All that said, the model of building the clips still applies. It revolves around solid drafting, player development, and cap management. The Clips already have a potential star in Griffin. They also have players such as Gordon, Thornton, and Jordan, that have shown a lot of promise. If they trade away Davis and sign Sessions they’ll have a really young core. By giving those players a lot of playing time they’ll not only develop them, but they’ll end up with a high lottery pick.

Then, instead of overpaying star free agents to come to their team (Baron Davis) or making panic trades to possible turn the team into a playoff contender (Zack Randolph) they simply sign veteran role players to help the younger players develop. That way, when the time comes to pay the players they drafted they’ll have the money.

Yes, a lot would have to fall into place for what I wrote to happen. But it’s easily conceivable. Kaman could very well be the big man the Bulls need. Sessions would definitely accept a contract with the Clips if they offered him a starting spot and close to the MLE. I’m sure the Knicks wouldn’t mind trading Jordan Hill and/or Wilson Chandler if it meant they got rid of Eddy Curry and received Baron Davis in return. The Ariza deal is unlikely, but it’s probably the least important of the moves I described. You’re right, it’ not likely for the clips to win the lottery again. But if they focus on developing their young players by giving them a lot of playing time then they’ll end up with another promising young player. Next Year’s free agency is the time to add inexpensive veteran role players to round out the team. They could also trade some of their youth for veteran players. Wouldn’t you rather have a team that’s not only a near lock to to make the playoffs every year for 8 years in a row, but also one that has a legitimate chance of making the Finals each year? I would.

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that is crazy talk…

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seriously, what are the chances of snagging griffin and wall in back to back drafts???

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1) Sign Sessions for close to the full MLE. That might seem a bit much given the Buck’s financial situation and his lack of suitors, but there’s no sense losing out on a really good point guard by risking overpaying him a bit for a year or two. Sessions will be well worth it.

At 6′3”, 190 lbs, he has very good size for a point guard. He’s proven to be a capable scorer (12.7 ppg) and defender (1.1 spg), as well as an adequate rebounder for his position (3.4 rpg). Most importantly he’s not only a good passer, but a willing one that takes good care of the ball. He averaged 5.7 apg last year to only 1.9 tpg. That’s nearly a 3 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Very solid. He’s also gets to the line – 4.5 times per game last year – and makes nearly 80 percent of his free throws when he gets there. The only area of his game that he really struggles is his shooting (a horrible 17.6% on three’s last year). But he only attempted 34 last year so at least he’s not chucking from there.

In sum, Session’s is definitely worth close to the MLE.

2) Trade Baron Davis to the Knicks for Eddy Curry and either Jordan Hill or Wilson Chandler.

This trade works numbers wise and makes a ton of sense for both teams. Davis excels in a free-flowing uptempo offensive system as proven by his success with Golden State. I have no doubt that he’d be back to his old all-star caliber self if he went to the Knicks. The Knicks do this trade because they’ve basically traded Curry (someone who might not even crack the rotation) for Davis – a star player that excels in an uptempo system and will help recruit free agents to the Knicks next offseason. The Knicks get a star player without putting a sizable (if any) dent in their 2010 capspace and only have to give up either an uproven power forward with potential (Jordan Hill) or a player that plays the same position as their 2008 lottery pick Ganillo (Wilson Chandler).

The Clips do it to open up a starting spot for Sessions, spare the team of any bad moral caused by tension between the Dunleavy and Davis, and save themselves nearly 30 million over the final three years of Davis’ contract. In addition, they pick up another good complimentary piece in Hill or Chandler. They can save a little more money by buying out Curry who wouldn’t crack the rotation.

It’s a win-win for both teams.

3) At some point during the season before the trade deadline they should trade Kaman for either Kirk Hinrich or Gortat and Brandon Bass. Kaman would have to prove he’s health and produce like he did before he did before he was injured for either trade to go down.

The Bulls do this trade because although Hinrich is a valuable player, they have Derrick Rose and John Salmons (and Pargo off the bench) at the 1 and 2 (making him expendable) and a huge need for low post scoring. If healthy, Kaman can provide that.

The Clips make this trade because Hinrich has playoff experience, can play both the 1 and the 2, knock down the open 3, plays good defense, and provides veteran leadership. He could easily play close to 30 minutes a night backing up both Sessions and Gordon.

Orlando would consider trading Gortat and Bass for Kaman because Kaman provides interior scoring. He’s good insurance at center if Howard gets hurt or in foul trouble. He could also play power forward for 15 minutes a game along side Howard if the Magic want to go big.

The Clips do it because they get a solid defensive center in Gortat that rebounds well and won’t command the ball. They also get a solid, energetic, back up for Griffin when Craig Smith’s contract runs out.

Personally, I like the Chicago trade better because I think Hinrich is the exact type of player they need and DeAndre Jordan could very well develop to the point where Gortat would be redundant.

4) Trade for Trevor Ariza. This may be a bit of a strectch given that Houston just signed him (probably as an eventual replacement for Battier), but at the very least they should inquire about him. I really have no idea what it would take to do the trick, but I’d offer up a combination or either Thorton and Hill or Thorton and Chandler. That might seem like a lot, but my guess is it still wouldn’t be enough for Houston.

Here’s why the Clips should consider it: Ariza has proven that he excels as a complimentary piece on a good team by knocking down open threes at a high percentage, harass the oppossing team’s best perimeter player with his speed, length, and quickness, finish on the break, and knows his role on the team. If Griffin and Gordon live up to their potential and become all-star caliber players, then Ariza is exactly the type of player the Clips will need at the SF position.

5) Be smart in free agency. Do not go overpaying players when they have no clue how they’re going to fit in with the team. Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Joe Johnson are the exceptions and the only one that might even consider the Clips is Johnson.

And finally, make these trades (except for the Davis one) near the trade deadline. I think these trades will make the team a lot better, but ideally the Clips would miss the playoffs this year while continuing to develop their young players (Gordon, Jordan, Griffin) and land a lottery pick in next year’s promising draft. Ideally, they’d win it again and take Wall, but if they were able to get a top 5 pick, they might be able to trade Sessions and that pick for Wall. Then they’d have Wall, Griffin, Gordan, and Griffin to build around.

This team would be a perennial playoff contender starting next season and a championship contender in no more than 3 seasons from now.

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at this point id rather trade Chris Kaman than Ricky Davis…..
(because that means DJ will get more PT…..)

and if we do get Steve NOvak AAAND sessions (or iverson)
and with the roster we have if we dont atleast finish over 500 next season
Dunleavy needs to go and realize he lost these guys…..

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Sessions could opt to play overseas, but Milwaukee would retain his rights until his next contract is signed in the NBA. So next year he would be in the same situation, Milwaukee would have first right of refusal.

Sadly though, for how good he is, I’m surprised no team has actually thrown him an offer. They are all trying to spend as little as possible to acquire him. People are that concerned about their cap going into next year. Even Ray Felton hasnt gotten a fair deal from anyone.

If I was Pat Riley, I’d give Sessions a deal just to make the Clippers and Knicks react and hopefully respond with their own. Maybe he gets the point guard he’s always wanted, or maybe he gets his two main competitors in next years FA market to strain their cap.

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