look for the Clippers to continue their try-out of players with another 10 day contract. Who's next? I hope it is a shooter.

Rumors of the Clippers trading for Vince Carter are circulating again. The Nets are reportedly looking for a promising young player, a first round pick, and expiring contacts. We have an extra first round pick and Rebraca's expiring contract. But would you give up Maggette for a player who can opt out of his contract with out a committment that he would not do so? And how do you get that in writing?

There was a whisper of a rumor that the Clippers and the Kings are also talking again about a Maggette for Artest deal. The Maloof brothers say it isn't so. But the Maloofs, who own a prominent Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, The Palm, are talking up how great it would be to have an NBA franchise there. Would they move the KIngs to Las Vegas if the NBA would let them?

There are no other trade rumors involving the Clippers out there right now. The trading deadline is 5 days away.

The Clippers start a 5 game homestand against 5 teams with losing records. Could the Clippers regain their "eye of the tiger?" Winning 5 in a row would certainly help.

After showing the world what he could do to help the Clippers win in the Philly game last Friday after finally getting some important minutes, James Singleton was rewarded by mostly getting benched in Sunday's game and played only 1 minute. Thanks for the energy and effort big fella. The Clippers lost by 14 scoring only 80 points. Coach Dumleavy couldn't find a way to use a player with "Mo" and went with the same players and game plan that has failed to produce much offense. Things got better Monday night with the Clippers scoring 74 points, but they only lost by 18.

One week away from the trading deadline and their are still no credible trade rumors involving the Clippers or Corey Maggette. Look for Corey to remain a Clipper. If they don't play him, look for him to eventually opt out of his contract early, and then we will get nothing for him. Play him or trade him.

Is there any way we could start a new NBA tradition of trading coaches? You know how sometimes teams will exchange two players who are underachievers hoping they will regain their form with new teams. Well, we could do that with coaches who are floundering. We could trade Dumleavy for a coach in another city who can't quite get his team motivated. Or maybe the coaching styles just do not match the talent for the respective teams and a trade would put the right coach with the right players. Coach Dumleavy's style would be great for..................well, I can't quite think of a roster that would need his offense at the moment. But I am open to suggestions.

Has anyone noticed that Mike Dunleavy Jr. is playing at the same level in Indiana as he did at Golden State. His production per minutes played and shooting percentages are about the same. A change of scenary has not yet produced better results.

Doug Christie certainly has some veteran skills, but everyone has identified that what the Clippers really need is an outside shooter to spark the offense. Instead, they are going with a defensive guy off the bench. Hmmmm. Looks like eveyone has identified the missing link except Coach Fumbling Bungling Dumleavy.

There are only 1357 days until Coach Dumleavy has coached his last game as the Clippers coach.

JamFan

James Singleton finally got to play some substantive minutes Friday resulting in a Clipper win on the road against Philly and his team mates giving him high praise for his exploits on the court.

There are no credible trade rumors out there involving the Clippers with the trading deadline only 11 days away.

Peter Vecey is still thinking that Jason Kidd could be traded to the Lakers. Reports are that the Lakers might get him for a couple of 1st round draft picks and the expiring contracts of Mihm and Aaron Mckie, and without giving up any key players.

The only way the Clippers can finish this trip above 500 is by winning the next two games on the road starting today in Indiana. If they can somehow win today, they would have to win the second game of a back to back tomorrow night in Detroit. Good Luck!

The good news is that after the Clippers go home they have 5 games in a row at home and against teams that are all below 500. You could easily imagine them winning 5 in a row.

Doug Christie's 10 day contract expired Friday night after the Philly win and they are expected to sign him to another 10 contract in time for the Indiana game.

7'9" Sun MIng MIng, after playing pretty well in his debut in the ABA and after being featured on NBC's Today Show, will play again today in his second game as the world tallest Bastketball player. He is the 2nd tallest man in the world. Some scouts say he is showing some skills, but after being out for 6 months, he is struggling with his conditioning.

There are only 1360 days until Coach Dumleavy has coached his last game for the LA Clippers.

If a 10 day contract wouldn't work for Diaz, why don't the Clippers sign him for the rest of the season. Everyone has talked about how the Clippers need a 3 point shooter. Diaz was only hitting over 50% from the 3 in Europe. An open 3 is an open 3 whether it's in Europe or LA. Does anybody know where there is a 3 point shooter anywhere that is available that is hitting over 50% from downtown? Diaz is not only available, but we do not have to trade anything for him. He merely just takes an open roster spot and it would cost the Clippers only chump change to sign him. He would be fun to watch with his ability at 6'2" to literally jump over the moon.

JamFan

ALERT - ESPN REPORTS THAT COACH DUNLEAVY IS STILL LOBBYING FOR A TRADE TO BRING HIS SON TO THE CLIPPERS, OTHER REPORTS CONFIRM.

ALERT- REPORTS CONFIRM THAT CLIPPERS MANAGEMENT ARE RESISTING A STRAGHT ACCROSS TRADE OF MAGGETTE FOR DUNLEAVY.

Coach Dunleavy, who is supposed to be the great talent evaluator, has been exposed in TopBuzz as being the great pretender when it comes to evaluating talent. But his eyes could not be any more blind than when it comes to his own son, Mike Dunleavy.

Drafted early in the first round 4 years ago by Golden State, and after being traded yesterday to Indiana, there were all kinds of GM's and other talent evaluators who declared Mike a bust for Golden State. The scouting report is that he is very inconsistant and can't shoot straight. The skinny is that most NBA players miss more often by shooting short or long. Mike misses by shooting left or right. He is the shooter who literally can't shoot straight. Proof is that he only shoots 34% from the 3, and in his last 3 games scored 4 pts, 2 pts, and 18 pts.

Since he had worn out his welcome in Golden State and finally traded to Indiana, he wore out his welcome in Indiana in only one day. The Pacers are already on the phone trying to trade Mike Dunleavy to the Clippers for Corey Maggette. Based on his Dad's comments yesterday after Mike's trade to Indiana, that basically said that he was disappointed because he had hoped to trade for his son because of his high basketball IQ and great shooting ability. But unike Mike Dunleavy, Corey Maggette consistantly produces every night. And everyone knows that if you were to move Maggette, the Clippers glaring need is a dead eye 3 point shooter, which Mike Dunleavy is not.

All this will not keep Dumleavy from making another talent evaluating mistake. Since he was so disappointed yesterday, he is probably elated today because the Pacers already want to move Mike Dunleavy over to the Clippers. They are looking for a sucker, and the only one they can find is his Dad. They seem to have no interest in Mike's inabilities, and see Corey Maggette as a major upgrade.

We can only hope that Elgin Baylot stops all this insanity, and either keeps Corey Maggette or waits for a better deal, like Ray Allen. If you had the rights to Ray Allen, would you trade him for Mike Dunleavy? Not unless you had just drank two bottle of Tequila. But Coach Dunleavy is drunk with his admiration of his own son. Let's hope that wiser and more stable minds prevail and this deal does not go through.

JamFan

Do you see the need for a guy who can hit one from outside the arc on a regular basis? You say our lineup needs to add depth? Do you think we need to be hit ting shots from the outside so as to open things up inside for Kaman and Elton? So you want a outside shooter for the Clippers but you do not want to give up any current players to get one. Do you want to keep Corey Maggette in a Clippers uniform? Well here is a short list of Shooters who are either veteran free agents, in Europe, or in the D league. We might as well dream because the only thing it will cost us is Donald Sterling's money.

Right out of the gate there are some veteran outside shooters just waiting for a call. So let's immediately add to the list KEITH VAN HORN, NICK VAN EXEL, TONI KUKOC, VOSHON LEONARD AND JEFF MCGINNIS. Nicks knees won't take a lot of minutes but he would never play more than 20 MPG with the Clips anyway. Jeff is mostly a mid range jump shooter. Toni could play limited minutes like Nick. And Keith would be a good 6th man type of player and can hit the long bomb. Vashon is in great shape, and hit 106 3's for Denver as a starter 3 years ago.

Don't like any of those guys? OK, well there are a couple of bombers over in Europe that might fit the bill. THEO PAPALOUKAS is the Greek player that Team USA couldn't stop no matter who they assigned to guard him, and is currently hitting 67% from the floor as an outside bomber or CSKA Moscow . Is there anybody in the NBA hitting over 60% from long range? I don't think so. TONY DELK is spending his first season overseas with a power house Greek team and is averaging 12 points off the bench and hitting 43% from the 3.

Still not convinced any of the above can help? Do you think maybe there is a gem hiding in the D league. Well, KELENNA AZUBUIKE, a 6'5" shooting guard out of Kentucky is leading the D league in scoring with 27 PPG while hitting 51% and 49% from the 3. He is excellent from the free throw line and averages over 1 steal per game. He also gets over 5 rebounds per game, 3 assists and .58 blocks. The reports are he looks real good and his body is chisled (see pic above). Born in London England, after he came to the US, he scored over 40 points per game in high school. He also shot 49% from the field in college. Drafted by Houston, he was so young they used him little. He just turned 23 and is leading a poll that asks which player will be the first player to be brought up from the D league. And there are some pretty good players down there. He is just considered the best.

This list is just a short list. There are many other oppostunities our there. Do the Clippers have the vision to sign a free agent veteran shooter? Do they have the proper scouting reports to find that Euro player that could be their next shooter? Do they have the creative insight to see the future that Kelenna holds, or are they going to let some other team turn him into an All Star? Worse yet, will they take the easy way out and trade Corey Maggette for a proven shooter thereby not improving the depth we so desperately need? Lot of questions. We will have to wait and see how the Clippers answer them.

Jamfan

Ron Artest does not give the Clippers the outside shooting that they need and he has never been a great outside shooter from the 3. Everything else about Ron Artest we have to put in past tense. He looks like a horrible washed up player at a very young age. His defense isn't even close to what it used to be, his shooting percentage is lousy, and to put his performance in the words of last nights commentators, "He looked like a zombie out there." He looks disinterested. Like he is just going throught the motions. He also looks 20 pounds overweight so he is a half step slow as well. You might remember that just last off season he spoke of retiring and going off to do music. To me he looks like he has already reitred.

On the other hand, Corey Maggette put in one of his usual great performances last night. His shooting percentage is good, his percentage from the line is great, his defense was more than adequate, and his rebounding is solid every night. Moreover, when Corey is in the game, our point spread improves. Last night we were down 6 early in the first quarter. Corey comes in and by mid way throught the second, we were up 6. He leaves and we end up leading at the half by 1. This happens all the time. Most importantly, considering he has been the subject of every trade rumor imaginable, his attitude every night has been unbelievable.

Corey Maggette is the type of guy that you want on your team. Ron Artest is not. If we are indeed going to trade for somebody, it has to be somebody other than Ron Artest. Ron Artest is done. Moreover, many have speculated that the reason the trade didn't move forward is because the Kings asked for another asset in addition Corey to get the deal done. They have got to be kidding. It should be the other way around.

Or better yet, maybe we do not want to do this deal at all. We should consider having Clippers management all get together with Corey for a group hug and declare he is off the market. We can protect Brand, Kaman, Corey, and Livingston, trade one other player along with one of our surplus first round draft picks, and Rebraca's expiring contract, for the outside shooter that we desire. That is enough to get us a good one. And we get to keep Corey.

We have all spoke lately about how our Coach is not performing properly all the time and being out of touch with reality. Well, Elgin Baylor and the owner Donald Sterling both love Corey Maggette. It is Dumleavy who likes Ron Artest. If you watched last nights game, you would wonder what is wrong with Dumleavy's perception of players and the game.

For one thing, most teams are not trying to emulate the Suns style of play, even though they might not go all the way to the extreme the Suns have. But young, fast, athletic players going for it in a run and gun style is where the NBA is heading right now. Not only is scoring up the last couple of seasons, but this style of play is more fun to watch. Dumleavy on the other hand is running a slow down game reminiscent of the Chicago Bulls back in the 80's.

I think we all need to take a step back and really analyze where we are at the moment, what we really need, and how to get there. I hope that after last nights game, Clipper management saw what a BIG mistake they almost made. I hope they take a deep breath, pause, and start to rethink the path forward. We need to keep Corey and add a shooter. We are just one injury away from actually being short handed. And we haven't always been playing that well with the depth we have now. OK, now, everybody, group hug, and send some great vibes to Corey. It is now time for the Clippers fans, when Corey comes to the free throw line, to start a chant. "Keep Corey, fire Dumleavy" or "MVP". If you are at a home game, it is your responsibily to start the chant. Stand up, wave your hands, run up and down an aisle, start the chant, and wait for security to come and get you. Wait a minute, they don't bother "Clipper Daryl."

JamFan

It doesn't matter what your or I think. The Clippers need a change. Dumleavy is probably wrong, but he seems hell bent on trading Corey Maggette. A player who can effectively drive to the bucket, score, or get fouled, and then also rack up points from the free throw line, doesn't seem to fit Dumleavy's game plan. Funny, that seems to be the way Kobe scores so much.

So the change will be that Corey gets shipped off somewhere. Most analysts would say that if the Clippers do not want a player who drives to the hoop, therefore clogging things up for the big fellas, then what they should be getting is a pure outside shooter. Especially since that seems to be their current most glaring weakness shooting less than 30% from the 3. Well Ron Artest has talents, but pure outside shooting is not one of them.

This trade, if it happens, only works if Ron Ron is happy coming to LA. Past comments he has made seems to say he is an LA kind of guy. He definitely is not a "cowtown" kind of guy. I never felt he would fit in Sacramento. But LA has the music scene he likes, the spotlight he likes, the action he likes. Can he be happy here? Can he come here with his head screwed on straight? I have actually seen a couple of interviews in the past that he has done with Fox Sports that only left me with the impression that Ron Ron is from planet "Ron Ron". Having said that, I actually like Ron Artest. But I do not think he is going to get along with Dumleavy. Dumleavy scouls to much. Within a year, either Dumleavy or Ron will have to go.

The mechanics of the potenial trades look like this. Both players make roughly the same amount of money over the next 3 years. So it is probably a straight up trade. We do not lose any other assets in the process. Both players have similar numbers. Even though they are both still young, for both players their best years are behind them .

Maggette's best year was a couple of years ago when he led the Clippers in scoring with 21PPG. Since then, injuries has slowed him down and his production, minutes, and games played has fallen off. Ron Artest had his best year for Indiana during the 04/05 season where he averaged 24.6 PPG on 50% shooting from the floor and 41% from the 3. He hit 92% from the free throw line. But those are not his career numbers. Since that year, the now famous suspension and a couple of nagging injuries have kept him from duplicating that feat. If the Clippers make this trade they are definitely banking on his possible return to the game that many people feel that Ron is capable of.

But we can at least hope that he comes here and plays at least as good as he has for Sacramento. In 36 minutes he is averaging 16.4 PPG on 39% shooting, 7.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 75% from the line, and a 17.79 EFF which is 39th in the league. Those are not overwhelming numbers. But Ron is only 27 years old. Mentally he seems 17 at times. But he does bring MVP defensive skills to the table and he is #1 in the league in steals. Why is this important? Well, after bad outside shooting, the Clippers biggest failing this year has been defense.

If the Clippers make this deal, it doesn't solve the outside shooting problem. But if they make a straight up trade, they might night be finished. They would still have Minnesota's and their own first round draft picks to work with. They could dangle those picks and a couple of expiring contracts (like Rebraca's) at a team who is out of it and wants to rebuild or needs to dump some salary. They might still get the 3 point shooting specialist they are looking for.

However, this trade chatter could also be for the consumption of the Sonics who continue to be the subject of speculation of a team that needs to unload salary and are not going anywhere this season anyhow. Would the Clippers trade for an injured Rashard Lewis? Could they pry away Ray Allen from Seattle? Or is Ron Artest their true target? Stay tuned!