Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet - happened like two days ago. What do you think? Does this deal make sense for the Clips? I know Cat is a premier 3-point threat and everything, but is a top 10 shooting guard really worth $8 million per? http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-clippers-mobley&prov=ap&type=lgns ************************************************ Mobley hopes to help lift Clippers into playoffs By KEN PETERS, AP Sports Writer August 3, 2005 AP - Aug 3, 7:43 pm EDT More Photos LOS ANGELES (AP) -- When games were on the line in the closing seconds last season, the Los Angeles Clippers didn't always have a go-to guy. Cuttino Mobley could change that. ``Last year, we had 16 games or more that we lost by three points or less,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said Wednesday at a news conference to announce Mobley's signing as a free agent. ``It comes down to a final possession. Unfortunately, he was the cause of one or two of those games, with one or two seconds left on the clock.'' The same day they signed Mobley to a five-year, $42 million deal, the Clippers renounced the rights to oft-injured guard Kerry Kittles and Rick Brunson, also a guard. Mobley, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, believes he can help the Clippers make the playoffs. ``They had 16 games where they lost by the skin of their teeth. Some of those games we can make up, and more games we can just win,'' said Mobley, a left-hander who averaged 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 66 games for Sacramento and Orlando last season. ``I've watched them (the Clippers) and played against them, and Corey (Maggette), Elton Brand, (Chris) Kaman, all those guys play extremely hard. I guess I'm the final missing piece.'' ADVERTISEMENT The Clippers, 37-45 last season, have not made the playoffs since 1997, and have been in the postseason only three times since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984. They lost in the first round each time. Mobley, 29, has career averages of 17.1 points, 4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in seven NBA seasons. He's accurate from beyond the arc and ranked third in the league last season by making 43.9 percent of his 3-point shots. The Clippers were last in the NBA in 3-point shots tried and made. ``The basic reason for our wanting to sign Cuttino was that he fills a lot of different areas we had deficiencies in last year, and number one is 3-point shooting,'' Dunleavy said. ``Also, his ability to play one-on-one. He has the ability to go against just about anyone in this league and create a shot either for himself or someone else.'' Mobley and Shaun Livingston probably will team in the backcourt, with Maggette moving to small forward, with Brand at power forward and Kaman at center. Clippers GM Elgin Baylor said of Mobley: ``He shoots the ball extremely well from the perimeter, which will help our low post players. He's a veteran who brings both playoff experience and leadership.'' Mobley was acquired by the Kings last Jan. 10 as part of the trade that sent Doug Christie to the Magic. Mobley, a former Rhode Island star, spent his first six years in the league with Houston. He was traded to Orlando in a multiplayer swap in 2004. He said he's eager to go to work in Los Angeles. ``I'm excited, I'm ready to roll,'' Mobley said. Updated on Wednesday, Aug 3, 2005 10:11 pm EDT
More like it was posted a month ago. The deal's been agreed upon for a while, but only made official a couple days ago. Most people seem to agree that based on what other SGs have gotten this summer that, it's a fair signing for Cat.
Well, congrats Cuttino. I am happy for the guy to finally get paid his worth. I am also happy he plays for the Clippers instead of Sacramento.
1. it's always about the money. 2. do we have any idea if the rockets wanted him or he had any desire to come back to the team that traded him? and it's not like we had anything to sign him with, unless he was supposed to take the LLE. 3. cuttino was widely regarded as being paid less than what he was worth on his last contract. and this was his last chance at a big contract. if anyone should be all about the money, it's a person in that situation. 4. assuming he wanted to sign with a really good team, he would've probably received the MLE at best b/c good teams don't have cap room, that's 5 yrs, 30M. 12M is a huge difference. cuttino isn't poor, but he hasn't been pulling in shaq or kg money the last few years. you gotta take 12M extra if you can get it. 5. the clippers may suck overall as an organization, but they're not the worst or least talented team in the league or anything.
Well the last team he signed for less than his market values, played 4 different roles for, shipped him out so I guess that'd be enough to make a guy realize how important the business side of it was.
good deal for cat and congrats to him. i know the clippers have sucked for..well......ever. but it is clear memphis isn't getting better, dallas isn't getting better, sacramento isn't getting better...the clippers could sneak into playoff contention. they may not make it but they'll be close. so overall, not bad for cat.
Really confused that anyone thought it was realistic for Cuttino to hookup with with Rockets again considering that he's given enough clues that he's going for the money and most people around here knew our financial limitations were. And as pointed out again, Cuttino isn't going to have warm fuzzy thoughts about the Rox when he took less money to resign with us then we shipped him out.
Yes but one would think you would have a better chance of winning with the Sacramento Kings than the NBA's laughingstock which is the Clippers.
It's not about winning anymore. Cat had been a loyal player to the Rockets organization but they traded him and then Orlando traded him. He's just tired of the way he's being shipped. Atleast now if he gets traded again, he still has a good contract.
it pretty much works out for cat... he gets to play in LA where he'll get all the press/attention,ect he wants gets paid 8 million while doing it
Besides the money and location, the Clippers may actually be better than the Kings this year. Outside of Miller, Peja, and Stojakovic the Kings are not a very good team. The Clippers have Livingston, Mobley, Maggette, Brand, and the underrated Kamen. If Livingston can produce anywhere close to his potential then the Clippers have a shot at a 6 seed.
yeah, the clippers have potential, yeah they have all those guys.......it seems like every year someone goes out and picks them to make the playoffs but something ALWAYS happens to them! somebody will get hurt, suspended, or hit by space debris. i wont believe they are good until the first round starts and they are actually in it.
So, Bibby is worthless? Bonzi, too? I'm not sure what you're basing all this on but the Kings are a far superior team. And IMHO, the Clips would be darned lucky to sneak in at the 8th seed even if all the chips fell in their favor. Or, is Mobley just that much better than Simmons in your opinion? Think about it...the Kings were last year's #6 seed with a 50-32 record. The Clips add Mobley, lose Simmons and gain some upside from Livingston and improve by 13 wins? Not IMO.
That was supposed to be Miller, Bibby, and Stojakovic, but I accidently replaced Bibby with Peja. No the Kings did not get rid of Bibby for a clone of Peja so they won't be playing two Peja's. Yes, Bonzi is basically worthless. He is an average to below average SG who is also a malcontent. As for the Clips, I think getting production from Livingston, a year more experience for Kamen, and yes the upgrade from Simmons, along with the decline of the Kings should allow them to pass Sacramento. I see the Clip show and the Warriors moving into the playoffs, with Memphis and Sacto or Denver (I don't see them repeating what they did after getting Karl) falling out. By no means is any of this a lock, or even conventional wisdom, just my feelings on how the West will shake out. Really, the Pacific division looks to be pretty wide open with the Suns heading for a big decline and the Warriors and Clippers both getting better. Lord knows how the Lakers will do.
