| Clippers Wear The Pants In LA Authored by Ryan Bennett - June 24, 2005 - 11:36 pm
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Free agency:
The first thing that the Clippers need to do is sign Bobby Simmons to the same contract they signed Corey Maggette to, about $7.5 million per season. Look at giving him 15% increases per season Mr. Baylor. Simmons is a big time difference maker, he was one of the most vital parts of the team last season, and needs to be resigned for his consistency and great shooting. Elgin Baylor should resign Mikki Moore and Zeljko Rebraca also. These two players brought great energy and hustle of the bench. Rebraca was a great post scorer for the Clippers last year.
The Clippers have a problem at point guard with Marko Jaric. Jaric has openly stated that he wants to start for an NBA team, and that he wants to start at his preferred position, point guard. The Clippers are unable to give Jaric this promise with the emergence of Shaun Livingston. The Clippers should look at signing hometown product, Earl Watson, to the MLE. He would be a great addition at the MLE. There also is a few rumours around of a deal in the works between the Clippers and the Grizzlies. More on this in the trade section.
Trades:
Here we have two trades to refocus the Clippers and give them a flexible, feasible roster. (All my trades are made using realgm’s trade checker, and my knowledge player’s salaries. This is viewable at: http://home.earthlink.net/~jtkramer65/05-06salaries.htm)
Deal 1
LA Clippers trade:
Marko Jaric (Sign and trade)
+ $3 million dollars
Memphis trade:
Bonzi Wells
Jake Tsakalidis
First Round Pick# 19
The deal goes through on both sides. LA gets a back up shooting guard/ small forward who has played (his best ball) under coach Dunleavy. Tsakalidis comes in as a third string center for the Clippers. Memphis is trying to cut down their committed salaries, and have been shopping their number 19 pick for cash. They also get a starting guard (because they will move Jason Williams) and Jaric comes in at a relatively low price. $5.5 million per season max.
Deal 2
LA Clippers trade:
Chris Wilcox
Mamadou N'Diaye
Second Round Pick# 32
Golden State trade:
Mike Dunleavy Jr.
This trade has been rumoured for a while now and the Warriors need an athletic big. Pietrus needs to gain some more playing time and he can’t do it with Dunleavy Jr. in Golden State. And if the Warriors hang on to Dunleavy Jr. but play him less his value will decline. Trade him while it’s high, Mullin. The Clippers get another proven player in Dunleavy Jr. and he gets teamed with his father. I think coach Dunleavy can really get some more out of his son.
NBA Draft:
The Clippers, if all goes to plan, will have the 12th pick and the 19th pick in the draft. Supposedly the Clippers have promised to take 18 year old Yaroslav Korolev, a Russian small forward, with the 12th pick. He would get to play a lot of basketball in the NBDL, under the new provision in the CBA. (This provision allows players with 2 years or less experience to be a part of the team that drafts them, but they are able to play in the NBDL, to develop.) With the 17th pick the Clippers need to look at big men, and there could be a plethora of god big men available here. Some names to consider include: Andrew Bynum, Johan Petro, Sean May, Charlie Villaneuva, Andray Blatche, Ike Diogu, Chris Taft, and Martynas Andriuskevicius. If all these players were available, they should go with Martynas Andriuskevicius, ha has considerable upside and can be developed with Korolev.
Clippers 05/06 roster:
C- Chris Kaman/ Mikki Moore/ Martynas Andriuskevicius
F- Elton Brand/ Zeljko Rebraca
F- Bobby Simmons/ Mike Dunleavy Jr./ Yaroslav Korolev
G- Shaun Livingston/ Earl Watson/ Lionel Chalmers
G- Corey Maggette/ Bonzi Wells/ Quinton Ross
That is one dangerous team.
Contact Ryan at: ryanwbennett@gmail.com |
