Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles tracks down Baron Davis during his travels. He delivers this message to the free agent class:

I’m writing this from Africa, a far cry from the 24-7 media updates on what’s known as the biggest and best free agency class in the history of the NBA. I can’t help but think about two summers ago, when I was making the decision to stay or leave from the Warriors. I came to LA to make an impact on the city, to help change the shape of another organization. I took the road less traveled. I left a team that was one win shy of the playoffs. I left a city that I had made a home. I left fans that were amazing. All to cause change, to start over again. I came to Los Angeles, hoping to rebuild and reignite a franchise.  More...

We’re now just hours away from the opening of the free agent market.

Know what I want to see from the Clippers?

As little as possible.

The organization is obliged to make its pitch for LeBron James, as well they should. The Clips should also inquire about Paul Pierce’s demands because a pick-and-roll practitioner with Pierce’s skills could probably take them to the postseason, but the organization would be wise to resist the temptation to overpay for any veteran not named James.  More...

NBA Free Agent Summit Conference Call

Credit Chris Cashman of ESPN 710 in Seattle.

• On Monday afternoon at Playa Vista, the Clippers introduced Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Bledsoe, their first-round draft picks. Both Aminu and his agent Raymond Brothers expressed genuine satisfaction that the 6-9 forward landed with a team that can use his services immediately. Clips’ general manager Neil Olshey hammered home again that the team “has been disguising 2s as 3s” for too long. Aminu’s 7-foot-4 wingspan will come in very handy for a team whose wings have been getting killed on the boards the past few seasons.

From my column over at ESPN Los Angeles:

Casey and Del Negro are a contrast in style and biography. After a college career under Joe B. Hall at Kentucky, Casey never logged a minute in the NBA. A student of the game, Casey moved into the coaching ranks. He joined hoops legend Pete Newell to coach the Japanese national team for five years. He then joined the staff in Seattle, where he mastered the “SOS Defense” and became McMillan’s right-hand guy, devising the Sonics’ nightly game strategy.  More...