When Chris Kaman went into hibernation this summer, it sent many members of Clipper Nation into a state of paranoia. In previous years Kaman’s disappearance wouldn’t have raised so much as an eyebrow, but fans newly accustomed to receiving updates on what their favorite players were doing in neat little 140 character packages found themselves irritated. We learned that DeAndre Jordan seemingly works out more than humanly possible and gets his haircut at least 4 times a week. Sand dunes and summer ball were detailed, and great revelations were made about the team’s newly found chemistry. All while this was happening, there wasn’t a peep or a tweet heard from Kaman. This may have been the first case where a player not having a Twitter account hurt him. Little did anyone know, Kaman was working his tail off towards reviving his career.
When Dunleavy praised Kaman on the first day of training camp, Clippers fans collectively expressed their gratitude that Kaman didn’t spend his entire summer playing with pyrotechnics. “He looks great,” said Dunleavy. “[Clippers assistant coach] John Lucas just said to me, ‘Wow! That guy is really good. He can shoot hooks, jump hooks, left hand, right hand, 18-foot jump shots.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I know. He’s got all the tools.’” Dunleavy was incredibly complimentary of Kaman at every turn this offseason, remarking that it was Kaman who arrived to training camp in the best shape of all the players. It was all par for the course for Kaman, who continually destroys expectations, one way or another.
Which Chris Kaman will the Clippers get this year? Will it be a revitalized Kaman, or the Kaman who could barely stay on the floor the last two seasons?
Hope: Kaman stays healthy and regains his 2007 form
15.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.8 blocks. Those were the averages Chris Kaman put up just two years ago. The list of players to average those numbers on a season is surprisingly short. Only four active players have been able to do it: Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard and Chris Kaman. If Kaman could have played all 82 games that year (instead of just 56) his season would have been considered one of the greatest statistical showings from a big man this decade. Now, after two straight injury plagued campaigns, Kaman finds himself fighting not only for minutes and a starting job, but also for the chance to re-establish himself once again as an elite NBA center.
One of the main issues fans have with Kaman is the 33 million he’s owed over the next 3 years, but consider the following. There are 30 starting NBA centers in the league. Only 12 of those centers have averaged over eight rebounds a game (Kaman averages 8.3) on their career. Kaman makes more money than only four of those twelve centers. Marcus Camby, on a great contract, is one of those centers. Two others are Al Horford and Brook Lopez, both on rookie deals. The only other active center to average 8 rebounds a game on their career who makes less money than Kaman is Andris Biedrins, who also sports a 53% free throw shooting mark on his career. Considering the scarcity at the center position and the league wide demand for quality 7 footers, Kaman’s contract is more than reasonable; it’s actually pretty good. Of course, Kaman’s true value is directly tied to how often he can remain on the court, but that’s the nature of the beast with a good portion of NBA centers, not just Kaman.
Can a team compete with a healthy Chris Kaman as its 4th best option? The hope is that the answer to that question is a resounding “yes”.
Fear: The Clippers are paying for potential, not production
At 27 years old, Kaman, alongside Baron Davis, represent the “middle aged” group of Clippers – not young guns, but certainly not veterans on their last legs either. Kaman and Baron’s futures are somewhat tied to each other, as both need to help make this team competitive quickly, lest they both be shipped out for .50 cents on the dollar. But how much patience should be exercised with an injury prone 7 year player? At what point does production need to replace potential? How many “now or never” moments can Kaman be presented with before it’s time to give up and write him off completely?
It’s pretty frightening to hitch playoff hopes on the stipulation that Kaman stays healthy. The added depth to the frontcourt provides some insurance, but it’s still hard to see the Clippers making a legitimate playoff push sans Kaman. He’s done everything he could to alleviate those injury concerns by showing up to camp in the best shape he’s been in years, but most people justifiably remain skeptical. Kaman is truly at the crossroads of his career, and needs now more than ever to prove that he’s worthy of the investment the Clippers made. Kaman has all the talent and has proven to be capable in the past, but his window of opportunity to prove it once more is quickly closing with DeAndre Jordan breathing down his neck and Blake Griffin siphoning minutes.
The hope: Kaman proves himself to be dependable by staying healthy.
The fear: Kaman will never actualize his full potential with the Clippers, or perhaps even worse, he’ll eventually actualize it elsewhere.
35 Responses
Kaman will never reach his full potential. He is mired in his own world of negativity and does not have the mental makeup to consistently compete and produce at a high level.
get serious Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Kaman never had potential. He played HARD one season to steal a lucrative contract. His real NBA value : $0.00. You can’t even trade ’cause no one wants him.
Buy-out is the only option. Or put him in injured list. And do not activate him. Or find other ways to make him pay for his unprofessional attitude.
He doesn’t care. Does he?
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
His full potential was 2 years ago. He’ll never have another season like that one, but at this point I think every fan would do back flips if he could just get 14, 10, and 2 every night. Maybe it was the dominant play of He Who Shall Not Be Named 2 years ago that helped Kaman’s game so dramatically. We can only hope that Griffin’s eventual evolution into dominance will be just what Kaman needs to return to elite form.
Ian Reply:
October 25th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
“He who shall not be named” was hurt that year, remember? I love Chris but I’m starting to think that he just might be one of those “headcase” players — you know, a guy who can only play really well when he’s “The Man” on a bad team. He seems like he gets frustrated and loses confidence in himself too easily. I think a little robust support from the Nacion this year might alleviate that problem.
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm
which one of these guys is FD.com?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFbP-jMbwXs&feature=related
FireDunleavy .com Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 am
I’m not part of that.
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Let’s hope Kaman returns to form.. I got him on my fantasy team. :O
RL Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
and also entertaining the idea of trading for Baron…
Massimo Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:40 am
me too. Go Kaman!
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I think Kaman is going to go Richter this year. He has finally realized the body is machine and yachting all summer doesn’t equate to physical performance. He is going to average 17 and 13 and 3 book it.
Posted on October 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
good read, takes my mind off the Dodgers losing.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 12:45 am
I’d take 14, 9 and 2.3 blocks. And how about only 3 turnovers a game?
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 1:08 am
relax everyone….big c has built a very impressive gym back home in michigan….while he still may take a week or two off each summer to do some crazy stuff, he now realizes what it is going to take to maintain his physical presence. Plus now there is a positive group of guys he likes to hang out with in the locker room. Big Cis coming back stronger than ever, his attitude is great, he is in the right frame of mind, and it is enjoyable to go to work these days.
brad Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 am
I once saw Big C Jogging down my street with a refrigerator strapped to his back….
neiljphx Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
everybody checked out last year.
this is a whole new deal and i’m giving CK and all the rest full faith.
caveman will be back to kicking ass.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 am
So the Clippers won 23 games the 07-08 season and CK put up nice numbers. Being just about the only low post threat enabled him to carry 15-20 % of the team’s shots. Maggette also had some GREAT numbers . I am by far , not being negative here. Please do not get that impression.
I think that with a more talented team coming into this season compared to 07-08 , CK might not be able to get as many shots . 14 pts 10 rbs 2 blks 4 fouls 2 to’s .
get serious Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Forget about numbers, he won’t even get enough playing time if Dunleavy wants to win this season.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
“It could always be worse.”
LOL
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 am
Simmons picks the Clippers for 45 wins and 6th place.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/part2/091023&sportCat=nba
get serious Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:01 am
There’s no way Clippers will lose 37 games this season. I think they can lose maximum 28 games.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 11:27 am
OMG another ugly ass clipper jersey t-shirt on opening night? Unwearable. I’m sporting Clipper nation playoff gear! Wayyyy better look.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
the new ‘full court press’ shows that the opening night blake t-shirt giveaway is the same awful shirt from last year with only a different name and number. yeesh.
minor crap and doesn’t really matter but can whoever is in charge of that not see how lame that shirt is?
can’t imagine they can’t do better with the same budget.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
if anyone’s in the valley and wants 2 tix for tongiht, 107 row 14… $50.00 for the pair
eperfume@earthlink.net
I really think DeAndre will make Kaman expendable by the end of the season.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I’m reading simmons’s article right now….he predicts that Rudy Gay will be very unhappy in Memphis, he will be underutilized b/c of the mayo/iverson/randolph problem, and they’ll be open to trading him. Sounds somewhat likely to me.
What better fit than LAC?
Gordon for President Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Not much better at this point than Thornton, Rudy plays about as much D as Al. Rather hold out for LBJ…
pezz Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
don’t get me wrong, he’s no LBJ, or Joe Johnson…but he’s got great range, he’s far more efficient offensively than Al, he’s a better rebounder, and he’s only 23…he’s going to get a lot better. I haven’t watched him play enough to comment on his defense, I’ll take your word for it. Just throwing it out there.
In the meantime Rasual seems to be doing quite well at the 3.
pipedreams Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I’d have to say that Gay’s jersey would be very popular in this town.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I count myself among the many Kaman skeptics. And, I’m just cynical enough to believe the true motivation for the intense summer workout was all the Griffin hype. Whatever it takes to motivate him, okay by me.
In early camp, he seemed surprised anyone would suggest he would lose his starting position. Good to see he has a “fire in his belly”; but history shows he will probably spend a part of the season injured. As DJ points out, good thing Clippers have a deeper bench this year.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
He has never left. He was just pouting and he was hurt. The guy is a beast waiting to happen. It’s about to happen…
get serious Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Kaman is a beast? We know Griffin & De Andre are. We have been waiting for years to witness a beast which never existed in the first place. It’s our figment of imagination.
BEASTS don’t hide inside the snowball. They explode all the time. Everytime.
pezz Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 10:18 am
The numbers are there… say what you want, but the numbers don’t lie. People without talent don’t put up the numbers he put up, granted, in brief stretches.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
im tired of hearing the world potential with Kaman
its about time he starts producing
and stop fumbling the ball like today….or making horrible decisions
he has game down low its about time he uses it ….
Posted on October 24th, 2009 at 12:21 am
“Actualize”? That column was downright Aristotelian…
Posted on October 25th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
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