| Lottery Summit: Los Angeles Clippers Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Clippers Forum - May 15, 2008 - 2:32 pm
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The Los Angeles Clippers:
2007-08 Record: 23-59
Difference From 2006-07: 17 Fewer Wins
Chance Of Landing #1 Pick: 7.5%
Restricted Free Agents: Paul Davis, Nick Fazekas, Shaun Livingston, Marcus Williams
Unrestricted Free Agents: Elton Brand (ETO), Dan Dickau, Corey Maggette (ETO), Smush Parker, Quinton Ross.
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done different to make the playoffs?
Clip34life: We could have worked on a true run-and-gun offense without Elton Brand, and traded Corey Maggette midseason for real help.
mkwest: Nothing. As the injuries (319 games lost to injury) mounted, this team was left with very little firepower to make the playoffs in the West. More ball movement/less isolation plays, better perimeter shooting and better boxing out would have made the team a bit more successful.
ClipperDomination: There was absolutely nothing we could have done in order to make the playoffs. There was no way we were going to trade for a superstar player, and the Western Conference is just way too stacked.
Fishy~McFish: Nothing much with all the injuries, but to improve the chances for next year we could have tried to trade Corey Maggette or Sam Cassell.
mj_shoefanatic: Nothing, we were doomed from Day One.
JJ LoDuca: If we had gone back in time and prevented the injuries to Brand and Shaun Livingston, and had the bulk of our lineup healthy during the season.
livingston2kaman: Stayed healthy. In the games where we had a healthy roster, or close to it, we were able to play tough against playoff-caliber opponents. If everyone had been healthy, besides Brand and Livingston, we most likely still wouldn't have made it, but it wouldn't have been impossible. I'd say a 5% chance.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
Clip34life: Rebounding and free throw shooting.
mkwest: Foul shooting (6th in league in both makes and percentage) and possibly blocked shots. When Brand is healthy we're amongst the league leaders in blocks, so this will be an even greater strength next season.
ClipperDomination: Our rebounding was probably the biggest strength.
Fishy~McFish: Good defensive play, at times.
mj_shoefanatic: Sometimes our defense and other times our offense, but never both at the same time.
JJ LoDuca: Showing up and playing hard every night. While some argue for defense, foul shooting or rebounding, I don't think the Clippers excelled quite as well as they could in any of those areas.
livingston2kaman: Effort. They never gave up and went out there and played. Even Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, who seemingly had nothing to play for, put forth the effort.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
Clip34life: Chris Kaman and Al Thornton.
mkwest: Kaman really stepped up and leaves us with great optimism for next season when he'll be paired with Brand once again. Thornton was definitely a bright spot during this dark and dismal season as well.
ClipperDomination: Kaman proved why he's a legit center in the league, and Thornton's overall performance exceeded my expectations by a lot.
Fishy~McFish: Kaman's breakout season, Thornton's improvement throughout the year and Josh Powell proving he belongs in the NBA.
mj_shoefanatic: Thornton, Powell and Kaman (when he was healthy).
JJ LoDuca: Kaman. He was easily the MVP on our team, until the injuries got to him too.
livingston2kaman: Most will say Kaman, but I'm saying Powell. When he first got playing time, he looked like a poor-man's Kwame Brown – dropping every pass, not grabbing the boards and so on. But as the season went on, he showed signs of being a legit backup big in the league.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
Clip34life: Mobley.
mkwest: Thomas was brought here for his outside shooting and he shot the second worst percentage of his career from beyond the arc. Cuttino and Sam were both hindered by injuries and either missed a lot of playing time (Sam) or played sub-par (Cat) while injured.
ClipperDomination: Nobody really. The guys who I expected to have bad seasons had bad seasons -- Mobley, Thomas and coach Mike Dunleavy.
Fishy~McFish: Thomas was the biggest disappointment.
mj_shoefanatic: Tim and Cuttino, but that came as no surprise.
JJ LoDuca: Thomas was a waste of physical space.
livingston2kaman: Quinton Ross. He didn’t get consistent enough minutes to do much.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
Clip34life: Somewhat optimistic. I think they'll have Brand back, but they need to get a starting shooting guard and point and I don't know if they're dynamic enough to do it. The fight between Dunleavy and Donald Sterling doesn't do much for my confidence in the front office, though.
mkwest: I feel lukewarm about the front office pulling off any major blockbuster trades, although I think they'll be shopping Maggette in a sign-and-trade to help improve the backcourt. The best thing that could happen is for us to get a top-three pick, and for Livingston to have a successful return.
ClipperDomination: When have Clipper fans ever been confident in Mr. Sterling’s capabilities? I'll stay optimistic though, as I think Brand will re-sign to a long-term deal, and hopefully we can go after either Gilbert Arenas or Baron Davis (I’m praying to god).
Fishy~McFish: Judging from past experiences, not very.
mj_shoefanatic: Very, since it might affect whether or not Brand will stay for the long haul.
JJ LoDuca: Somewhat. I think with Dunleavy in their ears they are more likely to make effective moves, but they've blown some big opportunities in the past that are hard to forget about.
livingston2kaman: Not one bit. Sadly, this offseason is that big of a turning point.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Clip34life: Point guard.
mkwest: We need backcourt help, preferably a point because of the uncertainties regarding Livingston, but a young talented shooter/scorer would help as well.
ClipperDomination: Our biggest needs in the draft are: Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose, a power forward only if Brand leaves and Derrick Rose.
Fishy~McFish: A true point guard or a pure shooter.
mj_shoefanatic: A combo guard or pure point.
JJ LoDuca: A guard or a any pure three-point shooter.
livingston2kaman: Too many variables play in, but if we assume that Elton will stick around, then easily we need a legit guard. Whether it is a point or a shooting guard, or even a combo, we just need help on the perimeter.
7. Assuming the lottery plays out true, who would you like your team to select?
Clip34life: O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless or Eric Gordon -- whoever is available of those three, in that order.
mkwest: Rose if we land a top-two pick somehow. Mayo, Bayless or Gordon otherwise.
ClipperDomination: The Clippers should trade the pick if they get the sixth overall selection. All players besides Rose and Michael Beasley are question marks on how well they will play in the NBA. I do not want a combo guard like Gordon -- instead try to package the pick and a solid player (Maggette) for the point guard we need desperately!
Fishy~McFish: Not too sure, I don't follow college basketball.
mj_shoefanatic: Rose (of course), Mayo or Bayless. No more forwards, please Sterling!
JJ LoDuca: Big names don't mean much to me, as long as he's able to defend, feed Brand and Kaman in the post and nail a ton of long-range jumpers – that’s fine with me.
livingston2kaman: I'd like to trade down with the Nets and get eleventh and twentieth picks so we can take D.J. Augustin and Chase Budinger, killing two birds with one stone.
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’re a fan of one of the many teams that we have yet to feature, surf over to our forums and weigh in on what is happening within the organization. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
