The Sky is falling .....around the Clippers...now Arenas

Arenas, Maggette, Odom and Brand make up a pretty damn good 1 thru 4...at least on paper. I can't help but wonder who will play center for them though?

 

I doubt they match Odom and Maggette and sign Arenas. Probably 2 of 3, IMO.

They'll have Arenas, Jaric, Maggette/Odom, Brand, Kaman with Richardson, Wilcox, Dooling and Ely off the bench. So many lottery picks- out of that group, only Arenas and Jaric (2nd rounders) and Richardson (top 20) weren't in the lottery.

I think they're being overhyped, though. Even if they do keep Odom and Maggette, this is still a team that wasn't even close to the playoffs that lost its starting point guard and center.

 

Think about that statement for a moment.


Do you think anyone of us would have said that the Clipps would do even one out of two a few weeks or even days ago.

Until the Clipps announced that they would match Brands contract Piatkowski's 5 year 15 million dollar contract was the largest ever used to retain one of their own free agents.

Now we are talking about the possibility of Sterling throwing money around like he is Mark Cuban or something. It’s just amazing if you ask me. What the hell has Sterling been drinking? Has someone kidnapped him and replaced him with a body double that actually wants to win?

Anyway I have to agree with Smegg. A new coach and a new attitude could go a long way to improving that team. They looked like they were on their way just a couple of years ago. I agree that the play-offs are still a long shot for them but I think they should be able to make some noise and a serious push. I certainly would not underestimate a team with that much talent on it.

 

I guess if they do, by some stretch of the imagination, sign Arenas and keep Maggette and Odom, they'll play Odom as the point forward, Arenas as the combo guard, Maggette and Brand as the forwards, and one of their younger players at center, with Q et al off the bench.

We'll see if there are enough shots to go around; I have my doubts. If anything, though, last year's experiences should show them that it requires a full effort every night - as well as some sacrifices - to succeed in the NBA.

 

I think there plans are to run Jaric at the point. I think that was the whole point of letting Miller walk. But then again maybe they are planning on using Jaric to back up the 1, 2 and 3 positions.

 

That's what I thought too, but if they sign Arenas, I'm not sure even they know what they'd do. They could play small ball and put him at SG (without Odom around), or go big and play him at PG. I'm just not sure he's the most logical fit if they are signing him to play PG, though.

 

Which past great FAs did Clippers fail to retain? Kandi? Mo Taylor? Derek Anderson?

Sterling may be kinda cheap, too conservative, too "taking low risk", but he's no stupid (and you can't become a millionaire by being stupid). Everyone can see that Brand is well worth the max and bascially everyone (except the people on this board and some crazy media) expects Sterling to match any offer for Brand.

 

Seems like a lot of money for Arenas - is he really that good? or did he just have a good free agent year?

 

Come on this is the Clips. A lot of guys were saying the same things when they signed Andre Miller last year.

What happened?

The Clips will always find a way to lose.

 

So your saying that the Clippers have never had anyone with enough talent worth retaining?

And yes he should have kept Kandi.

Oh and BTW you just admitted that Sterling is cheap, thats all we are saying...he has historically been to cheap to be truely interested in retaining quality free agents.

 

Looks like Clips finally realized in order to be competitive, you have to pay! The attitude of the team should change next season & Deleavy should give them a new direction to follow... Despite losing Kandi & Miller, I expect Clippers to have a better record next season...

 

If he is paying Arenas $10 million a year, he's overpaying. I never thought Sterling would be guilty of that!

 

Maybe Sterling wants to sell and is doing the opposite of other owners that want to sell; rather than jettisoning contracts, making sure the star players remain....?

This can't be Donald Sterling. Maybe his stocks really cashed in last year?

 

Funny that the Nuggets are offering Miller 6 years, 55 Million and talk is that the Clippers were NOT going to match that.

YET, they are offering a RICHER contract of 6 years, 60 Million to Arenas?

Is Arenas better than Miller!? I know Miller had a down year, but I attribute much of the Clippers players bad year last year to the contract uncertainty.

 

Good point. I've seen him play a lot around here (I live in the Bay Area), and I think this is too much cash for him at this point. He's a very talented guy, but his maturity is questionable, both on and off the court. That's not just a set of negative rumors. His decision making in pressure situations can make you tear your hair out, or in the case of Golden State, replace him with Earl Boykins (sp?) in the 4th quarter. This caused Arenas to take a little unexcused leave last season.

Might turn out to be a great signing if he grows up only a tiny bit though. Very fun player to watch when he's on.

 

Arenas is not worth 6/60....but he is a player...he provides push, athleticism, and an outside shot.............Miller is no where near worth 6/55,,,,,no push, no athleticism, no shot....... if you want a guy to walk it up, monopolize the ball, drive the lane looking for bail outs or kicking to catch and shoot players in the last seconds of a shot clock....... Miller is your man.