In the first blockbuster of the summer, Davis opted out of the last year of his contract in Golden State and signed a five-year, $65 million free agent contract with his hometown Clippers. While his plans to pair up with Brand fell by the wayside (see below), the two-time All-Star nonetheless brings careers averages of 17.1 points and 7.2 assists per game over nine NBA seasons. Perhaps just as important, Davis gives L.A.'s "other team" a much-needed new face to the organization and a jolt of excitement.
They stole Camby
Seeking a replacement for Brand, Clippers GM Elgin Baylor acquired veteran center Marcus Camby from the Nuggets in exchange for a jug of Gatorade and a sack of balls (actually, it was for the right to swap second-round picks in 2010, but what's the difference?). The 6-11 Camby, a former Defensive Player of the Year, won't score like Brand, but he should join with Chris Kaman to form a solid frontcourt tandem. Given the price tag, it has to be considered a steal.
They shuffled the deck
In addition to getting Davis and Camby, the Clippers signed free agents Ricky Davis and Jason Williams to one-year deals while adding point guard Jason Hart in a trade with the Jazz (for Brevin Knight). The three veterans bring loads of experience and they are all in the last year of their contracts, so they should be motivated to play well. Along with Cuttino Mobley and rookie Eric Gordon, the Clippers at least appear to be well-stocked on the perimeter.
What went wrong:
They got Brand-ed
Or should that be Falk-ed? Whether it was Brand himself, or agent David Falk, that engineered it, Brand's controversial departure stung the Clippers. By opting out of his contract and signing a free agent deal with the Sixers, Brand left L.A. without its best low-post threat, its hardest-working two-way performer and its most popular player. Just as important, it brought back all those old jokes and doubts around the NBA about the Clippers organization.
In a perfect world, the Clippers would have been able to keep young point guard Shaun Livingston. But Davis' arrival meant the end of the line in Clipperdom for the former first-round pick (No. 4 overall in '04), who is attempting a comeback from a horrific knee injury in 2007. Livingston is now a free agent, and if Clippers luck holds true, he will someday come back to haunt them like so many other former stars.
If clipper luck hold true? How many former stars have EVER haunted the Clippers? Huh?
__________________
Davis Davis Davis Davis :smoothcriminal:
Good point Free. Wilcox? No, Simmons? No, Kandi? No, QRich? No, Andre Miller? No, Odom? He is best out of this group but he doesn't really haunt the Clippers.
Good point Free. Wilcox? No, Simmons? No, Kandi? No, QRich? No, Andre Miller? No, Odom? He is best out of this group but he doesn't really haunt the Clippers.
Odom is haunting his current team more than his past ones. :biggrin:
__________________ "A man who can't hold to his beliefs is never more than pathetic, whether dead or alive."
Have to say, I pretty much agree with this article minus the Livingston haunting us part. Also, B- is too low, at least I see us with a B+. Going from a starting unit of Knight-Mobley-Maggette-Powell-Kaman to Davis-Mobley-Thornton-Camby-Kaman is a huge improvement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Futurama_Fanatic
at least this columnist is smarter than chad ford.
letting go of livingston definitely wont come back to hurt the clippers. he should have gone to duke, he could have been one hell of a player.
the only thing about livingston that is haunting the clippers is that we didnt get paul pierce for him when we had the chance.
How about AI? AI-Ross-Maggette-Brand-Kaman..oh what could have been.
Odom is haunting his current team more than his past ones. :biggrin:
Man, thats just messed up.
In my opinion what looked like sheer disaster for the Clippers, turned out as good as it possibly could. In my opinion they will go into this season underrated, and fighting for a bottom playoff spot.
If Mike D can change his attitude about a slower offense, and actually convert to a run and gun... Clippers could be better than most expect.
One things for sure, watching the Clippers this season will be a heck of a lot more enjoyable.
Los Angeles Clippers Summer Report Card
Los Angeles Clippers Summer Report Card
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