Introducing the Clipperblog Mailbag

09 Sep 2010

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We are trying something a little bit new here at Clipperblog in the offseason, and we need your help. More specifically, we need your questions.

Want to know what we think about a trade for Carmelo, or if a trade you’ve constructed makes sense? Or specifics about the Clippers draft picks and salary cap situation? How about our feelings on Baron going into the season, or some good old fashioned X’s and O’s talk? Send any question you have for us my way and we’ll tackle them in a mailbag post.

Just shoot me an email at fosterdj3(at)gmail.com or send me a message on twitter @fosterdj. Please put “mailbag” in the subject line so I don’t mistake you for a Nigerian prince in dire need of my financial assistance. We’ll run the mailbag early next week, so keep your eyes peeled.

I’m looking forward to seeing what questions you all throw at us, and of course, thanks as always for reading.

Lev

Did you have Al-Farouk Aminu when mentioning the Nigerian prince?
- clip4life
  
  Dont think he needs the money. But i guess that could change we will see what happens….
The Alley-Oop

Can you give us an in-depth analysis of the coaching staff?
Clipper George

I think that we should see what this roster can do before jumping on Melo. As far as Baron goes, as i’ve said before, you can show me better than you can tell me. I hope he shows us. How much do you think that Bledsoe will contribute this year and will Warren be a factor? Thanks
- http://www.firedunleavy.com FD
  
  Yeah, lets wait on trying to get Melo. The Clippers will get a top 5 player next year.
ACD

Which Clipper team of the past 10 years does this team, going into training camp, remind you of?
- Clipped
  
  If BLAKE GRIFFIN proves himself as better than ELTON BRAND, this team is going to be ONE of the BEST in years.
  
  But who’s going to replace SAM CASSELL? BARON has skills, but can he make his BODY listen to him?
- Bongstradamus
  
  This team reminds me of the 2001 Clippers. Lottery pick creating excitement, lots of talented players with tons of potential upside and a young coach trying to prove his worth.
  
  Still no hope of a championship, and the only expectation is to be better than last year. Easy goals to make, all we have to do is sit back, have fun and cheer or coo wildly whenever Blake makes a shot.
  - http://www.clipperblog.com D.J. Foster
    
    I wanted to post this one, but couldn’t find a better answer than the one Bongstradamus gave. I agree completely.
Josh

Please defend the continued existence of the public perception of Baron Davis as a good (or at least non-horrible) player, leader, point guard or shooter. Viral videos and beard quality don’t count. Do you think he will crush Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Aminu, and Bledsoe’s desire to win by December, or do you think the full soul-crushing effect of his stupid, lazy, selfish play will not fully destroy the team’s playoff hopes until President’s Day?
- Bongstradamus
  
  I think Kaman is a bigger liability than Baron. At least Baron consistently puts assists on the board. He also consistently takes bad shots, but thats an easy fix if you can get him to realize how damaging it is.
  
  Chris shows up for work an average of 60 out of 82 days. And on some of those days he might decide to jump for a rebound or use both hands, but its really a crap shoot if he mentally shows up or not.
  
  Baron will put 7-8 assists on the board every night, maybe 1 or 2 steals. Hes also better from the line than Chris. If he could stop shooting the 3 ball and do more penetration, he could boost his PPG on FT’s alone.
  
  People need to keep reminding Baron that he can carry this team without taking a single shot. His role should be more about getting the team hot, the burden isnt on him anymore to carry the team offensively. He’s just gotta setup Blake and Eric and shoot only when its the right time and people will love him again.
  - JM
    
    I understand you feel Kaman is a bigger liability than Baron, but remain unconvinced when you’re reasoning is mostly pointing out the ways Baron could stand to be less liable.
    - JM
      
      *your
    - brad
      
      how you going to dog our lone all-star…kaman is the furthest thing from a liability for this team…kaman is the glue that holds the team together, and at least makes them respectable and easy to watch…baron is a dog…he is terrible…traveling here and there …puting his summer efforts into this movie project or that project….what did kaman do this summer….got married in june…went on a fishing trip…then starting june 21…spent 4 hours a day in the gym working out..hecks he even fly a few members of the training staff to michigan to work with him for two weeks….i bet baron has not touched a ball since april…
      - Bongstradamus
        
        I dont need to go into a litany, the evidence is overwheming. If point guards were as depleted a position as Centers in this league Baron would be an all star too.
        
        Kamans only an all-star because of 1. Injury to other players, 2. Lack of people playing the position and 3. He was given more shots per game than at any point in his career.
        
        Remove the extra shots, the injuries from other players and add a few other legit players at the position and Chris becomes just a mediocre center.
        
        At the end of this season when Chris doesnt put up the same numbers that he did last year and we have to keep him till his deal is expired, I promise not to say I told you so.
      - http://www.firedunleavy.com FD
        
        I love how a 29 win team has a ‘glue guy’
    - Bongstradamus
      
      JM, Baron already consistently does the things his job requires, he generates assists by making plays for his teammates. These are things Baron does every single night.
      
      He also takes crazy shots, and we all hate it when he does it. But that doesnt take out his 8 assists per game. Hes still generating those assists as well.
      
      Kaman is not consistent except in 2 areas, generating 3 turnovers per game and getting a bunch of D-Boards. Not O-Boards (Which are infinitely more valuable IMO), D-Boards. They are lazy rebounds he specializes in. He takes lazy jumpers. He cant pass out of a double most of the time. He misses passes completely from a lack of offensive awareness. He misses rotations unless someone is barking in his ear. Kaman is weak, and only appears strong because theres very few players that are 7 foot tall and get fed 20 times a game.
  - J-Luggy
    
    I think you’re missing the point with Kaman. He isn’t perfect, but he can command a double-team. Baron cannot (to his credit, only a very, very small handful of guards can). The ability to force defenses to double a player changes the options you have in the offense. It is the foremost reason GMs pick Odens over Durants and Bowies over Jordans. And I would suggest that telling Baron to shoot better shots is an “easy fix” in theory only.
    - Bongstradamus
      
      Sure, he commands a double team. He turns the ball over whenever he gets in one and the opposing teams love that.
      - J-Luggy
        
        Most of Baron’s shot should be considered turnovers.
      - SamMays
        
        So far Kaman hasn’t quit on the team for a whole season as Baron has. So far Kaman hasn’t come into camp woefully out of shape as Baron has. So far, Kaman hasn’t let him become a fat shadow of his former self as Baron has. So far Kaman hasn’t wasted an off-season as Baron has quite often. So far Baron has never come back with a new aspect of his game, or big improvement as Kaman has.
        
        Baron Davis is a complete waste of space. Easily one of the most over-rated, underacheiving players in the league… Huge talent, no brain.
    - SamMays
      
      Forgot to note that Kaman hasn’t alienated every coach he’s ever played for, as Baron has.
      
      But, you’re right. Baron is a fine leader. A great guy to have on our team showing us the way… A few more like him we’d be Isiah’s Knicks.
NRM

Here’s the real question: At what point will STH (or Partial STH) be pissed when Clippers start liquidating tickets? I’ll go with opening night.
Alex

I think the clippers will be back on the boards. Clippers have Baron Davis and Chris Kaman leading the team. In addition, Eric Gordon is developing more skill and will be a threat to other teams in later years. Right now, you have a great players in Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes…. as well as Rasaul Butler. Blake Griffin will be in good shape. And if this team moves the ball and wins games, i think the Clippers will be back in the playoffs. This Clippers team as it stands has great potential. Wanting to get Carmelo this early i think will hurt the team. I think you should wait, and give this team another season for a chance.
- Clipped
  
  Addition of CARMELO can change the fortunes of this franchise overnite. We have squandered decades hoping, wishing and dreaming. If we have an oppurtunity to land ‘MELO we should do it NOW.
SilverClip

Q: To what extent do the Clippers prioritize staying at or below the cap? Is there evidence that the FO sometimes turns down good basketball moves because they’d cost too much?

For instance, with Noah suddenly part of the Carmelo trade speculations, there has been some discussion at Clip Nation about a three way trade. Chicago would get Melo, Denver gets Kaman, Aminu, and a draft pick (Clip’s 2011, perhaps), while the Clips take on Deng and Noah. Personally, I would do this one if it came around. But my immediate thought is that our FO might pass because it would surely drive the team over the cap in a couple years time.

At present, do free agents seldom come our way because of our reputation or our reality?
SilverClip

Why Brian Cook? A serious look at the matter.
SilverClip

What are the exact details of the Bledsoe trade? And why have the Clips been so secretive about it?
- MannyA
  
  They haven’t been secretive, teams don’t generally release that info. It usually gets out through other sources. Top 10 protected starting in 2012. We keep 2011.
Ernie

Why is it we wait and fill our roster with left over scraps other teams have been ready for months

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