Over the next week or so, Clips Nation and Clipperblog are exchanging thoughts about the Clippers in a cyber-dialogue. Clipperblog lobbed the first volley yesterday here. Below is Steve Perrin’s rejoinder, which can be found on Clips Nation here.
From: Steve Perrin
To: Kevin Arnovitz
Date: June 4, 2009
Kevin -
There are lots of points I want to touch on from your email, but I’ll first try to answer your specific question. What is that hypothetical sentence about the 09-10 Clippers (and I’m going to assume that you’re hoping it doesn’t include the word dysfunctional in that ‘ideal world’)? I asked the Magic Eight Ball; he said “Reply hazy” and I have to agree. Assuming this ideal world doesn’t include unicorns and leprechauns, then we can rule out Chris Kaman and Zach Randolph making the all star team, right? Let’s call it a semi-realistic ideal world. For all the talk of increasing the tempo, it’s pretty difficult to confuse a Mike Dunleavy team with a Mike D’Antoni team. So while Baron Davis has been best in free flowing systems, and Eric Gordon, Al Thornton and Blake Griffin would all thrive filling a lane, I’m just not hopeful it’s going to happen. The one thing that we certainly should be able to expect as fans, and that has nothing to do with wishful thinking, is better effort. Davis was clearly going through the motions last season, and it permeated the entire team. As I’ve been watching the playoffs, I’ve been struck more than anything by how damn hard these teams are working – in Denver’s case, for whatever reason, they let down in Game 6 and got blown out. The rest of the playoffs, they just worked their butts off and looked like the best team in the NBA much of the time because of it. It’s one thing to know when and where you’re supposed to rotate – it’s quite another to dig deep and close out as fast and as hard as you can despite the fact that you’re already exhausted. That’s what I saw Denver do, and I don’t think I saw five Clippers do that all year (with the possible exception of when those five Clippers really had no business getting significant NBA minutes to begin with). Obviously, it’s not unusual that playoff teams are working hard with so much more on the line – and therein lies a little glimmer of hope, in a perverse way. The Clippers had nothing to play for from about as early in last season as is possible, and it showed. So at a minimum, I’d like to see a team playing with purpose. I remain concerned that the personnel is not particularly well-suited to the coach, but with the current coach it seems more likely that the purpose will manifest itself on the defensive end first. The realistic best case scenario at that point becomes an exciting young team playing good defense, led by a point guard determined to re-assert his NBA bona fides, and running opportunistically.
Readers of ClipperBlog like myself were witnesses to your crisis – your heart was on your sleeve. And you weren’t the only one. It’s amazing how many die hard Clipper fans, who’ve been through terrible season after terrible season, finally reached their breaking point on this one (or at least said they did – the very fact that they’re Clipper fans makes me suspect that they’ll be back). The burden of increased expectations that came with the 2006 playoffs has a lot to do with it, I suspect. The next season was disappointing, but they still won 40 games (the team’s fourth best win total in their LA history after all). The next season was all about Elton Brand’s injury, and everyone put their hopes for team on hold one more year. But this season – this was the realization that the ineptitude was back, probably for awhile. The Leno punchlines, the “It’s the Clippers” stories… and of course it didn’t help that the Lakers were back at the top of the Conference.
But it’s more than that. The Staples Center incarnations of the Clippers have been made up for the most part of genuinely likeable players. Elton Brand was too good to be true (as we later found out). Corey Maggette, for all his faults, never took a possession off. Cassell, Mobley, Livingston, Ross, Simmons, even Mikki Moore and Rick Brunson – these were good guys. The unprecedented roster turnover this season left us with an entirely different team. And a few of them were decidedly unlikeable, at least on the surface, led by Zach Randolph and Ricky Davis. If ever there was a team that tested Seinfeld’s “Rooting for clothes” premise, it was the 08-09 Clippers.
I don’t think it’s a “fair weather” thing at all, at least not in the traditional sense. Normally, that would be about wins and losses. But you’re in it for the basketball. In the early part of this decade, when Shaq and Kobe were winning rings with the Lakers, the Clippers were winning 30 some games a season. But the Lakers were just terrible to watch – all Shaq pounding people or Kobe going one-on-one. The “fair weather” fan would have been watching the Lakers, but we were watching the Clippers. (The irony here is that the Kobe-Gasol Lakers are actually a very entertaining team to watch.)
But we could probably spend months on the psyche of the Clipper fan and not get anywhere. Here’s hoping they give us something worth watching next season. I’m not sure I can say much more that that at this point without getting depressed. The elephant in the room on all of this is that we’re not just garden-variety fans any more, you and me – we’re bloggers now. If we get fed up with the Clippers, what do we do? Do we just turn the blog over to Zhiv?
Speaking of a more watchable incarnation of the team, when we spoke the day after the draft, the conversation immediately migrated in the direction of the “glue guy”, which is something the Clippers seem to be sorely missing. I actually like Al Thornton a lot, but with Gordon and Randolph and Davis and Kaman (not to mention Griffin), it seems to me that the Clippers now have a scoring three, who does little else, who is arguably their fifth scoring option in the starting lineup. That’s not a good thing. So if I’m the GM, I’m out looking for a “glue guy” to start at the three, and moving Thornton to the bench (or packaging him to get the “glue guy” if necessary). Free agent Trevor Ariza seems like an ideal candidate, and we’d save on relocation costs. Jamario Moon is another free agent that comes to mind, or maybe Josh Childress is tired of gyros. Or Chris Kaman for Tayshaun Prince was brought up in a recent HoopsWorld chat. Who would be your ideal “glue guy”? And what the heck is a “glue guy” anyway?
Steve
29 Responses
Good read, I like the idea of trading for a SF at the end. specially the kaman for prince part. We have enough scorers, what we need is someone defensive minded who can move the ball around while also not be a liability on offense ( I know, sounds like asking for too much)
GO CLIPS!!….Magic 2009 champs!!
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I’ve been hoping for a Kaman-Prince trade for over a month now – make it happen! Thornton is great, but should definitely be the ’spark’ off the bench at this point in his career. If Griffin can guard the three, I wouldn’t mind seeing him there playing alongside Zach and Marcus in the starting lineup.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I think Paul Milsap could be worthy. They sometimes put him in the SF position to defend and he is not a bad cutter. Along with rebounding, put backs and block shots, I would definitely think about it.
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James Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I feel we’d be better off with a defensive minded SF that can shoot the 3 if needed, Prince would be perfect, Ariza would be better. Not to mention another LA guy coming home. Then have Al as our scorer off the bench.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Milsap is great, but no way is Utah letting him go.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:25 am
I completely agree with the idea of getting Trevor Ariza this summer. He’s a guy who can shoot the ball efficiently, is a great defender, and is willing to pass the ball, all qualities that the clippers were missing last season, especially at the 3.
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Chris. Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 7:15 am
I’m sorry but I disagree about Ariza. As a die hard Clipper fan I do not want an ex-Laker on my team personally, but I don’t think he’s all that. He has people triple teaming Kobe, the man next to him on the court, and is good at getting easy shots because of that. Put him on any other team and he won’t be as good but will want the money and the contract because he thinks he is. Aside from Kobe at the 2, the 4 is Gasol and the 5 is Bynum so nobody can leave their man to help defend any of those without letting Ariza be wide open or Sasha or Fisher wide open (which has been the better option because Sasha and Fisher have stunk it up).
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I think the Lakers will try to keep him. Unless someone throws a load of money at Ariza. By the way, will he be a restricted free agent?
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:33 am
If the Lakers win, I can easily see them resigning both Odom and Ariza.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Seems unlikely we could get Ariza.
We can only offer the MLE (if Sterling would even authorize that) and the Lakers can offer the same… really – do we even have to ask which offer he’d take?
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Lakers are letting odom walk unless he wants to sign for MLE. they simply dont have the cash and Ariza is a better long term option for them. With Lamar gone, Ariza gets to be the full time starter at a significantly reduced rate to odoms present deal.
As far as the Clippers. I want Dunleavy’s head before the draft. The only draft prep needed is getting a jersey made for Blake Griffin. we need to get a new coach and some new leadership in here to rebuild this franchise, and now is the best time to do it with the #1 pick coming in. I don’t care about his deal, can him. Get a real serious staff of basketball professionals in here and tell DTS to stay away from the front office.
If we hold our ground, and dunleavy gets another season of being GM/Coach, I dont think I will be able to continue rooting for this team. They have absolutely no interest in building anything significant except bilking us out of our cash to pimp season tickets. im over the mediocrity, i refuse to pay the 11th highest ticket prices to watch the 28th best team.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I do not like to talk about the competition but they will not sign Odom. I like the trade for Kaman. Maybe the lakes Huron and Michigan will help him and his millionare hobby (yatching) to keep his concentration.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
If the Kaman-Prince deal doesn’t go through, I’d be cool with Richard Jefferson for Zach Randolph. Totally works salary-wise and the Bucks get a legit PF who can play the post.
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jockgroove Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Why on earth would Milwaukee trade Jefferson for Randolph? I don’t get it. A quality guy like Jefferson for a mess like ZBo? It’s fan or beat writer speculation that will never happen.
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Andy Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I don’t think it’s as far fetched as you’re making it out to be:
Bucks have two young players that can play the 3 and if needed, they could use their #10 pick or the free agent pool to replace RJ. Charlie Villanueva is probably on the way out leaving a hole at the 4. Zach is a proven scorer not to mention a year younger than RJ.
I’ll concede that character issues could kill the deal, but I’d say the more likely reason this gets shot down would be because Skiles is a defense-first type of coach…
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Chris. Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Bucks want to save money and get cap space & Randolph is not the answer.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Gerald Wallace Gerald Wallace Gerald Wallace
Seriously, I think if this guy didn’t happen to play in Charlotte, more people would appreciate how good he is. And the Bobcats are rumoured to be looking for a true center. Chris – it’s been real, enjoy Carolina.
They even have identical contracts. It’s a win for us.
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Clipper Derrick Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I like this idea.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Kaman for Wallace works for me. i cannot stand to watch Kaman underperform another year!
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
“And a few of them were decidedly unlikeable, at least on the surface, led by Zach Randolph and Ricky Davis.”
I don’t get this. What makes Zach “decidely unlikeable”? What did he do? He got into a questionable driving incident that turned out not to be a DUI and he punched another large NBA player but didn’t exactly deck him. Yeah, he has somewhat of a past, but didn’t he talk down Patterson for bullying another team mate?
Last time I checked, Zach had the best stats on the team and Ricky D had the worst? Why are we lumping these two guys in together. Where is Kaman’s likeability? He signs a $55M contract and puts together three good months in 2007 – 2008. He doesn’t report in shape, he wants to play for international teams, and he would rather hunt and fish that play ball with his team mates.
Kaman and R. Davis must be the first two to go. After that, probably B. Davis because of his poor stats provided we can get a good point guard. I am fine with keeping Zach to play with Griffin and with keeping Thornton because of his desire.
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brad Reply:
June 6th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I have to agree, zach seems like a good guy. Thats why the author of the piece wrote, “at least on the surface” because of all the bad press from past issues, some people might judge him unfairly. Your definetly right about kaman, i hope he can turn it around
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Only concern I would have of trading for Tayshaun Prince is that he’s 30 years old. Since guys like Eric, Griffin, DeAndre, and Mike Taylor are ALL under 22 years old, I’d rather try to get a guy a little bit younger if possible. Josh Childress is 24 years old, Gerald Wallace is 26. I’d prefer somethin like that over a guy that’s 30. I’d also deal Kaman for Washington’s number 5 pick if the opportunity were there. We’re in a fortunate spot to have some real keepers on the team right now. Let’s build with them in mind.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Josh Childress is a great option. He is does a little bit of everything and knows how to get his in a system with other scorers. Then we trade one of the bigs for a late lottery pick and a future pick, draft Brandon Jennings or Jrue Holliday, and help usher B Diddy out of town. Ill take a 2010 starting lineup of Jennings, Gordon, Childress, Griffin and Jordan with Thornton and Diddy coming off the bench.
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Posted on June 4th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Thanks Steve!
I’m down for trading Kaman for Prince (hometown boys go home) and think Prince’s age would actually help the young guys in between him, Gordon and Griffin mature. I’m also game for Kaman for Nocioni who I think shows heart and effort and hustle at the SF spot. (*off-topic but Kaman for Hinrich works too cause Hinrich can play the 1,2 & 3 as shown in the playoffs and is a better defender at those positions than we have now). My concern is trading Kaman. Yeah he sucked these last 2 years and has no heart, but he is a true center. Who know’s where Camby goes after next year, or at the tradeline when he is a more valuable piece? I’d be down with Camby and Collins to Milwaukee for Jefferson. We get the SF, they get the cap room.
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Posted on June 5th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I say the clips go after Prince, Wallace, Deng or Hinrich (in preference). Prince will bring championship experience, Wallace and Blake will be tough/aggressive front-line, deng can defend, score and has length, Hinrich has leadership qualities defends and scores. If only we would have taken Granger a couple years back!!
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Posted on June 5th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Hello! I’m not convinced that Kaman isn’t mildly retarded. I’m dead serious. He seems completely lost on the court as Dunleavy yells at him like an idiot stepson. He buys an aircraft carrier to fish from. I can just see him with his little captains hat steering the boat and laughing out loud like a freaking mental case. He probably sticks his head out the car window as his keeper drives him to Staples every night. He speaks like a 5th grader and looks like that 12th grade goon that came to sit in on the 7th grade math class. GOD I HATE THIS LOSER!
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Mungo Reply:
June 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Harsh, but very funny.
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Posted on June 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Bring back Koralev.
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Posted on June 7th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I was too harsh. But this madness has to end. Name me another team that every time they have a 4th quarter lead you can bet your house they’ll lose? Kaman is probably a nice enough guy to go catch squirrles and stick M-80’s up their little poop shoots and watch their eyes flies out after you light the fuse. But he’s not a pro athlete. He’s a over sized garbage man. A giant toll booth attendant. A very large high school janitor. Sorry big guy, but it’s time for you to go.
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Posted on June 7th, 2009 at 10:54 am
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