- The day following their season-ending loss to Oklahoma City, the Clippers contributed $25,000 to Budget Reform Now. The group supports Propositions 1A-1F, which would overhaul the budgetary process in Sacramento. The Warriors kicked in $25,000 of their own [Hat Tip: John Wildermuth]
- Smart post from Steve Perrin that explores the market value of Chris Kaman. Perrin takes a thorough inventory of what big men around the league earn, and concludes that “it’s hard to argue that Chris Kaman is overpaid based on his on court productivity.” With a high pick in hand, three starting big men [one of which has an attractive expiring contract], and a curio like DeAndre Jordan in the stable, it will be interesting to see how the Clippers manage their frontcourt assets this offseason.
- We love to muse about Sofo Schortsanitis, but have you ever actually seen him play? Sofo isn’t getting a lot of burn for Olympiacos, but if he checks in, you can watch him on your computer Friday at lunch as Olympiacos takes on Panathinaikos in the Euroleague Final Four.
- I don’t know what’s weirder about DeAndre Jordan’s YouTube channel — his in-room videos [including prominent face time from Clippers trainer Jasen Powell], or his collection of favorites. [UPDATED LINK...which makes Jordan's favorites slightly less weird.]
- Brett Pollakoff tips us off to a TMZ report that Zach Randolph has had his charge reduced. He’ll now face a misdemeanor reckless driving rap rather than a DUI — which will make Zach’s defense less of a priority. Randolph’s attorney is Blair Berk, fixer to the stars.
Afternoon Roundup
on April 27, 2009 at 1:23 pm
19 Responses
Wow…the Clippers are real jerkoffs
Prop 1A is a real winner:
1. It extends the increase in the sales tax for 2 more years
2. It extends the DOUBLING of the car tax for 2 more years
3. Increase in CA State Income Tax
4. Reduction of the child credit by $200 per child
What a bunch of shmucks. Thanks for posting KA… How irritated can you possibly get with your favorite NBA team before you totally turn against them?
andrew Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
who are “the clippers” ? donlad sterling or what ?
ACD Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
who else would write a fat check for $25,000 to fund the promotion of a tax bill?
We know it’s not the sales reps, because mine just got fired. He was nothing short of a really nice guy who tried really hard. He told me that they booted him right before he was to get his renewal bonuses. Great organization.
Posted on April 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I read Steve’s post about Kaman and he makes some excellent points. If you are 7 foot tall and have a pulse, you get paid in the range of contracts that guys like Kaman, Dalembert and Chandler got paid.
But are they REALLY worth that much? My answer is no.
It’s true theres a supply shortage of 7 foot traditional Centers in this league, and thats why mediocre players get signed to ridiculous contracts for being able walk and chew gun. We could go on for hours and multiple pages listing centers that have been overpaid in their lives and can maybe only count on 1 hand the truly dominating players at the position for the last 50 years. There is a huge chasm between breathing air and being 7 foot tall, or being Yao Ming or Shaq O’Neal.
As far as value though, and worth, these are pretty subjective things. Sure there is a demand for traditional centers, theres really only 4 guys in the league that teams would want to build around at the position, and the rest are seen as contract burdens on their respective teams. Its interesting to note that Steve compares Kaman to both Dalembert and Chandler, 2 guys who’s teams are also trying to unload in order to free those salary requirements for more dynamic scorers at other positions.
Then you look at the way teams are moving towards a running game and how most 6’10-7 foot kids are playing PF/C instead of being traditional Centers. The league is morphing into a quicker, more athletic game, and that includes the guys playing the 5. Many teams will sign 5 PF’s and rotate their guys between the 4 and 5 spots in order to get quicker and to get better offensive production.
That makes me believe that the market for air breathing 7 footers that occasionally try to block a shot is deteriorating. Those players that were signed to these kinds of deals are being moved around, teams have concluded that they simply arent worth the hit to their salary cap for the production they are putting out on the floor. If they were truly playing at the level of expectation based on what they were being paid, they wouldnt be on the trade block to begin with. They would be immovable, you couldnt throw enough money at the team to get them to part with the player. But that isnt the case.
Then you look at the success stories in the league. Teams are running and gunning with 3 guards or 3 forwards on the floor and no center for miles unless its to give fouls to stop clock. People are trying to get faster, quicker, more athletic, have more threats on the floor at a single time rather than running your traditional half-court game. Everyone wants to be the new D’Antoni. They want a franchise PG that can run the team now, not a franchise C that bangs down low.
So yes, while Chris was signed during a period where the average 7 footer made 10m a season, that doesnt make it a good deal. It was a bad deal. Better than Ostertags deal, but still a bad deal. Thats why every other team that signed a guy for the same amount of money (Chandler, Dalembert) is trying to get rid of them. They arent getting what they paid for. Sure that might have been where “the market was” for a player “of that type (size)” but that doesn’t mean they are actually worth it. In each of the cases where the C is up on the block, who are they competing with for minutes on the depth charts? More athletic PF/C’s with offensive mindsets (Hilton Armstrong, DeAndre Jordan and Marreesse Speights).
The game is changing. I dont think that we’ll be seeing ridiculous contracts for air breathing 7 footers anymore, especially with the economy as hampered as it is. These contracts will float around, trying to be traded with the excuse that the salary will drop off the books. But each of these teams has come to the same conclusion regarding their big men: they arent worth what they are getting paid.
ACD Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Trends are cute… but how many “running” teams have won championships in the last 15 years?
Zero.
andrew Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
how many clipper teams have had a winning record? id take a decent record with no chance at a championship then whatever the hell we are.
andrew Reply:
April 27th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
im not trying to defend bongstradamus, i didnt even read it (talk about a brick of text). but to talk about championships with the 2nd worst record in the league is just… far fetched. how about a .500 record first ?
Lawler's Law Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
LOL…you’re right andrew…Bongstradamus, you need to break those posts into several paragraphs…makes for easier reading…
Posted on April 27th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
also thats not DJs youtube pages i realized when he only had 3 videos its
http://www.youtube.com/user/lacdjvb (direct from clippers.com DJs journal)
Posted on April 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Kaman isn’t an air-breathing center. He was the best player on the team in the first half of 2007, and arguably should’ve been an All-Star that year. I remember people talking about either Kaman or Camby for that spot, forgot who it wound up going to. Kaman’s main problem has been his inability to stay healthy. Even in these last few games when he came back, he showed flashes of Kaman 2.0. I say hang on to him, or at least make him part of a trade for a decent wing. This “over-paid” non-sense needs to stop, you can make that argument for more than half the guys in the league.
bongstradamus Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Kamans a nice guy and yes, shows flashes. In the same game though he’ll miss a couple of perfect passes, turn the ball over, or not be able to use more than 1 hand to get a rebound. He did play strong for the beginning of the 2007 season, but Olowokandi played the same kind of strong for the 30 games before his rookie deal ended too. If Kaman were more consistent, we wouldnt be under this impression that hes overpaid. If its not some injury, its wincing when he gets a pass in the paint and fumbles it. The only thing he seems to be consistent about is making really stupid turnovers when he should be finishing plays. He’s going to be a 6th year pro and he still makes rookie mistakes. How much longer should we be patient? And how critical is it really to have a player of his type these days? Would we be better served by getting deeper on the wing and maybe a little smaller? 10M a year can buy a lot of talent.
Gordon for President Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
You make great points, I’m right there with you. I can’t count how many times Baron has set him up with a perfect pass, only to have him blow it big time. And there always chippies, too. He’s totally expendable, I can see us roping Dallas into taking him. He and Nowitzki are apparently buddies from German, and Ericka’s contract is almost up. I’d kill for a Kaman-Josh Howard swap. That being said, if he stays I’d be cool with it, too. I’d like to see him have one FULL season where he’s given the chance to bring back 2.0.
Posted on April 28th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I know a lot of you follow Sofo much closer than I do, so what’s the deal with him? Does he *have* to come over any time soon? Does he want to play in the states at all? Should we want him?
Posted on April 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
kamen is a worldclass stiff who has never done anything to improve his game or to get stronger so that he can finish at the rim-something guys half his size can do with ease. moreover he has the brain wattage of a dim bulb & can rarely catch the ball when it is thrown to him. of course at the end of games he gets easily rattled & usually throws the ball away. yes he has raw talent,but what’s the point if the result is pathetic. i blame some of the above on our wonderful coach who has never done enough to make it clear to chris that there would be consequences if he didn’t try harder & who trated him like a loveable goofball rather than as a professional athlete making $10 million a year. could kamen turn out to be a decent player?-possibly,but playing for this coach.
Posted on April 28th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
errata in my prior reply: “treated him”-(not “trated”. also last sentence should read “playing for this coach-never”. please excuse these egregious errors- but the gist is the same ie. kamen& coach d. both stink!
Posted on April 28th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Who is Zach’s attorney? I want him on speed dial. I plan on hittin the Hollywood clubs this weekend doing some sambuca shots, bitch slapping Rihanna and swerving home at 120 MPH flashing my lights at crane operators with a .18 BAC.
Go Clips!
Gordon for President Reply:
April 28th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Too soon!
Posted on April 28th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
That was Baron with Rihanna not Snak Attack
Posted on April 29th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I think I can round up some Clipper fans and contribute to Coaching Reform Now that would overhaul the process by which the organization hires coaches and drafts players.
Posted on April 30th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
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