- The Clippers have likely improved their fortunes this season, though they’re still unlikely to play games in late-April.
- Who gets the really tough defensive assignments on the perimeter now that Cuttino Mobley is gone? Let’s use Dwyane Wade next week as the case study.
- Ricky Davis and Eric Gordon are the most immediate beneficiaries of Cuttino Mobley’s departure. Ricky will start for a stretch, until Mike Dunleavy can no longer tolerate his defense.
- If the Clippers are truly “done,” as reported, how do you divvy up the minutes down low? Bring Camby off the bench?
- The Clippers have $41.6M committed to three players in 2010-2011: Baron Davis, Zach Randolph, and Chris Kaman.
- Given that contracts with expiration dates of 2010 are valuable commodities around the league, could the Clippers have done better had they been more patient?
Smart recap of the trade and its implications from Kelly Dwyer:
There’s no point in killing the Clippers too much for making what is essentially a pretty pointless move. They don’t need Zach Randolph, at all. The idea of Randolph and Chris Kaman playing alongside each other kind of reminds of Zach and Eddy Curry trying to go at it, though Kaman has more high post gifts than Eddy Curry. Michael Kamen had more high post gifts than Eddy Curry, for that matter, but that’s beside the point.
Randolph’s contract is horrible, and I still think he hurts teams despite his point and rebound production, but the contract isn’t piling on the mess in the same way that Isiah piled bad deal after bad deal on his Knicks.
The Clippers had to pay Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas anyway next season, so they’re not losing any money this year or next, and with Marcus Camby’s contract coming off the books in 2010, the Clippers will have some flexibility in Randolph’s final year.
What the deal is, though, is pointless. The Clippers are 29th in offense, and Randolph will help, but what the squad desperately needs is some sort of wing scorer. Actually, they needed two. Cuttino Mobley and Al Thornton have both had their moments this year, but they use up a lot of minutes and a lot of shots to get their (average the two out) 15 points per game. There’s a reason this team is so inefficient, and Thornton/Mobley/Ricky Davis’ play at the wings has the most to do with it.
And as horrible as Baron Davis has been at times, he’s still helping the offense. Not a lot, but he is averaging eight assists for a team that only 35 field goals a game. That’s a Steve Carlton-on-the-Phillies level of production, if Carlton had a 9.72 ERA and struck out 12 guys all season.
Davis is shooting 36 percent, he’s taking an average of 6.5 three-pointers per game and making an average of 1.6 a contest (re-read that, it’s astounding), and he’s getting to the line nearly half as much as he used to. Other than that, bang on.
But while Baron should be playing better per his contract and abilities, he’s not the problem. Mobley and Thornton and Ricky Davis have been. The team is just getting nothing from those wing spots.
And the team’s rebounding, somehow, is awful. The Clippers are being out-rebounded by about five and a half per game, even though Kaman and Camby are combining to average over 20 per game. I don’t see how Randolph can help that, because his rebounding acumen will come at the expense of another good rebounder’s minutes.
So, essentially, the Clippers have further weakened their weakest position, added a superfluous big man, and a year’s worth of salary. Not the end of the world, but not good, either. Maybe they can trade Camby back to the Nuggets for J.R. Smith and a part?
UPDATE: Jim Lynam has told Ralph Lawler that character issues are no longer a concern for Zach Randolph because, among other reasons, Zach “has a good woman in his life right now.”
25 Responses
Why are are they looking to ship Kaman and go with Camby??? Kaman has many years left Camby has only a couple years at best! What the hell is this? Please tell me this is just a rumor.
http://blogs.charlotte.com/inside_the_nba/2008/11/bobcats-not-in.html
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
At least the Clippers are interesting for another day. If the deal were a complete slam dunk, we wouldnt have anything to discuss.
Of course there are some caveats. Cat’s perimiter defense is not something to hang your hat on unless it’s 1st or 2nd team NBA status, which it’s not. Mardy Collins is an adequate 8-10 minute a game sub if you really need some defense.
At worst, they picked up a nice young player and got rid of Tim Thomas. If one of your biggest problems is dividing minutes up between 3 relatively good players, i’ll take it.
They could have waited an mabye done better later… but what else are you going to get? 20-10 with ONLY a 3 year contract i can deal with.
As far as the 3 big salaries in 2010-2011, those contracts will probably be attractive to others, especially Zach’s and Kaman’s.
Low Risk, High reward possiblities.
“Just when I thought i was out, they pull me back in!”
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Kaman for a wing is the obvious possible solution here.
Chicago and Charlotte seem quite plausible, as the named targets.
—–
I think we have a peace treaty in the making. Baron gets his players, and Dunleavy gets to run the team.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
“Jim Lynam has told Ralph Lawler that character issues are no longer a concern for Zach Randolph because, among other reasons, Zach “has a good woman in his life right now.”
I fully understand that Zach has often put himself in bad situations in the past. But he’s never struck me as a bad character guy, as opposed to a lousy upbringing guy.
In a weird way, his punching out of Ruben “babysitter rapist” Patterson is a good mark on Randolph’s character to me. Patterson was bullying Portland rookie Qyntel Woods, and Randolph told Patterson to cut it out or he’d punch him in the face. Patterson kept up bullying Woods, and Randolph came through on his threat. Considering this all happened post-babysitter raping, one would have to say that someone standing up to Patterson was a good thing.
Randolph strikes me more as a Stephen Jackson character type than a Ron Artest character type.
Kevin Arnovitz Reply:
November 21st, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Yes. He’s definitely a liberal interventionist in that respect.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
“Yes. He’s definitely a liberal interventionist in that respect.”
Heh.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Seems like i can post links, but go to Deadspin .com and look up Zach Randolph’s page he has a great rape story too:
“The woman who filed the complaint said Randolph was disappointed that the [paid] sex show had only simulated sex and refused to pay her. After the show, she said, she had consensual sex with Randolph’s friend and then fell asleep or “passed out.” She claimed she awoke and found Randolph trying to have anal sex with her. She told investigators she awoke and “slapped” Randolph away twice. Ultimately, she told police that Randolph lifted her onto a table and had sex with her while she shook her head “no,” the memo says.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
sean rooks sure was talking like there’s one more big move coming and disecting what he said, it’s CK. hmmm…
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
It’s a sad day for Anthony Morrow.
Life can be a roller-coaster sometimes…
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
During half time, in an interview Dunleavy gave, he indicated the possibility of playing all three (Randolph, Camby and Kaman) at the same time.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Gut reactions are often quite accurate in situations like these.
Upon hearing “Zach Randolph,” how many of us expected this to be positive news?
Anyone?
Thought not.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I kind of like it if they did it with the idea of bringing Randolph off the bench to give the 2nd unit some scoring punch.
The idea of playing Kaman, Camby and Randolph together is just ludicrous.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm
there’s no way zach randolph is going to be willing to come off the bench. same goes for kaman and camby. none of those guys will be content with that. with the addition of randolph, they are overloaded with bigs. they’re going to want to develop deandre jordan too. plus they have a hole at the SG spot, eric gordon isn’t ready yet. so look for kaman to be traded in the near future. the scenario that makes most sense is a multi-player deal including kaman to chicago for ben gordon. chicago is going to lose gordon at the end of the season to unrestricted free agency, so of course they’re not going to want to lose him for nothing in return. plus chicago needs a post scorer. clippers get a much needed perimeter scorer who can give results right away. but clippers will need an agreement from ben gordon that he’ll re-sign with the team, similar to the way boston needed it from kg before the trade.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:42 pm
If it is broken I’m all for a fix, for the 3rd year running we have TT at the same output, nowhere what is required for what he gets paid. The Cat has been a fine servant and an sad to see him go, but when he has ashocker he has a shocker. When you are 2 -9 have copped some beltings, I’m all for trying something
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Oh God. I am still shuddering from the Mo Taylor era. Why do we need another overweight big man who’ll be a black hole on offense? Well, at least Zach Randolph gets his share of boards, unlike Fat Mo.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Baron Davis is a momumental black hole of suck. He is beyond terrible. No way we should have lost that game with a HALF WAY decent PG. Absolutely inexcusable. He is fucking embarrassing himself on the court.
$65 million for this is just wrong. I can’t believe how bad he is.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I’d have to agree with ACD’s comments. Spot on. But I can’t help being sad about seeing Cat go. He was heating up.
I can’t see the Clippers finishing with this current crop of guards, but no way Dunleavey trades Kaman. He would have given up Camby like the Knicks wanted initially to clear the logjam at post players.
Here’s hoping EGordon blows up.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Sean Rooks is a doofus – the Clippers ain’t trading Kaman, big man logjam or not. Camby is another matter but they’ll want to see how Randolph fits in first before they make further moves.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Ricky Davis, Z-Bo on the same team? Why not trade Baron for Jamal Tinsley at this point. Who the hell would want to coach these guys?
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Tim Thomas sucks. 2-9 sucks. Anything is better than this.
Posted on November 21st, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Yuck. We just pushed back our rebuilding process a year, and eliminated the chance of getting a Wade or Bosh type player in 2010 because we’ll have chubby mc chub chubs sucking it up for us.
Look, at some point you have to realize that this current Clippers team is not going to win an NBA Championship. They might not even make the playoffs. The plan should have been to retool around your two young guys, leave yourself cap flexibility, trade your current assets for some young players and REBUILD!!!
I like Baron Davis as much as the next guy, but watching an unmotivated Baron teamed with an unmotivated Zach Randolph on a perennial loser is not my idea of fun.
I’d rather be really bad and young with an eye on the future than to be mediocre with absolutely no hope in sight.
Randolph is a cancer. It’s a nothing trade. It doesn’t help us now, it doesn’t help us in the future.
Yes, I’m glad the front office is trying. But at some point you have to realize that they keep making inexplicable sideways moves.
I’m not excited to be mediocre for an extra year.
Stian Reply:
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 am
What were we saving the capspace for exactly? Newsflash: We were not gonna get LeBron in 2010. We were not gonna get Wade in 2010. We were not gonna get Bosh in 2010. We were not gonna get Amare in 2010. We were not gonna…… You get the picture. Hate the Z-Bo trade if we end up going 2-22 or something but let’s see how things go first. If Baron is unmotivated it’s because he is f’n pussy who can’t buckle down. Did he think this was gonna be a walk in the park after Bran stabbed him and the team in the back? This chump lost us the San Antonio game with his idiotic shot jacking and choked again in the clutch tonite. He’s got no one but himself to blame for his underwhelming start to the season. And if he wants to act like a pouty little princess his departure can be facilitated quite easily.
Dj Reply:
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:15 am
There are so many free agents available in 2010. I realize we aren’t going to get a Lebron type player, but before this year who would have thought that we could get a Baron Davis type player? It’s not out of the question that a guy like Joe Johnson or Amare or someone along those lines would want to come out to L.A. on a big contract.
Bottom line is this: This team is not going to win anything of significance as currently constructed. They’re just not. I’d rather take a shot at being great after 2010 than throwing it away on the fat black hole that is Zach Randolph.
Seriously- you guys think Tim Thomas was bad? Just wait til you see Zach loafing up and down the court. Not only is this team bad, they aren’t even fun to watch. Randolph, Camby and Kaman frontcourt? By the time everyone gets in to the frontcourt the shot clock will be down to 10. This team is a nightmare.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
The Clippers are a cog in the Knicks attempt to get Lebron.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
I’m not sure if I like the trade but Dunleavy had to make the trade. The Clippers needed another top tier scorer in the worst way. Most times on offense when Baron doesn’t have the ball the Clippers look lost and use too many isolation plays. This is mostly a sign of a lack of trust between players. It would be hard for Randolph to make a bad situation worse.
In addition the Clippers have one of the worst defenses in the league. They lack trust in each other and often they are unwilling to leave their own man to play help defense. So where am I going with this? I don’t see Zach Randolph making the defense worse.
Mobley is a good solid player. Tim it Tim. The Clippers are a bad team with decent talent. They were talented but they were sorely missing that other impact player. Also teamwork. Offensely the Clippers will improve dramatically and defense may go from really bad to really really bad. All in all I like the trade. I give it a B. After Dunleavy made a ton of moves in the summer, he fielded a team with only one win so far. He had to make the trade.
Posted on November 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
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