[Devestata]

Matthew Murray (devestata) www.BASKETBALLBOARDS.net Writer

July 14, 2002

What does the future hold for the Clippers? It seems certain the Clippers organization is not good at resigning people, and Elgin Baylor has been a lotto veteran in recent years. It now seems sure that Baylor's mind has to be set on signing players such as Elton Brand, Darius Miles, Michael Olowokandi, and Quentin Richardson. With that said, where in the world will Chris Wilcox or Melvin Ely, the Clippers two first round picks in the 2002 NBA Draft ever get a chance to play? Baylor has said he drafted frontcourt because they need to hold up with the Lakers. We all have to ask this question: Is this true? My answer: Doubtful. If you are a Clipper Fan and looking to see Elton Brand or Michael Olowokandi signed, It looks like all hopes are over. I would assume Chris Wilcox and Melvin Ely would take over at the 4 and 5 now. We shall see...

It's become certain that the Clippers were heavy favorites to be the suprise team last year, and they almost pulled out a playoff berth. Let's face it, if the Clippers will be drafting good players and never sign them, how will they ever keep a team chemistry? Simple answer is: They can't, and they won't. Rumors also circulating is Baylor has told Darius Miles he will not be getting the max either. Now, who will the money be going too, you ask? The answer is, no one. I don't know if it's Baylor's mind that works weird, or is it just the Clippers do not want to win? We have to face facts here, with the Front Office they have now, no one will ever be signed to any big contract.

Chris Wilcox, and Melvin Ely will eventually end up being somewhere else, just like Derek Anderson, and all the other one year Clippers. If anything at all, you can expect to see the Clippers make another run this year, but fall short, because they will not have a stud Center like they did last year in Olowokandi. If this team doesn't turn around the direction they are in now, they will never be contenders, and Elgin Baylor will continue to be an NBA Lottery veteran.

Matthew Murray: Contact Matthew Murray: [email protected].

 

[Devestata]

Originally posted by Wilt_The_Stilt
A little short...but good overall

lol thanks...not too much to talk about right now, articles should get longer when the season starts.

 

[Devestata]

Originally posted by RD
Nice job writing the article, but I disagree with the content of it.

The rumor about Miles and the MAX is a stupid one(Im saying the rumor is, not you for talking about it).

A). It comes out of a NY paper, without any sort of Clipper rep quote.

B). Miles is not up for FA for another 2 years. NOBODY is even discussing a contract right now, because Miles isn't even close to getting a new one. And, we are years away from knowing if he's worth the MAX or not. Nobody in the organization is going to comment on a contract for Miles, because it's not even being discussed by his agent or anyone.

C). That article comes AFTER sterling does an interview saying he's going to pay his players. And this is the 2nd time since Miles rookie year he's done so.

D) The Clippers are the single most tight lipped organization in the NBA. Sterling and Baylor run things, and both are guys who do not give away any sort of info, even in friendly talks with reporters and such. They do a fantastic job of keeping the teams affairs within the organization. There's no way that someone in the organization talks about Miles' contract to the media, especially since a contract for Miles isnt coming up for another couple years.

And I do not like the inclusion of Derek Anderson in the article. You make it sound like the Clippers should have kept him. Anderson wanted a MAX contract. Do you think he was worth it? I certainly dont. No other team thought he was worth it either. SA gave him an exception, then Portland gave him a solid deal. Yet, people criticize the Clippers cuz they didnt pay him the MAX. What, should they just pay him double what he deserves just to get people off their backs? Certainly not. Anderson is a decent player, but is not worth the MAX, and thats what it was going to take to keep him. It was a fantastic decision to let him go.

And Melvin Ely and Chris Wilcox will have no influence on Brand and Kandi. Donald STerling AFTER drafting Wilcox, has said his plan is to give Brand a MAX contract. Sterling would not make that type of comment to the LA Times if he were not going to do it, especially since Brand can sign an extension right now. He will pay Brand.

There is such a thing as depth. Wilcox and Ely bring depth. The Clippers had depth everywhere but up front. They now add depth up front, and the get criticized. What, should they have taken an 8th swingman? If they did that, they'd be criticized for that too.

The Clippers can never win with the media. No matter what they do, they lose. They shore up the teams biggest weakness, they get criticized. They sign a 2nd round pick of 2 years ago to a contract that makes him the 2nd highest paid international rookie, and they still get criticized for never spending money and for not trading for a PG.
Everyone likes to jump on the Clips cuz they were once easy targets. Back then all the criticism was justified. Now, it's just getting ridiculous.

Nicely written article, but I dont like the info used.

Eh, I only use rumors I hear from inside sources (bootlegsports.com) and from other people. Everyone always seems to hear different rumors, and all these news writers like Sam Smith get a bad rep for it. I didn't know about Derek Anderson, I just used him as the example of may unsigned Clippers. BTW, IMO, I don't think Wilcox and Ely will be staying in Clipper land too long, cause they are both starters somewhere, and you say Brand is resigning, Wilcox is just too damn good to sit on the bench. I understand maybe the text I used was a little controversial, but basically all news writers articles are just there own opinion. Will have better articles when the season starts.

 

[Devestata]

Originally posted by Living XL
I won't be as nice as RD.


This article was pure, 100%, unadulterated trash.

Also, to whoever is spamming this particular "article" (I use the term loosely) can you please stop? Or at the very least, spamming it once is sufficient---there is no need to spam boards with the same drivel every day.

Thanks.


XL

OK, you wanna tell me what's wrong here? I <b><strikeout>hate people like you</strikeout></b>

<font color=blue>* devestata, you are a moderator here, and know the protocol. People can vehemently disagree with another's opinions - but you know that you can't outright say that you hate someone on this forum, for that falls under the 'personal attack' category. Yes, he didn't like your article, and was quite blunt about that, but there was no outright name-calling there. * - Silk</font>

who come here and try and talk about what other people post, if you think you're so damn smart, why don't you post one of your own. In case you didn't see my post up there: EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN POINT OF VIEWS. NOT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE SAME OPINION AS EVERYONE ELSE. :upset:

 

[Devestata]

Thanks, and I clearly stated on the other board I put this on that "I'm just starting out, so try and keep all comments civil" or something along those lines...

 

[Devestata]

Well, I didn't get that out of a New York Newspaper, I just needed something to write about, but I guess I will wait until the season starts up until there is actually something to talk about. I agree some of the article may be "garbage", but you have to agree to some extent that the history of the Clippers, there is a good chance Kandi and Brand won't be back in a Clippers uniform.