This offseason the Los Angeles Clippers will make a decision that may impact the future of their franchise: whether or not to re-sign restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan. Their choice will not only have implications on the time share at the center position (possibly resulting in the departure of Chris Kaman), but LA’s cap space moving forward, as well as the potential of Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon re-signing with the team. Before the Clippers decide their future, they will have to determine Jordan’s value, the rest of the free agency market and the terms of the new CBA.
Archive for May, 2011
Clippers must decide if Jordan is center of the future
On May - 15 - 2011
Last summer, just like they will this summer, the Clippers searched for a small forward. At the time they only had Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, Chris Kaman and DeAndre Jordan signed and had drafted Eric Bledsoe, Willie Warren and Al-Farouq Aminu. There were no quick solutions at the small forward position as Blake and Aminu were the only possible fits in that core seven players and they were both unproven and playing out of position. Some had hopes that the Clippers would lure LeBron James (or maybe Rudy Gay) but those dreams seem pretty terribly unfounded with hindsight. So, the Clippers signed Ryan Gomes.
The questions around Chris Kaman’s lost season
On May - 11 - 2011
Chris Kaman has seen and done quite a bit in his eight years as a Clipper. In an organization noted for its instability, there has been no one as consistently present during the good times and bad, and it’s not even close. Five whole seasons before Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan joined the fray in 2008, Kaman came into the league as the 6th pick in one of the greatest drafts in NBA history. Since then, he has alternately dominated and confounded, lived up to his draft position and warranted trade speculation. He battled inconsistency early in his career and injuries more recently, and after this season in which he played in 32 games—just 15 of which were starts—he finds himself as a former All-Star with an uncertain future.
For Blake Griffin and the Clippers, the time is now
On May - 10 - 2011
Continuing with staff re-tooling, today we bring a new installment from the next ClipperBlogger, Jovan Buha. Jovan is an Associate Sports Editor for NeonTommy.com and a sports broadcaster for KXSC radio. Follow him on Twitter: @JovanBuha
Remember when the media hinted that Blake Griffin could eventually surpass Kobe Bryant as the “King of LA”? Well, it appears his time has arrived.
The Blake Show to replace Conan?
On May - 9 - 2011
Here at ClipperBlog, we’ve been in the process of building up our staff. I’d like to welcome the first new contributor, Sam Strong, Sports Editor for UCLA’s Daily Bruin.
We know that recently-named NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin is one of the most skilled big men in the league. 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game speak for themselves.
But Thursday night, Blake showed off another aspect of his game: his sense of humor.