Player Hating and Speculating

29 Nov 2011

Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard

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Clippers fans are a mostly private bunch. It’s not that they fear persecution from the hordes of Lakers fans they come across every day, it’s just that they’d rather not deal with it. It’s unfortunate, but any outward portrayal of hope by a Clippers fan is often thwarted with a simple, “It’s the Clippers.” The non-believers are quick to remind you of the team’s past and be the first ones to point out that dark cloud at the top of what might be an otherwise perfectly blue sky.

There’s enough misery involved with being a long-term Clippers fan; we don’t need outsiders to rub salt in the wound for us. Grieve alone or with the company of a like-minded community (thanks for commenting!), but don’t throw yourself to the wolves unnecessarily. You can be a masochist and a self-preservationist at the same time, believe it or not. And you know what? Car flags are stupid anyway. You don’t even want one of those.

A funny thing can happen when all your thoughts and hopes for the team are stored internally, though. Once you hear others start to repeat the things that have been bouncing around in your head, on a national stage no less, you have this weird moment of confirmation. Like maybe you aren’t crazy, and that these really are rational thoughts after all, and that this is way different from the time you talked yourself into the Dan Dickau era.

Some point during the lockout, you’ve probably thought this, basketball deprivation disorder set in or not:

Dwight Howard or Chris Paul would look great in a Clippers uniform.

And now, from ESPN.com writer Chris Broussard last night:

It should be noted that this came on the heels of David Aldridge discussing a Howard-to-the-Clippers trade on NBA TV.

If there’s a testament to the power of Blake Griffin, this is it. The Clippers were never really in the running for LeBron, but Blake Griffin’s potential bought them a face-to-face meeting. Now that Blake Griffin is a real, dunking, dominating thing, it buys you more than that. It lends legitimacy to these types of discussions. It’s no longer a pipedream for Chris Paul or Dwight Howard to be a Clipper — Blake Griffin has made even the wildest of dreams suddenly seem very tangible.

But before anyone gets too far ahead of themselves, it’s necessary to lasso things a bit and set a few items straight. I’m speculating here, but I’d be willing to stake my reputation on the following:

1. The Clippers have zero interest in trading Blake Griffin. He’s completely untouchable — even for Dwight Howard.

2. The Clippers’ ties with Baron Davis have been cut. If he’s amnestied, they won’t be a suitor.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, we can go back to our regularly scheduled dreaming. Chris Paul. Dwight Howard. How?

Get ready to give up one thing almost definitely: Chris Kaman and his 12.7 million dollar expiring contract. New Orleans or Orlando will want the cap room, and Kaman is the only current contract big enough to make the salaries match. DeAndre might get close, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Be ready to give up this as well: Minnesota’s 2012 unprotected first round pick. If Carmelo Anthony took a first round pick and two second rounders, you can pretty much kiss Minnesota’s pick goodbye in any blockbuster trade. I’ll have to double-check this, but the Clippers should be unable to trade their own 2013 first round pick due to the Stepien Rule. Since Boston holds the rights to the Clippers 2012 pick (top 10 protected), the Clippers shouldn’t be able to deal away their 2013 selection since that would make back-t0-back years with traded first rounders. The soonest available first round pick of their own available for trade should be their 2014 pick. It’s also worth noting that the Clippers have traded (with strict stipulations) their second round picks until 2017. Long story short: That Minnesota pick would have to be gone.

The third requirement is debatable, but it’s the most polarizing one: The Clippers will have to include Eric Gordon. While it would be difficult to trade him, Gordon is the prototypical young, talented player New Orleans or Orlando would be looking for to headline the deal. Already scoring more points per game (22.3) than his age (22), Gordon is the name that will keep New Orleans and Orlando on the phone.

As for the small forward gap? Aldridge reported last night that the Clippers are interested in Caron Butler. Charlie Widdoes has discussed Butler as a free agent here before, and Butler is certainly an attractive name, despite his injury concerns. He’ll be pursued heavily, and the Clippers will have to watch their cap room to maintain flexibility. There are a host of things to consider in the whole small forward equation — cap space, minute distribution, youth development — but I, for one, can’t help but let my little secluded Clippers brain drift to this:

Who will work best with Chris Paul?

Roger

The most i would offer for CP3 is Bledsoe, Kaman, and the Minny pick.
Plus15

With years in as a Clipper Fan and a regular reader of Sportswriters and bloggers writing about and/or commenting on the Clippers most of them and most of you are full of shit on all these suppositions. You know nothing we’ve been reading these same guesses from you since the tail end of last season and the fact is you know nothing. As for my credentials for these comments, the only one I’ll reveal now is getting into a rowe with the New York Post NBA columnist Peter Vescey who claimed he had it on inside authority as Shaq was leaving the Lakers that he was set to sign with the Clippers. I called him out and he exploded. No sports writer pays real attention to the Clippers because they don’t think they need to waste their precious time because of past history. The only question, ever, with the Clippers is what their asshole of an owner will do, even now at over 80 years old when you’d think he’d be thinking about cleaning up his digusting legacy of horrible teams while he still has a chance. But I don’t think he will because he thinks he’s a genius at everything.
- curtis
  
  Tell us how you really feel.
- Bongstradamus
  
  DJ, looks like you single handedly pissed off the entire metropolitan area of Orlando. I can understand. The psycho-trauma of losing Dwight Howard to the Clippers has to be severe.
- D.J. Foster
  
  I’m confused. I haven’t mentioned Paul or Howard’s name once “since the end of last season” and never do I claim that either of these deals are actually going to happen. My point in the article is that Blake Griffin makes these big dreams of getting another star far more realistic than they ever were in the past. That’s what I know.
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Chris M.

Eric Gordon is the most underrated player in the league right now and I would be very sad to see him leave the Clippers, but if it means getting either Paul or Howard PLUS managing to get Caron Butler then I wish him the best.
http://barmapla.com FD

Paul or Howard won’t sign extensions with the Clippers with Sterling as the owner and Oshley as GM.

No queston offer Gordon in the deal if it does come up. He’s gonna leave soon anyway. Kaman, Gordon and minny’s 1st round pick for Dwight Howard might work. Only problem is getting Howard to sign.
artguyLA

I would like to see the clippers sign TWO veteran small forwards, not 1. If Grant Hill and Tayshaun Prince were on the squad, they’d be winning games, including the close ones. A deeper bench is what is needed. Hopefully, Foye has a great season, and Bledsoe pushing Mo WIlliams will be good for both. Williams is good guy to have in the clutch on the floor. If Kamen comes out strong, a sign and trade for De Andre could help the team, they just need a solid backup center, a workhorse…. Add to the mix Blake shooting 75% from the line, and 2 veterans at SF, and the Clippers are tough as nails, and could actually crawl up the standings to a 2nd to 4th spot in the West.
- mbaezbol
  
  I’ve been a Clipper fan for as long as I can remember…but 2nd to 4th? with Grant Hill and Tayshaun Prince?? it’ll be hard to do that even on 2k12
Bongstradamus

Pull ze trigger! EJ aint staying. If he goes in the deal, we’ve gotta keep the Minny pick so hopefully it can be made up with other assets.
Roger

Everything that Griffin does, Howard does better. So i would prefer to trade Griffin and Kaman for Howard. Clippers keep their young core and the Minny pick, as Gordon and Howard would be the best inside/out tandem in the NBA.
- http://www.barmapla.com FD
  
  Howard wouldn’t sign with the Clippers if they traded BG. Well he’s not gonna sign anyway, but that would be a double no sign.
griffin

I want to ask is there anyway the clips can get both cp3 and dwight howard? I mean if we land dwight there’s no point and keeping dj so that’s 9 mil off the books and 13 mil off of kaman plus clips can spend a little extra to obtain players with the new cba how would things work? We get one in a trade and one in the offseason. Could olshely make that happen?
- avonhun
  
  john hollinger tweeted that this was possible.
griffin

I don’t think trading gordon is an option. That minnies pick is enticing with a strong draft class. Plus kaman expiring contract with mo willaims would be enough to land cp3. Ask for howard I think the best thing to do with him would be to wait until free agency. And give up dj for expring contracts to save cap space for d12. And we would have a shot assuming we had cp3 already. They would get center and a decent pg with a highly anticipated 1st pick. If I was new orleans I would take that deal. Adding gordon wouldn’t be necessary.
- Bongstradamus
  
  In the right deal, I’d move EJ. D-12 rises to that level.
  
  I wouldnt move on the Minny pick though. That could be an era defining pick in this draft. Id try to give up other assets just to keep that pick even though it might be lower than we think with Adelman orchestrating the offense in Minny.
  - griffin
    
    Its not a for sure number 1 and giving that up to keep a top 5 sg in the league is far better like I said adding gordon is a mistake. His underratedness is gonna get him traded and he is gonna be better. Give up minnies pick and kaman and aminu call it a day at least orlando would get something instead of nothing smae with cp3.
    - Bongstradamus
      
      Even if its not #1, its a deeeeeeeepp draft. Mariana trenches deep. Any one of the top 8 players would have been a #1 in the last draft. It’s probably going to be the best draft class since 2003.
      - griffin
        
        Still I’m pretty sure we can trade without the minnies pick and gordon. I mean dj and kaman should be enough and add in young talent like bledsoe or aminu
      - avonhun
        
        Fully agree regarding the value of any pick in the top-10 next year. I think once games start, and we get a look at whether Minnesota can make a move upwards with their new players, we will have a better idea about the value of the pick. I really think we should take a long look at who we expect to get before we give that pick up. It could be a difference maker and we already have it, we wouldn’t have to give anything up to do so.
QD

Strange to here the clippers as a desired location by any player.

I miss the nba
DeMote DeAndre

Dwight Howard is the best overall player in the NBA and likely will be so for years. The Clippers should do whatever it takes to get him. It’s all about what Howard wants. I expect he wants to play along side Blake Griffin and win a long series of rings with him. So forget about trading Griffin to Orlando to get Howard because then Howard won’t come.

Howard also won’t come if the Clippers give away too much, for example the Minnesota pick, because that will undercut the quality of the players surrounding him. Howard wants to be the big dog that leads the woeful Clippers to many championships. It will make him a legend. But he’s going to want as many good players around him as possible, and the Minnesota pick will be a low cost high quality player for years. The Clippers will want to stay below the cap and they’ll need the Minnesota pick to do that. They have to keep it.

Howard has all the power. If Orlando asks too much in a trade, he can just walk in free agency. He can dictate the terms of his trade, and he’ll want the Minnesota pick to stay with the Clippers.

Kaman is a big piece of the deal, maybe in a three team trade. So is Jordan.
If Gordon has to go, that’s all right, mainly because his salary demands are going to be more than what the Clippers will want to pay to stay under the cap. But I, of course, would rather keep him. Then they can throw in some future draft choice.
- griffin
  
  The salary cap has increase we can afford ej. He is the best sg right after kobe and wade that’s saying a lot. You talk as if the minnies pick is guarnteed the number one if it was then yeah trade gordon but with all that talent on the minnies roster I doubt it. Besides it wouldn’t even matter if it was if we land the first pick gordon can run the pick and roll with dwight and griffin. And get this gordon and griffin were the second best. Two man squad after lebron and wade that’s saying something to KEEP GORDAN!
  - Timmythetooth
    
    I kind of think you have to keep Gordon too. You need to have a shooter or two on any team and last time I checked the Clippers were pretty terrible shooters. You would be trading the only great shooter we have.
cassellmania

We have 2 young stars (including an era defining superstar) already. We need a veteran star to get to the next level. Trade the minny pick, Kaman, Bledsoe, even Aminu for CP and the Clips would be a title contender for years. FAs would line up to play for us on the cheap. Cp-Griffin-EJ= better big three than miami. Gordon AND the min pick? I say no way, even though it could still be enticing. As for Howard, could be an interesting combo with Blake, but at what cost? Whos gonna play PG and score from the wings? CP is a way better fit, and not to mention, one of Sterling’s favorite players.
- Clips4
  
  trade gordon for cp3
  - Clips4
    
    i amend that, gordon and kaman for cp3
    - Cassellmania
      
      I doubt Gordon and Kaman would be enough for NO. The minny pick is way more enticing for its potential to land a young franchise player. . .Gordon is not a franchise player, but he IS a legit #2 or #3 option on a title contender, and willing to accept that role. Thats why i think we can get CP without giving up EJ, and be better for it.
MadGlove

“Who will work best with Chris Paul?” – BLAKE GRIFFIN.

And that’s all that needs to be said. I know you meant the question to refer to the potential acquisition of a SF but I think it could be more broadly applied to decisions of the team (and CP3).

CP3 fills every need that a budding superstar like Blake Griffin has, not to mention the needs of a young team like the Clips. He’s a leader, a fierce competitor, a clutch player and a playmaking savant. All qualities that the Clips not only lack now, but have lacked for years. Sam Cassell had 3 of those 4 qualities and look what an impact he had on the team. And I think we can all agree he was nowhere near the player that CP3 is.

I understand that fans always overvalue their own players, but if it takes Gordon to get CP3, that’s a no brainer. Anyone besides Blake and the deal should be done.
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EricGordonsAnkleBrace

I love EJ more than anyone… but it all comes down to making LAC the desired place for Blake to resign when his contract is up. Whatever it takes to make that happen needs to be done. Adios EJ. Vaya con dios.
Pbrady

Lets not forget that in both cases the Clips actually have more leverage than people realize. Both CP3 and D Howard are almost certainly gone at the end of the season which means their teams will want to get something out of them rather than let them walk in FA for free. I think that it would be shortsighted to include EJ in either of the trades. First off very few teams will want to trade for Howard or CP3 unless the player was willing to sign a long term deal to stay. The only teams CP3 seems willing to do that for are NY and LAC, Howard would most likely only agree to extended with us or our disgusting co-tenants. That really narrows the market down. In the case of CP3 we have far more to offer than NY, who has nothing to offer, so an offer of Kaman, Aminu or Bledsoe (maybe both) and the Minny #1 should be enough hypothetically. For Howard we would be bidding against LAL and it would depend on what they are offering up in return. The biggest asset we can offer a team is cap relief. Kaman comes off the books the two 2nd year guys are cheap and a first rounder is inexpensive as well. I can understand the temptation to give up Gordon but lets not forget that both of these players will be free agents at the end of the season, plus Derron Williams. I know we are often overlooked as a FA landing spot, but if CP3 is seriously willing to extend with us you have to think he would consider us in the offseason. Throw in the fact that in the offseason we’d also be sitting on (most likely) a top 5 pick and that would seem very appealing. I think it takes 3 studs to win it all, if we give up EJ for one of these two then its like taking one step back for every two steps forward, sure we’re moving forward but there has to be a better way to do it.
- sean
  
  I totally agree and thought this all along. We can’t give up Gordon to get either of cp3 or dwight. We need our trio of Gordon Blake and one of them to win it all. Can’t take any steps back to go forward. Most poster are willing to hive up too much.
- Airreezy
  
  great post great points no need at all to trade gordon.
http://www.barmapla.com FD

Carmelo proved that he could get traded to the team he wanted. CP3 is going to the Knicks and Howard is going to the Lakers.

With the new extend-and-trade deal, the clippers could only sign cp3 or howard for 3 years (including this one). That will lower the value of what teams are willing to give up. This doesn’t help the Clippers.
hangtheGM

eric gordon stays! We need a great 1b option more than another superstar. We don’t need 2 mega stars, blake is the future of the nba. EJ has something rare its called humility, something that is needed to play alongside a super star. He works his ass off for the team and knows his role, he isn’t trying to always be the guy, he knows when the team needs him and steps up. We drafted well, got the right players who can all grow together and develop chemistry. I just don’t think its practical to rip out two or three positions you are solid at to be dominant at one. Plus EJ is still getting better (as well as DJ) we don’t even know their ceiling yet, and he is playing for a contract extension. I say we should at least look at what we have this through midseason to make sure we don’t sell our players short.
- sean
  
  Another very smart analysis I agree 100%.
Pete

A three way deal is likely the most viable option. The following might get it done.

Clippers get:
Dwight Howard
Mareese Speights
Jodie Meeks

Magic get:
Andre iguodala
Deandre Jordan
Lou Williams
76ers 1st round pick

Sixers get:
Eric Gordon
Kaman contract
Minnesota 3rd round pick

A lot to give up for Dwight howard – do you really want him that badly? No way to get NBA best player without giving up a lot.

Eric Gordon
Roger

CP3 is regressing. Look at his numbers the last two seasons. He had one series against the Lakers crappy point guards. No way do you include EJ…
- Cassellmania
  
  CP3 is still amazing, but you have a major point here that gets lost in all the hype of pairing a ‘legit star’ with Griffin by the media (they talk like EJ doesnt even exist). Paul still has a lot left in the tank, but his knees have gone through quite a bit of wear and tear. He’s not going to get better, which is why we need another perimeter player like EJ to help carry the load on both sides of the court.
jb_baby

CP3 will be the real prize, so Mo Williams and Chris Kaman via trade. LAC needs to sign Tayshaun Prince and become the perfect mentor for Aminu. That is a balanced team. Tayshaun can play 30 mins/game and Aminu can play the rest and LAC will be strong at the 3. CP3 will make the game easier for EJ, DJ and Blake. Look at what CP3 did for Tyson Chandler? Isn’t DJ the same type of player? Maybe not good enough for a ring but it would be a lob-dunk fest and LAC would be 4 or 5th slot playoff team.
jeff

Great reading DJ! As much as I would hate to see EJ go, I think it might be necessary. What’s not to say his next contract will command an offer that Olshey or Sterling may refuse to pay? Also, the NBA is a superstar’s league. You don’t win games without one (probably at least two if you want to be a serious contender). Players will take less money to play with superstars and it’s sort of a domino effect (see Boston Celtics & Miami Heat). If they landed Dwight it might be the single greatest moment in Clipper history. A superstar agreeing to a trade to the Clippers? We must be dreaming…
griffin

Some agruments are for ej to go and ej stay but I think there’s one truth. New orleans has no leverage and orlando has no leverage. The knicks were stupid to trade away all that talent for one talent that’s why knicks were the losers of that trade instead of denver. Learn from there mistakes. If they don’t won’t kaman with a young player outside of ej and griffin don’t bother. Minnies pick keep it. Ask for howard if they don’t want dj and kaman don’t bother. They will give in eventually cuz no one has any other enticing. Players to give then the clips. The more you pressure someone to take a deal the more stupid they become thus denver was smarter then knicks. Clips can still give up two good players without giving up ej and and minnies pick.
metal matty

A player Paul’s size is only good until early 30′s usually. Once he looses even half a step his size becomes a gigantic albatross. A player like Howard can play a long, long time if he takes care of himself.

Just something to keep in mind when rounding up imaginary assets to make hypothetical deals.
- Josh
  
  Steve Nash
  - Josh
    
    Yao Ming
    - Josh
      
      Chauncey Billups
      - Josh
        
        Walton, Sabonis, Perkins, shall I go on? Savvy pgs like Nash, Paul, Stockton, Chauncey, and Cassell can age like the finest wine. Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards ever to play the game. The idea of with him with Blake Griffin is sublime. I would trade EJ, Kaman, Aminu, Jordan’s rights, Bledsoe, you name it (but Blake) for CP3. He is a great, great, great player who makes everyone around him better.
        
        But I would not give up both EJ and the Minn pick without getting other assets back. As much as I love Chris Paul’s sick, sick, sick game.
        
        That’s all. Love you, EJ, but Chris Paul is a freaking savant. EJ is a reqlly nice player with a developing game. But Chris Paul is a first ballot hall of fame player with years of elite play ahead. Not to mention, the player most NBA players would want to play with is probably Chris Paul.
        
        If the Clippers get Chris Paul, I will be very, very, very happy. No matter the cost.
- Soonerhopeful1
  
  Dear Metal Matty:
  
  I’m not sure that perspective holds true.. Big guys are more prone to injury then little people.
  
  I would point out that it is true, that a Good big guy is better or more valuable then a good little guy.
  
  But I have a couple points to make.
  
  For a championship team; which I think is the goal, the team needs balance and versatility to your game. good back court to complement a good front court..
  
  Clippers already have a great front court with Kaman, DJ and Griffin. which Howard no doubt would be an upgrade, Yet be trading time in low post scoring with Griffin, which is why Kaman comes off the bench now. Which playing DJ with Griffin, gives Griffin the maximum low post shots when in the game, while causing havoc. They Howard and Griffin playing together, would have to share low post offense, good or bad. Fewer shots then for both.
  
  Having great low post shooters, maximizing their talent , will then necessitate great out side players to take the pressure off, by making their shots. Which returns us Back to the Balance and versatility again.
eluno

Just wanted to say the first few paragraphs about Clipps fans is so spot on. Great read.
arnold

dj, i’m pretty sure you’re the only person that talked yourself into the dan dickau era. also, ej is the best closer we’ve had since doug overton, aka game overton. i’d be sad to see him go, but if that’s what it takes…
bigstakk

No way would I trade Eric Gordon in ANY deal…He is a vastly underrated and that is driving all this crazy talk. The guy is on pace to be an All-Star as early as this year and he is the best scorer/3pt shooter/closer on the team, which is hard to match with the current litter of free agent swing men…Also, at 22, he has a much bigger shelf life then the often injured CP3…Don’t get me wrong I love CP3 and he would be a HUGE addition to this team and a great fit to play alongside B-Griff, but I think to get a deal done for him- Mo/Kaman/2012 Pick should be enough…and I would get them to throw in Ariza in the deal if they still have him (I forget)…I prefer this deal with resigning DJ over making a play for D-Howard. Not seeing how he is a good fit to play alongside B-Griff…both big athletic inside scoring threats…year Howard plays better D, but B-Griff has better offensive skills and overall upside.

Bottom line: I think the Clippers should go after CP3 in some package for Kaman and Mo Williams + the 2012 pick and then look to resign DJ and a key veteran SF like Buttler/Prince and sign the local LA kid Nick Young to give some serious scoring spark off the bench and I think he would not cost much….in fact he would be a big low key catch instead of guys like Gomes, Rasul Buttler, Brian Cook, etc that we tend to keep signing…Gonna be a playoff year! Good Luck Clips!
Reimsky

We shouldn’t let Eric Gordon go.
http://barmapla.com FD

If CP3 won’t sign with the Celtics, he won’t sign with the Clippers.

The Nets are gonna offer at least Lopez and 2 first round picks for Howard. They probably don’t even care if he signs. Any deal for Howard would have to include eric Gordon. Probably Gordon, the minny pick and (Kaman or Jordon). Isn’t gonna happen anyway.
Clippers are not getting either one.

They should go after Rondo. His contract runs through 14/15 season
- griffin
  
  Rondo would be good but he can’t play outside of 15 feet he’s a liablity
- Bongstradamus
  
  You want another point guard that can’t shoot?
- http://clipperblog.com Clipper Optik
  
  CP3 already said that he would only sign an extension with the Knicks or Clippers. He shot down the Celtics because of their future.
Mario

CP3 doesn’t even have two healthy knees. While Dwight Howard is a freak of nature. The guy harddly ever misses games. Unlike CP3, who had had major knee surgery, and whose numbers keep dropping, D12 is Iron Man. Age like fine wine, Please. CP3 may already be regressing….
griffin

Ok so chris paul really wants to go to free agency so I doubt trades would happen. Same with howard too. Deron willaims why has he been left out of this. He hasn’t even sign an extension with new jersey and proably doesn’t want to stay either all of them wants to go to free agency we will see what happens in the next off season
Polotip

Boom: http://insidesportsillustrated.com/2011/11/30/blake-griffin-on-this-weeks-cover-first-clippers-cover-in-over-11-years/
http://dmoney3.tumblr.com Dennis

Eric Gordon is a superstar in the making! How fast we forget that when EJ went down Blake was not looking AS spectacular as he was when he was in the line-up. EJ cannot be traded man! NOT FOR DWIGHT! He is the only one that can stretch the floor and slash on the team. He helps BG be BG. Ive been a clipper fan since i can remember and this will hurt me even more than witnessing Livingston go down.
Id say trade Kaman Aminu and Mo/Bledsoe and the minny pick for CP3
- Bongstradamus
  
  Guards grow on trees. Offensively dominant 7 footers do not.
  
  I like EJ, but I dont like him enough to not get D-12 on the team. EJ isn’t wade or kobe. He probably never will be. Anyone who can shoot from range and slash to the basket can still create space for Blake.
  
  If EJ was on the same level as Kobe or Wade, no way would you even consider it. But, frankly, hes not even in the same space as Tyreke Evans. He’s a great player, love him to death, but he is on the fence about staying here long term. He can drive and slash to the basket, but he can dribble it off his feet as well because of his handle. The only super reliable part of his game is his stroke. If he’s open, he’s going to nail it. Thing is, theres lots of guys in the league who do just that.
  
  It would suck to miss out on Dwight Howard because we kept a guy who wont or doesn’t want to re-sign. And while he’s a great player, I just dont see EJ being a perennial all-star. If he was more like Ray Allen, could take over a game and play 4 positions if needed, then yea, we keep him at all costs. He isn’t though. So he becomes tradable. Especially for the most dominant center in the league.
  - griffin
    
    Did u just say same space as tyreke evans. Smoking the bong heavliy I see. Gordon is the third best sg in the league behind the two you mention. Kobe and wade both have hard times guarding gordon both wade and kobe are bothered by gordons lock down defense. Gordon is the whole package. Shoot the long ball slashes and our best defender. On the team plus he’s getting better and he is a gym rat that wants to get better. Gordon resembles the style of play of derrick rose only difference? Gordon is still developing his ball handles and rose developing his long range shot. They both are weak in the areas they are both the strongest. And both are changing there weaknesses to strengths. The season isn’t over. And I’m sure ej if healthy the entire season will be in discussion along with blake for mvp if they go to the playoffs. This team is ready to win and howard isn’t going to us through trade plain and simple. He made it very clear he doesn’t want to be traded. And if he is he will not sign an extension. Just let him go through free agency and let this team play and stop talking about trading gordon cuz he ain’t going nowhere.
Jgroove

There is no way Howard comes here willing to sign an extension with Gordon out of the mix. It would have to be Kaman, first rounder and maybe bledsoe. I still think they’d prefer Bynum to that trade. Magic can’t start from scratch with rebuilding before then.
Dan S.

I say get both.
Neiru

I would do all I could to keep Gordon. The Minny pick can go and anyone else other than Griffin and Gordon. I think the team should go for CP3 or DWill. I’m not that sold on Howard for some reason. I think a PG of CP3′s caliber would have a greater impact on everyone on the team.
JayCPT1

Look this is a wonderful dream.. but that’s all it is. Let’s keep the team we got and sign a decent SF not named Butler. Prince or Battier come to mind and let’s keep Kaman and Williams and let there contracts expire. Re-sign EJ and Jordan and use the Minny pick in what should be a deep class next year. I know we are all about winning now but I think we will make the playoffs this year with the current team we have. Great experience for Blake and then we build on our core of BLAKE, EJ and Jordan next year with a nice free agent signing of possibly Paul, Williams or Howard. CLIPPER NATION will RISE UP!!!

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