Unless the Clippers alter their roster, it looks like they're well on their way back to league doormats. It's a shame, too. Sterling finally opens up his pocketbook and signs some players to good contracts, and gets only one playoff season out of it. After seeing the Clippers fold late in the season, you really can't blame him for being a tightwad all those years. Brand is still a solid 20/10 guy, but far from being a team leader. Magette is decent, as long as he doesn't have to be the go to guy. Mobley is on the wrong side of 30 and has lost a step, but he's still tradable. Chris Kaman is beyond untradable. If Livingston's knee recovers, he's still a solid PG. Which brings us to our old buddy Sam Cassell. Sorry tinman, but Sammy is officially old. He can still run the floor and has low TO numbers, but his offense has really fallen off. He could still be a solid backup. His contract expires after next season, though, which is a plus. I think the Clippers can package Mobley and Cassell and get a PG (Mobley and Cassell for Spanoulis!) to back up Livingston, or perhaps try and find a sucker to take Kaman's contract. Otherwise, I don't know how the Clippers are going to return to respectability again, especially in the West...
Sam I am is the heart and soul of that team. He drives everything. Unfortunately Sam is too old to function this year. They have terrific big men on that team (Brand and Caveman), but the reality is perimeter players win games these days. Just think out what if Rox plays without T-Mac, it doesn't matter if Yao can produce MVP type of numbers night in and night out, the Rox will end up lottery bound, just like the Clippers. Plus Dunlevy is terrible this year. His son is an overpaid mediocre player and he himself is an overpaid mediocre coach.
Sammy did it to one PF and now another. He's a damn good player when he's on the court and really makes everyone better (isn't that the definition of a superstar?), but the boy just can't put two seasons of play back to back. As per your question, I don't think they are that bad off. Unfortunately, Livingston was using his size and athleticism to its fullest extent before injury, so as long as he keeps some semblance of his speed, he'll be fine. They just need to trade Magette and Mobley to try and bring in a competent wing player. If Golden State hadn't made the late run, a Jason Richardson for Magette trade could have really benefited the clip show. Can they put together enough for Pierce without giving up Brand or selling their souls? The draft should help some.
Train, Sam has been hurt the whole year. He was averaging 9 minutes a game. We all know Sam at full strength is a Super Hero. That's what happened. Yes he's old. that maybe part of why he was hurt all year.
IMO if they had Livingston for a full year and Cassell relatively healthy they would've gotten into the Playoffs
Dunlavey has lost the focus of this team... and he won't get it back (just like what happened in Portland). Too bad they extended him at the start of the season.
My guesses: Dunleavy back for one more year before getting fired. Maggette traded on draft night to someone like NY or Por, or maybe packaged in a S&T for Rashard Lewis. Cassell retires or announces this will be his final year, asks to become player-coach (and is turned down) Brand keeps living in a vacuum. Livingston comes back but not fully Ross option picked up, Ewing leaves for a partial MLE offer. Sterling reverts to penny pinching. Evan
Chris Kaman, Tim Thomas and Maggette missed five or more, but most damaging, clearly, were various injuries sidelining Sam Cassell for 24 games. The Clippers lost 15 of those, and were 2-8 in games when Cassell was limited to 15 minutes or less. "I had things I wanted to accomplish with this ballclub this season," said Cassell, "but injuries are part of the game. I understand how hard I've got to work this summer to get my body where it's supposed to be at so I won't have to step down next year."
I think of the Clippers/Suns series last year and thought. . MAN . .If Sam was 5 yrs younger this would have been a h*ll of a series I think Sam is looking to go the Avery Route and I think he will be good too. Rocket River Coach Cassell
Cassell/Livingston was a really good point guard rotation. I guess really good point guards are more important than many people realize. Sam has one, maybe two years left. Unfortunately, the Clips are in kind of a catch 22. Cassell is the key to their team, but he's also a very good asset in a trade. I hate to say it, but Sam would be perfect backing up Tony Parker. He'd excel at running a slower tempo offense, plus it would give him one last shot at another ring before he retires. I could see the Clippers trading him before next season's trade deadline...
Agree.. with Livingston going down at a crucial point in the season, their depth at the PG spot greatly decreased and inevitably killed their playoff hopes. I hope that kid can fully recover.. he was fun to watch.
Judging from this: -T-Mac traded for Francis and Mobley (50cents on the dollar at best) -Cassell <= Francis (due to Cassell's age, can't place him above Francis) So to go even: -Vspan = 1/2 T-Mac = Francis/Cassell and Mobley Which could be -Vspan <= Darko + Jameer -Vspan = Villanueva + Charlie Bell -Vspan = C. Wilcox + Luke Ridnour -Vspan = Okafur -Vspan = Etan Thomas + Antonio Daniels + Jarvis Hayes -Vspan = Marbury -Vspan = David Lee + Renaldo Balkman imagine the possibilities
That's a very big if since both guys are injury prone, Livingston from the very beginning and Sam the last few seasons. At this point, Sam is just about done. Any team that relies on him to be a season long contributor is playing roulette and will lose. Livingston will probably never be the same player and even before his injury, he was mostly potential. The flashes of brilliance and skill he demonstrated remained just that, flashes. They are stuck with Tim Thomas. They are stuck with a way overpaid Caveman. They are stuck with an aging and overpaid Cat. They are stuck with a bad coach. They are stuck with a terrible GM. They are stuck with one of the worst owners in the history of the NBA. The two assets they have worth keeping are Brand and Maggette. So, what happens to the Clippers? At best, they will be a marginal playoff team. At worst, they will go back to being in the lottery every year where they belong. Last season was a fluke that won't be repeated any time soon. My condolences to Clipper fans.
They should've bit on the Livingston for AI offer and since Dunleavy was staying, traded Corey. It was stupid to dangle Maggette and refuse package him with Livingston. Instead, Corey became a main player after the injuries, but injuries robbed the team of any chemistry or depth. Ultimately, like the world class Clippers always do, they'll explode the lineup and ditch Dunleavy and rebuild again...
Yall are underrating Maggette. He is a hell of a player. I don't know the inside story but Dunleavy made a mistake trying to trade the guy and keeping his minutes low for 65% of the season. Dunleavy is also responsible for the teams slow start. If I understand correctly Livingston will not be back next year. Its a 2 year recovery. No way he is back for the START of next season. No way he will have an impact... They need a coach. Should add another big man like Magloire or Ratliff. And either trade Mobley or sign Francis (for pillow fights).
^I like Maggette. With enough touches, he isn't that big a black hole. He attacks the lanes (good ft%) and his 3pt shooting is decent enough as a threat (streaky). His knock is his shot selection. The thing is, Dunleavy's contract was extended last year, and they don't have a bright future together.
Houston Trade Breakdown Outgoing Bob Sura 6-5 from Florida State No games yet played in 2006/07 Vassilis Spanoulis 6-3 PG from Greece (Foreign) 2.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.9 apg in 8.7 minutes John Lucas III 5-11 PG from Oklahoma State 3.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.7 apg in 8.2 minutes Incoming Sam Cassell 6-3 PG from Florida State 12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.7 apg in 24.3 minutes Change in team outlook: +6.3 ppg, +1.4 rpg, and +3.1 apg. L.A. Clippers Trade Breakdown Outgoing Sam Cassell 6-3 PG from Florida State 12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.7 apg in 24.3 minutes Incoming Bob Sura 6-5 from Florida State No games yet played in 2006/07 Vassilis Spanoulis 6-3 PG from Greece (Foreign) 2.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.9 apg in 8.7 minutes John Lucas III 5-11 PG from Oklahoma State 3.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.7 apg in 8.2 minutes Change in team outlook: -6.3 ppg, -1.4 rpg, and -3.1 apg. Successful Scenario Due to Houston and L.A. Clippers being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Houston and L.A. Clippers had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
A-Train, would you agree that Sam Cassell has become another Gary Payton...? Just moving from team to team to see if one would win a championship? I seem to think so.
