Only a small handful NBA teams have a transcendent all-star who can elevate a team to relevance. The rest of the league makes do by finding talent where other might not, then cultivating it. The Clippers did that this summer when they signed undrafted rookie Marqus Blakely to a two-year deal.
Can Marqus Blakely make the jump from undrafted rookie to NBA rotation player?
Given that roster spots are at such a premium, NBA teams don’t need much to disqualify a guy. Whether it’s his work-in-progress jump shot or his four-year status at a small-conference school on the Canadian border, Blakely was passed over. But if you asked enough scouts and basketball operations folks in Las Vegas which player at summer league was most likely to become the next Wes Matthews, Blakely was a common response.
Blakely is a member of a dying breed in the NBA — the four-year collegiate starter. For the last three seasons, he’s been the best player in the America East Conference, where he’s starred for the University of Vermont. A web search for Blakely will turn up some spectacular dunks (Blakely was the NCAA slam dunk champ), but these highlights belie Blakely’s appeal as a potential NBA player.
Blakely didn’t log a single minute in the Clippers’ opening summer league game, but when Nik Caner-Medley was sidelined with a wrist injury, Blakely found himself starting for the Clippers at one forward spot. He immediately established himself as the grown-up on the court. Blakely averaged 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and a couple of steals in 23.3 minutes — and shot 65.5 percent from the floor. More important, he made smart decisions on both sides of the ball.
With a slew of forwards on the roster, the Clippers might not have many minutes for Blakely in his rookie season — assuming he makes the team out of training camp. But if they’re looking to develop a defensive stopper whose athleticism and off-the-ball work make him a player who can’t be ignored on the offensive end, the Clippers won’t find many 21 year olds with a better work ethic and self-awareness than Blakely.
We had a chance to visit with Blakely as he spends the summer training in Los Angeles:
How did you end up at Vermont?
I really didn’t get a lot of looks until my junior year. I was 5-8 or 5-9 my sophomore year. Then I grew to about 6-3 during my junior year, and that’s when I started playing AAU and getting out there.
So you’re basically the best player in your conference for three years. You had a great experience there. You loved the community, but I’m also guessing that a guy with your talent at a big conference powerhouse probably gets drafted. Do you have those thoughts? Does it matter?
Not really. I mean, right now I’m in a situation where I’m in the same place as a lot of guys who got drafted. I didn’t really care. I thought, “Worst comes to worst, I go overseas, travel a little bit, play basketball.” That’s not a bad situation at all, but I’ve got an even better one now. Especially being in L.A. I’ve never really been to the west coast.
You like it out here?
Oh, yeah. It’s cool. It’s huge, though. A lot of traffic.
Hint: Traffic is a great time to return phone calls.
I just have to get used to it. But coming from Vermont, the weather here is great. In Vermont, six months out of the year it’s freezing. But at the same time, I could see myself having a summer house in Vermont one day. It’s nice up there.
Were you worried after you didn’t play in the first summer league game with the Clips? That’s has to be a little stressful, feeling like you can’t show what you can do?
I wasn’t really worried about it. I knew there would be an opportunity, and practices were going well.
Have you had a chance to talk with Vinny Del Negro yet?
I talked with him a lot at summer league.
Tell me about the rant after the Chicago loss. Was it as epic as it sounded?
He’s a competitor and he wants to win. He’s going to tell you what you need to do and when you’re not doing it, he’s going to let you know. We weren’t playing our best basketball out there. And after he talked to us, it definitely changed things and turned us around. We won a game. We stopped turning the ball over so much.
The Clippers clearly like you, but you still have an uphill battle. What’s Marqus Blakely’s route from training camp as an undrafted rookie with a partially-guaranteed contract to six, seven years from now being a solid rotation player in the league?
It probably starts with my defense. I’m going to get after it defensively. Offensively, I’m a better passer than a lot of people think. I rebound the ball really well. I’ve been working on my jump shot a lot out here at the training facility. But it starts with my defense. Defensively, I don’t want to compare myself to anyone else, but if I had to say who my game would be modeled after it would maybe be Bruce Bowen.
Really? Are you willing to get down in the dirt to accomplish that?
Then let’s say Tony Allen. But it’s a mindset more than anything. You have to know that in the NBA, there are so many great players like Kobe and LeBron and Dwyane Wade. They’re there to score and you’re there to take points off the board. A lot of people will look at the stat sheet and say, “Oh, well he had twentysomething points.” But I want to look at an average and hold him below it. Taking points off the board is definitely something I look at when I first step on the floor. I feel like all the rest of it is going to come easier if you play defense. Especially my game, which is much more geared toward getting out in transition and driving to the rim.
At Vermont, you guys played man and you pressed a lot, but NBA defensive systems are so different. How do you translate an America East Conference experience to guarding the kinds of guys you just mentioned?
I’m not saying that it’s going to happen this year. But I understand that defense is a system. Like Boston. They all fit the system and nobody does any more than anyone else does. On the defensive side, that’s something I can bring to the team — individual defense, but also fitting what’s going on in the system.
So you build your reputation as a defender. What happens next?
I’m efficient, which is a huge deal. I’m not sure what my career percentages were at Vermont, but I think it was more than 52, maybe –
–You never shot below 54 percent and were up in the 60s your junior year. Don’t sell yourself short. That said, what are your limitations right now?
I have to work on my jump shot, but that’s what I’ve been doing every day out here and getting better at. But once you understand the system, you can find other ways to be effective. You don’t have shoot every time you touch the ball. You don’t have to prove something that you can do something you can’t. Know what you can do and do it to the best of your abilities and be that much better at doing it than someone else. A lot of that comes with seeing the floor and reading defenses. I think I do that well. And I think that’s how I get there.
64 Responses
With the hysteria about adding Anthony, I so appreciate your article Kevin. You win in this ( or any) league with defense and rebounding. I like the direction the team is moving with the drafting of Aminu and the signing of Gomes. We need high character guys with superior work ethics to move up in the west. It wouldn’t surprise me much if Blakely was in the rotation this year.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Great piece.
Ps I hope Melo & LaLa get traded to Minnesota.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Nice piece. I think this kid will be a rotation player in the league before too long. Liked what I saw in Summer League, and he seems to have his head on straight. Doesn’t it seem odd that the guys who work least hard and have the least commitment to good decision-making, hard work, and defense are the two guys with 8 figure contracts?
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I’ve seen every single home game and every postseason game this man has competed in. He is without a doubt one of the most entertaining basketball players I’ve ever seen; this guy has talent.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
KA, your perspective on the game of basketball is so pragmatic; it’s always refreshing to read your take on all aspects of the game with so much of the media proliferated with “hype.” And your interviews are always more thoughtful and articulate than many of your peers’. In other words, keep up the good work.
Marqus Blakely was a pleasure to watch out on the floor during Summer League. And I’m excited that the franchise (as bogged down with stigma of its own making it is) is adding players that can be commended on their character. Not since the hey-day of Elton Brand and Sam Cassell could the Clippers really talk about “character” guys. Gordon, Griffin, Gomes, Craig Smith, and Blakely seem intelligent, self-aware, and hard-working; that’s got to help out some way, somehow.
Adding pieces that may not contribute in gametime but work hard during practices and lift the attitude of the club as a whole is relieving to me… I commend Olshey.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
This guy seems to have his eye on the big picture. He seems to know who he is as a bball player and what direction he needs to go to where he wants to be. One great quality a basketball player or anyone for that matter can posses is knowing your limitations as well as your strengths. Just by going off this interview alone, it makes me want to pull for this guy.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Blakely brings a lot to the table on both ends. Watched him through college and he’s got really high bball IQ. Good move by the Clippers to give him a shot. He’ll only going to get better.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
After his twitter account got hacked Carmelo tweeted that he finished his first movie in China. He really might want to come to LA and make horrible movies with BD. Oshley better not screw this up.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Very humble, excited about defense, passing and rebounding…i dig it.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Marqus Blakely can help his team compete every game & win most of them.
He’s ready to play. I like this team . By far the best in years.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
liked his intensity and fire during the summer league and this team def needs more guts on the defensive end so hoping he makes it.
Posted on August 29th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
And another disgruntled player wants out… Jamal Crawford.. let the trade scenarios begin.. lol.
RL Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 1:16 am
Btw, I’ve never seen so many disgruntled players wanting out in one summer…
Newtybar Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 8:08 am
He doesn’t want out, he just wants an extension before the CBA.
The CBA is a big reason why you are seeing so many “disgruntled players.” They stand to lose millions.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:55 am
I can understand wanting to get extended, just the way he did it made him look a lot worse than it should have. Jamal should have gone to some basketball court next to a TV station, put on a show, then when the reporters came out he could talk about how he wanted to “Be part of the community and retire as an Atlanta Hawk”
That way he couldve had the same effect without having to say the words “I want more money”. With JJ just recently maxed and Horford up for his extension, Jamal is in for a big disappointment. Not to mention, all the work he did the last 2 seasons as the spark off the bench and being a great teammate have now been reduced to “Pay me.”
But really, its the CBA. Its not that Jamal only cares about the money.
Or is it…thats the doubt in GMs minds at the moment.
Newtybar Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
It’s hard not to care about the money. Especially for a guy who has been traded and sent around the league his entire career.
Never heard anything bad about his character, in fact we’ve read a lot of good things. So if I was a decent locker room guy, played my role well and I still get sent around the league based upon executive decisions like I was an expendable piece of a machine…my view of the league would be slightly jaded.
Not saying that his is or that he is all about the money, but I could understand how he would view this as a business and see the money as a more important factor (not THE factor, but an important one).
We say that $10-20 million dollar difference in contract isn’t important when a person has already made $40 million… but it is still a lot of money. That is $20 million that could be given to family or to help a friend’s business. It definitely isn’t nothing.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Jamal has had problems at every stop hes been in. He had issues with Nellie in Golden State (then again, most people do). Had issues in New York (it was very crowded and there were a lot of unhappy players). Had issues at Michigan State where took money he wasnt supposed to and got in trouble for it.
The only time he didnt have problems was after he got to Atlanta. He resurrected his career.
Just saying, this plays really bad. Jamal should have talked to his agent or a PR agency…or both before talking to the media about wanting more money.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 1:15 am
Another smart dude that knows the game of basketball that the Clips could add, I like it! And I’m loving these interviews by KA
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 3:43 am
Puts a smile on my face to read an uplifting article about a Clippers player.
Nice job.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Great piece, as always.
When people ask me (often in disbelief) why I’m a Clippers fan, I tell them that Ralph Lawler is too good behind the mic to not follow any team he’s calling the game for. In the last year I’ve added that despite the horrible ownership and underperforming teams on the floor, that Kevin’s work here (and Steve’s at Clipsnation) are more than enough to make being a Clipper fan fulfilling.
Cappy Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:04 am
That goes for D.J. Foster too! Sorry for the omission!
griffin Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Yeah I like the commentary of ralph lawler and mike smith its entertaining despite the clippers losing. But when we do or have a chance to win, “fasten your seatbelts gang” lol
griffin Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Yeah I like the commentary of ralph lawler and mike smith its entertaining despite the clippers losing. But when we do or have a chance to win, “fasten your seatbelts gang” lol
BTip Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I currently live in NJ, and was taking an online french course with people from all across the US, and one of the people threw out a “fasten your seatbelts gang” comment, made my evening. There are a lot of us out there, clips fans that is!
griffin Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Hell yeah my brother im a true clips fan. A lot of us are in hiding becuz you get this question all the time, ” why are you a clips fan” it gets annoying when you have to answer it all the time
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Clip Show!
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Great article KA, thanks. Marcus is the kind of player who will do the “little” things to help win a game. Don’t know soon, but he will find a place in this league. If he learns how to shoot a little, he’s going to be a pretty good player. Really liked his and Willie Warren’s defense in the SL. Hope they both make it.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 9:54 am
Thanks again KA! Love the direction Olshey is moving the team. I feel like we’re starting to act like the Spurs from a front office standpoint, which is obviously a good thing.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I found this article because I’m from Vermont and I want to keep tabs on Blakely. I’m thrilled that you allowed his maturity and humility to come across in the interview. Because of that, plus his desire, hustle, and smarts, Clips fans will love him. But I also want to make sure you know what kind of player you got…
He led a very good (for a smaller conference) Vermont team in almost every category – scoring, field goal percentage, steals, assists, rebounds, blocks etc. He won multiple conference player of the year awards AND conference defensive player of the year awards. He was among the national leaders in blocked shots. He won the college slam dunk competition.
What’s different about him is that he played power forward – and even center – at only 6″5″ and about 95 pounds (OK, so the last part is an exaggeration). As the best player in the conference, he was double-teamed all night, every night. And he still dominated. But he is going to need to work on his outside shot, because he never used it in college. My guess is that he’ll figure it out, but it might take a year or two. In the mean time, I think he can be one of the better defenders in the league right away. And boy will it be fun when he’s on the fast break! And if the Clips decide to post him up, there aren’t many guards or small forwards who can stop him. Remember, he had his way with power forwards and centers.
I’m very happy for Marqus, and I’m glad the fans seem to be behind him. Now let’s hope he gets some playing time!
Newtybar Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I hope so!
I like it when gems get found. Hoping Willie Warren will do well as well.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Great point about being able to post up small forwards in the NBA. He has incredible footwork in the post. Can shoot with post hands. Has a nice up an under move and is a great passer out of the post. He will definitely be a tough cover. I think is shot has already developed. He has worked so hard on it and from what I have seen from summer league and tryouts I would say he has already got a decent shot. I really hope to see come in to the game and guard some of the better scorers in the league. Plus, I have a feeling that Delnegro likes Marqus and wants to use him as a team leader and teacher for all the undeveloped raw talent on the team that doesn’t understand how simple the game can be when you space the court, cut to the hoop, and work the elbow effectively.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
The Anthony trade should happen . . . but so should many things that don’t. So, who knows?
Big mistake to give up Kaman, Griffin, or Gordon. I don’t even want to give up the Minnesota pick, because that’s got a shot at being the number one pick in the draft.
Denver is in a weak position on the trade and the Clippers are in a strong one. What I’d really like to do is a three team trade where we dumped Davis to a third team and gave up one or two of our own number ones.
Add Anthony to a front line of Kaman and Griffin, along with Gordon, and the Clippers would be a serious threat to win the West. Don’t ruin that chance bey giving away any of the core.
On the optimistic side, three teams were willing to take Manny Rameriz off waivers, so maybe some fool NBA team will want to take Davis as a salary dump if they don’t have to give up anything else but money.
FD Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Even if the Clippers got the top pick with the Twolves pick, what are the odds that the player will be one of the top 5 players in the NBA? Multiply that by the odds that the selected player will stay with the Clippers at his prime.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:48 am
Honestly the only peice we NEED to keep is Blake. Everything else can be traded at the right price.
griffin Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Yeah i wish we could give up davis instead of kaman but who knows maybe this dj big year like gordon will have his this year. Gordon is already tearing it up from off the bench for team usa that guy is gonna be a superstar at the end of this season coming
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
The factors that make up a great NBA player are skills, character, and chemistry. Too often we ignore character and chemistry. It is the reason that a Sam Cassell is a winner and Allen Iverson is not. I believe that the G-Men have the necessary chemistry and character to go along with their skills. I think Carmelo has the skills but not the other factors. He may not be as bad as Iverson, but he is not a winner. Apparently, from the many posts on this and other blogs, I’m in the minority. But I strongly believe that giving up Kaman to get Anthony would be too high a price. He is not a “pretty” ball player; maybe he lacks style, but with the G-Men he can be very effective and vice versa. Am I all alone on this position ??
dial4bux Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Not hardly. Sign me on.
ClipperMarc Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Sign me no too. You never know what diamons are in the rough with are young talent.
ClipperMarc Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Sign me on too.
rg12 Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Remember when CHA “gave away” an 8th pick; a young HS kid from Phila.
ClipperMarc Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 10:01 pm
See that’s just my point. You just don’t know who is the next diamon in the the rough. Could it be Marqus Blakely? You just don’t know. What should a GM do?
AfishLClipp Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Idk if you’re alone, but I can tell you this, I’m pretty torn about trading for CA just b/c I really do like our current team. I actually wouldn’t be that upset if we gave up Kaman, he’s probably at his highest value that the clips could get for him, plus it would give DJ a real shot. Kaman is best in a half court set, if the clips are goin therun and gun route w/the youth in bledsoe, aminu, Blakey, BG, and even EG, it doesn’t make much sense to keep him. I really don’t think you trade BD, specially when Denver prob doesn’t even want him having billups(who will prob retire in Denver, his home town). Also, not only is BD a way bigger leader than chris, but you want to keep him to help bledsoe learn and mature. I’d trade kaman, cook, and butler if Denver would do that, then pickup another big(true C) FA, wish it could have been sofo.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:53 am
Kaman sucks. S-U-C-K-S. His defense disappeared after Camby left If we can get Carmelo and the only thing stopping us is not wanting to give up Kaman, then we’re a bunch of retards.
Its a shame that Kaman is a top 5 center. If it were 15 years ago, hed be on the same level as Greg Ostertag. You give him way too much credit in a league thats soft at 5 on 25 of 30 teams. If he was Dwight Howard, then I’d say hes untradeable. But its Chris Kaman, so hes available if given the right deal. If giving him away gives us one of the top 10 players in the league, you dont hesitate. You take that deal immediately.
JaySee Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Agreed, except I don’t think Kaman’s a top 5 center. D12, Yao, Bynum, Bogut, B. Lopez, Horford are better.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Even a run and gun team needs to be able to play in the half court. It only takes 3 players to run a fast break with the big man trailing which Chris does quite well. Good big men at Chris’s skill level are very hard to find. DJ is a nice kid and very athletic but he’d not now, and probably never will be, an NBA quality center.
AfishLClipp Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
If we had CA, the clips wouldn’t need anything more than 10pt and 10reb avg from the C, which DJ proved he’s more than capable of at the end of last season when he got min…
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
With CARMELO, Clips can win 62 games and beyond. Without him they’ll limit themselves to 46 games.
This is our time. Bring MELO to LA.
RL Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:57 am
62 games? whoa… that’s a bit high.. by about 10 games or so.. lol
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
But do not give up Gordon, Kaman and Griffin.
chris. Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
They have to give up Kaman or Davis for it to work financially, or else they can’t do it until Dec. 15th at the earliest. Considering nobody would want Davis on a pure salary dump, Kaman is the only trading piece to make the deal happen.If a 3rd team wants Baron then that could happen but that is a far stretch.
rg12 Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Then, don’t do it . The gain is not worth the cost.
FD Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 12:25 am
What cost? The Clippers are NOT PICKED TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. It sounds like many of you believe the Clippers made it to the finals last year. The Clippers have a chance to get a top 5 player. I don’t think the Clippers have ever had a top 5 player. Yeah chemistry matters. But what chemistry do the Clippers currently have? You’re worried about breaking up the chemistry of a 29 win team? And since when is Carmelo a chemistry killer?
You have to be joking, or Kaman’s mom to say you wouldn’t give Kaman up for Carmelo. You can’t actually think that.
dial4bux Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 12:46 am
Actually, it’s easy to think that. Carmelo is an indifferent defender. He’s
never shown himself to be a committed team defender. On the other hand,
Kaman has shown that he’s willing to be a shot changer and rim defender.
Teams who don’t defend, as a team, don’t win.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:55 am
KAMAN is not worth excluding yourself from Anthony. Ever.
Posted on August 30th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
I’m with FD on this one… We DO have a chance @ landing camerlo and having him be here for 3 years. Why not take the chance?? He’s capable of leading this team as high as the WCF. I’m with trying to get him just so as long as we don’t get rid of Gordon or Griffin. I’m willing to part ways with Kaman and find a suitable replacement for him, perhaps Erick Dampier. There’s more to gain here rather than losing. Kaman is only effective as long as the offense runs through him or if B davis hands him passes inside 10 ft. With Carmelo we’ll have two guys who can create their own shot in Melo and Gordon. We have a promising top pick in B. Griffin and some young studs on this roster. f say we go for it wisely
Posted on August 31st, 2010 at 9:57 am
The long salary obligations for Anthony limit the salary options for core players like Kaman, Gordon and Griffin. Clippers business model does not include going into the luxury tax nor losing money. Long term they are better off without Anthony. Remember who owns the club.
Posted on August 31st, 2010 at 10:16 am
This is why Kaman is the best center in the Western conference compared to Yao, Chandler and Bynum.
Kaman: Last season he averaged 18.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG.
Yao: Last season he didn’t play. This season he probably won’t play. May never play.
Chandler: Last season, 6.5 PPG, 6.3 PPG. One season double digit PPG (11.8 in 08)
Bynum: Last season 15.0 PPG, 8.3 PPG. Playoffs: 8.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG
Also Bynum is terrible on defense, especially against pick and rolls, and so Jackson often benches him in big games. Also Bynum’s knee is highly questionable and he likely will never me as good as last year and last year he was only mediocre.
Big Men rule in the NBA. Kaman is the best center in the Western conference, and he and Griffin are the best Big tandem in the West. Kaman lacks the power game, but that’s Griffin’s main strength.
Keep the core of Griffin, Kaman, Gordon. Trade for Anthony using a combination of our own number one picks, Davis, some roll players and use a third team to make the deal. The best possible deal would put Davis in Minnisota, which would raise the odds on the Minnisota pick being a high lottery pick.
Denver is in a weak position. It’s something now or nothing soon. Anthony has to agree to it, and he wants to go to the Clippers. So the Clippers would be fools to give up more than they need to.
Bongstradamus Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Yao is healthy and will be playing. You clearly havent been paying attention.
Kaman only averaged 18.5ppg because he had nearly twice as many shot attempts then he did in any other season hes played. He shot the ball 1200 times last season, an average of 15.8 shots per game. On the downside, his blocks per game took a serious digger down to 1.2 per game. He also averaged 3 turnovers and 3 fouls and shot under 80 from the FT line. In contrast, the ever efficient EJ averaged 16.9 points on only 12 shots a game and while he shot under 80 percent from the line last season, over his career hes still an 80% free throw shooter.
There are no more traditional centers in the league. Everyones been drafting point guards so they can run and gun. Denver doesnt need a PG, they got Chauncey Billups so they will have little to no interest in Baron Davis and his psychodrama (as much as you hate Davis, Im sorry to break it to you, but they dont want him either).
That leaves Kaman and, heres where the real pain starts, EJ as the best peices we have to offer Denver. I dont want to see Eric go, but….lets just say I would feel comfortable moving that piece to secure Carmelo on an extension. Eric is great but he will never be as good as Carmelo. Hes a wonderful guy who is dominant in the role he plays, but EJ is not going to take over entire games and bring your team to the playoffs every postseason. He’ll earn a decent paycheck when he gets extended, but he most likely wont get maxxed. Hes just not a max guy. We love him like he is, but in the big picture…hes a moveable asset if it makes the team better.
Denver is and isnt in a weak position. They can hold out all year, Carmelo is still under contract and 29 (make that 28) other teams would give half their rosters and a significant chunk of their future just to be in the conversation with the Nuggets. Denver has time on their side, so they arent gonna rush a deal that doesnt give them something tangible. And in the end they can always hold out for a sign and trade, because there is one thing we know for sure…Carmelo wants to extend under the current CBA. Denver is in a much stronger bargaining position than you think.
ClipperMarc Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I ment to say Thanks to you!
JaySee Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Chandler was hurt and offense is not his strength.
Bynum got 15 PPG on a team with Kobe, Odom, and Gasol. He was hurt in the playoffs so his number dropped and Gasol out played everyone on the Lakers including Kobe.
If big men rule, why don’t D12 and Yao have a ring? Why did Shaq need Penny, Kobe, and Wade to get to the finals?
Posted on August 31st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Let’s wait and see if David Stern suspends Anthony for the Kat Stacks incident or worse yet if he is prosecuted. Hey you attorneys out there, is that a possibility ?
Posted on August 31st, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Time is very important here for both the clips and denver. Im not very excited to trade, but for melo i think its not a bad option. Personally i would like to see how this squad performs. who konws? maybe BD is ready to play this season, and perhaps kaman becomes that center we all know he can be. (this guy has skills but sometimes forgets to use them)
about the trade:
Dont forget Kaman’s inconsistency. He plays like a newbie sometimes and for some insane reason he thinks he’s a shooter! and his ‘D’ is flaky too. I love the insane white boy but i can live without him if we get melo in return. We also got DJ to cover his spot, he isnt developed yet and might never be but at least this will give hm more minutes to develop.
Dont forget guys, Melo is a top quality player, Pairing him with griffin would be more than awesome for the organization and for the fans.
I wouldn’t like to see Gordon depart, but at this instance i think its a must for the trade.
Go get em Olshey!
Posted on September 1st, 2010 at 12:43 am
I am very impressed with Blakely’s ability to do the little things. He is bringing a lot to any team, and I have a strong feeling that the clippers will not be sorry that they took a shot on him. For the rest of the teams that passed up on him in the draft; I think they will be kicking themselves for years to come, when they see how he matches up against their superstars (especially, when Blakely is on defense).
His basketball IQ is very high for someone his age, and I believe that he will be an immediate impact player for his defense, mental toughness as well as his ability to fit within a system structured around sound defense and penetration. Look for Blakely to help the clippers in a big way this year.
Posted on September 1st, 2010 at 8:46 am
He’s going straight to the top. He is an amazing player, expect a lot from him!!
Posted on September 7th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
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