U Dont Know

Now that its almost Aug. already what other players are the Clippers going to pick up?? If the Clippers do resign Q, what difference is the team this coming season compared to last season?? Ok so we got Livingston, and Kaman is looking ALOT better.

But I do not want to see another HORRIBLE season!! So what else can the Clippers do to the team during the off season??

RD

There won't be a big difference in terms of personnel.

The team should be better though, for a couple reasons.

This will be Dunleavy's 2nd year in the system, and with most of the team back, it will help with cohesiveness. They should fully understand everything Dunleavy is trying to do, and they should know exactly what their teammates are doing.

The benefit of having a young team is that there is hope for upgrade as a year passes because of the experience factor. Q, Maggette, Jaric, Brand, Wilcox, and Kaman are all 25 or younger and can still get better. Kaman and Wilcox specifically should show improvements from last year to this year.

We had key injuries late in the season last year also. We were not as bad as our record indicated. We took a real crap at the end of the year when injuries hurt us, and it killed any chance the team had at a respectable finish.

I also expect a bigger year out of Marko Jaric. He's always been a very good creator for others and a very good defender. But, he has worn down at times because of the strain he puts on himself by playing overseas after the NBA season. He finally took an offseason off, and I think it will pay off. I think it will help him on defense, it will help him on offense driving to the bucket, and it will help him stay consistent on jump shots by still having his legs under him.

Also, our point guard situation looks like this - a rested Marko Jaric, Shaun Livingston, and Lionel Chalmers. Last year, it was a worn down Jaric, Doug Overton, and Keyon Dooling. This years PG situation is UNDOUBTEDLY better than last seasons. Even with a teenager and two rookies, we have a considerable upgrade at the PG position.

I expect us to sign a couple bodies(obviously ,we have to to fill out the roster), but I dont know if anyone will have an impact. Im fine with giving our young talent another season to develop, and see just what type of potential Livingston displays this year.

yamaneko

jaric isnt playing in the olympics this year?

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08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship

RD

I dont believe Jaric is playing in the Olympics. I think he decided to turn down all games overseas.

It is his contract year, and I think he realizes how valuable this season can become.

As for what else the Clippers are doing, it appears that they were after Fred Hoiberg. I guess they made a better offer than Minnesota did for his services, but he chose to stay with Minnesota.

Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Fred Hoiberg ... The 3 guys we've supposedly looked at most this offseason. It's not bad, as they are looking at established role type players(Brent is better than a typical role player, but he's still not a main piece to a team), that can play a little D and shoot. At least they are going after needs on the team.

Weasel

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RD

They have tried though.

We've gotten into semi serious discussions with Barry, Barry, Vlade, Kobe, and Hoiberg.

We've looked at a superstar, a damn good player, and nice role players.

We threw a MAX deal at a guy, and outbid another(Minny for Hoiberg), its just a matter of actually getting the guy. The effort has been there.

Unfortunately, so far it looks like a case of being a winner. All of these players(aside from Jon who has not signed yet) have signed with teams with a chance at the title. Until we make the playoffs, this is going to be how FA goes.

Weasel

This is the biggest problem that the Clippers face. The Clippers cannot just throw out money and expect people to come to them, they need to some how make it appealing or establish some ground to attract players. The Clippers obviously had Kobe thinking of coming here by offering to play some games in Anaheim, now I don't suggest doing such drastic measures to get any current free agents out there but the Clippers have to show that player should come here. The Suns some how did it with the record they had last season, why not the Clippers?

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yamaneko

yeah, but the suns drastically overpaid for a PG. So much so, that even mark cuban wasnt willing to match...thats gotta tell you something.

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08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship

Sean

By MARC BERMAN

July 26, 2004 --

With Shareef Abdur-Rahim now out of their grasp, the Nets continue to shop Kerry Kittles and have had serious talks with the Clippers, according to league sources.

The Clippers, spurned by Kobe Bryant, are under the cap and can accept Kittles' $9.8M salary without giving up a player. However, the Nets hardly need a fourth first-round draft choice.

The Nets have interest in Chris Wilcox, the Clips' backup power forward who had a nice second year after getting limited playing time as a rookie. The Nets could do worse than getting the forward whom the Knicks targeted in the 2002 draft.

With Kittles in the final year of his contract, he has definite trade value. But the Blazers were not interested enough in a Kittles/Aaron Williams/first-round pick offer for Abdur-Rahim.

http://www.nypost.com/sports/nets/25600.htm

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yamaneko

Yeah, i read about that earlier. Not sure if id want a kitles for wilcox trade straight up, because kittles could just bolt next year. HOWEVER, it would work out if they resign Q and convince Miles to sign portlands offersheet, because then they would have plenty of room to pick him up next year.

I wouldnt do it for kittles straight up though. Id do it for maybe kittles and aaron williams, or kittles and the clippers first round draft pick from denver back.

Wilcox i think fits even better into the nets system then rahim. Wilcox could put up kmart numbers if given kmart playing time throughout the year.

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08-09 Clippers - A Thomas/Mobley trade for a star on the cheap away from a championship

Weasel

True, but they were also able to convince Q to come to a team that allready has an established player at his position.

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