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Another Option At Small Forward?

Dec 07, 2011
by Nick Flynt




Via a tweet from Adrian Wojnarowski, the Spurs decided to use their amnesty provision on Richard Jefferson, this after the Spurs made the choice of re-signing Jefferson in July of last year for $38.8 million over 4 years when he opted out of the final year of his contract (which would have payed him $15 million).

In no way would Richard Jefferson ever be worth this much with other good options at small forward available for the Clippers via free agency, except for two things.

First and most importantly, the fact that the Spurs amnestied Jefferson means that he’s up for auction. The Clippers can put in a bid for him and don’t have to pay his full contract. That’s huge, because paying Richard Jefferson $30 million for the remainder of his contract (3-years counting this season, the final year of his deal being a player-option that he would be unlikely to decline) is not for anyone (hence his being amnestied).

Secondly, Jefferson would fit the role that the Clippers initially envisioned for Ryan Gomes perfectly. Jefferson was among the top 3-point shooters in the NBA last season, shooting 44-percent on 4.8 3-point attempts per game last season. I wouldn’t expect him to hit such a ridiculously high percentage again, but his career average of 36.5-percent is still extremely solid. The Clippers’ main offensive weakness last season was spot-up shooting and turnovers. Adding Jefferson to space the floor helps clean up at least one of those. One main worry, though, would be his defensive success outside of the Spurs system (he wasn’t great on D in his first year with the Spurs, made a jump as his comfort grew last season), especially as he diminishes athletically. However, it isn’t like he’d be any worse than the likes of Gomes.

Other than that, the main question is how big of a bid the Clippers will have to put in to get him. It’s unlikely that Jefferson’s cost would be higher than any available small forward free agents on the market, no matter how many competing teams bid for him against the Clippers. Add in the fact that allowing Ryan Gomes to sit on the bench while paying out the remaining 2 years and $8 million of his contract wouldn’t be too bitter of a pill to swallow to grab up a better fit in Jefferson, as well as the fact that signing Jefferson would help the team avoid overpaying the likes of Caron Butler, and we’ve got a recipe for a pretty palatable option in Jefferson.

Nick Flynt

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  • Pbrady

    I’d throw out a low bid 3 yrs $9 mill or less and hope it hits. The bidding is secret and restricted to teams under the cap. If you get him at a bargain price thats awesome, if not oh well.

    • JaySee

      $27 mill? That’s just under what he’s being released for unless you mean $3 mill a year which is ridiculous. I’d say 2 yrs, $15 million total.

      • http://www.clipperblog.com D.J. Foster

        I think he meant 3 million per year.

        • Pbrady

          Yeah I meant $9 mill total

  • griffin

    Low bid for jefferson and if he doesn’t bite then we still have prince, hill, and butler. And I think I’m forgetting someone but still we would still have more options outside of jefferson. Now all we have to wait for is igudola beimg amenestied and that would be gravy

    • http://www.barmapla.com FD

      It would be great if they could get either of those. Even T-Mac. But this is Olshey we’re talking about.

      • Neiru

        T-Mac is headed to Atlanta.

  • Average Jose

    I still prefer Tayshawn Prince

  • TD

    Focusing on whatever it takes to get CP3 here, I’d hold off on all FA small forwards in the hopes that taking back Trevor Ariza in addition to Paul would help make the deal happen. I’d much rather pay for Ariza, a guy who plays D, hits the 3, is still young, and a proven team player, especially if Paul is around too.

    But once you sign a guy like Tayshaun, Butler, or RJ, you eliminate an element that could make the Clippers rise above the likes of Golden State, the Lakers, and other teams also working hard to get CP3.

    The Clippers can offer draft picks, young talent, expiring deals, and preserving cap space can make them a more enticing trade partner. Remember, if the Hornets are up against the calendar and need to trade Paul, they’ll want the chance to truly rebuild once he’s gone. Pau Gasol is not the answer for them, nor is simply Steph Curry and filler.

    If the Clips took back another $$ deal from New Orleans in addition to Paul, and gave them Bledsoe and/or Aminu, the Minnesota pick, Kaman, and even Mo Williams in return, they’d arguably present the best deal to the Hornets for that rebuilding effort.

    Signing ANY free agent small forward makes it harder for the Clips to engage in any deal without having to include DJ and/or Gordon, two untouchables in my opinion.

    • Pbrady

      I think it is very unlikely we would have to take back any bad contracts for CP3. Reports are that NO still holds out hope that Ariza wil turn it around. Also NO is already 12.5 mil below the cap, if they trade us Paul and Ariza then they would be so far under the cap they would be forced to sign a free agent which defeats the whole purpose. I am pleased to see GSW is balking at offering Curry. It gives us a better package.

  • DeMote DeAndre

    Putting in a bid for one of the amnestied small forwards is a good idea. The bidding is limited to teams below the cap, and that’s not many. I once read it was in reverse order of won – loss record, but I don’t see how that fits with the secret bids. Do people actually know how the process will work or is everybody still guessing? Whatever way it works, the Clippers should be in a good position to get at least one of the amnestied small forwards for a one year deal.

    Nothing more than one year deal for any small forward, not with Harrison Barnes coming the Clippers’ way.

    As for the trade rumor . . .
    “The Clippers would have to include restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe and the 2012 first round pick from the Wolves to acquire Paul.”

    Forget it. Terrible deal for the Clippers. The Minnesota pick is going to be a better player than Chris Paul, willl cost far less against the cap and will play for longer than Paul will.

    The part about Jordan, Aminu and Bledsoe is fine, but the Clippers cannot throw away the Minnesota pick. They can include their #1 from 2013.

    This was the Deron Williams trade last year: Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first round picks (one of them a year in the future). The Clippers shouldn’t have to give up even that much because it’s a year later so Paul is even a shorter rental.

    There is no piece of the Deron Williams deal that was the equivalent of the Minnesota pick. None.

    The huge attraction of Bledose and Aminu is that both were number one picks and both are young and inexpensive. That’s important to New Orleans. If New Orleans decides it doesn’t want to keep DeAndre Jordan because they have Okafor, they can easily trade Jordan, because there apparently are some fool teams out there that think Jordan is good.

    • Bongstradamus

      The only fool who thinks DJ is bad is you.

    • AH

      Clippers can’t include 2013 1st round pick due to Stepien Rule (BOS has rights to Clippers 2012 protected pick). Earliest pick Clips could trade besides MIN pick is 2014 1st rounder.

      OR if BOS agrees to accept lifting protection on Clippers 2012 pick, then Clippers can trade 2013 1st round pick and would not be allowed to trade 2012 MIN pick.

      • Kevin R

        Clips can trade their pick if they hold the Minny pick. They just have to have A #1 pick, it doesn’t have to be theirs.

    • fs

      the minni pick is gonna be better than cp3?? youre an idiot

      • Pbrady

        I would love to get CP3 while only giving up Bledsoe and Aminu and a pick, then I’m sure we could get D12 for Mo Williams straight up and LBJ for Kaman and Foye is a lock…

    • Kevin R

      Derrick Favors was the #3 pick in the draft. You can’t assume the Minny pick is worth more than a number 3 pick.

  • http://yahoo I’m Sexy & I Know It

    Bid for RJ and if we get him at say $2-3M, then we amnesty Gomes. Thus, you can create another $1 or $2M capspace and upgrade the SF position at the same time.

    • Pbrady

      Very unlikely we amnesty Gomes just for the space. DS can’t like the idea of paying a guy not to play and really there is no benefit unless that 1-2 mill stands in the way of a fa signing, which is unlikely. Save it for next year

  • DeMote DeAndre

    Speaking of amnesty, I think the clippers should sign Baron Davis once the cavs let him go… that way I can change my name back to DUMP DAVIS and flood this blog with even more nonsense!!!! soooo excited

    • griffin

      Most likely we amnesty willaims

      • griffin

        Yes resign davis and dump davis at a lesser price of course

  • Jgroove

    Honestly, I’d rather have Jefferson than Butler’s bad knees or Prince’s bad back. Jefferson was a bad fit in San Antonio offensively, but played good defense. He needs a change of scenery and he’d be a huge improvement over Gomes and Aminu.

  • Bigstakk

    I think the Clippers should hold off on signing ANY of the available SF free agents. If the Clippers are hoping to swing the CP3 deal it would likely include Trevor Ariza whom to me is a much better option than C. Buttler (who is coming off season ending knee injury and is already 31 so his it’s a pretty big risk) and R. Jefferson (who is also on the decline). WHY? Because he has great defense, is a glue guy and hits the 3 ball. Don’t forget he was a pivotal piece in the Lakers back-to-back championship run and we all have seen what replacing him with Ron Artest has equated to for the Lake show…

    If the Clippers want to get CP3 they will likely need to “absorb” Ariza’s contract, which to me sounds like a win in that we needed a SF anyway and he is a great fit. At the end of the day he is a two time world champion, is a local LA kid and is still young enough (27) to be a crucial core piece for this team. He would also help ease the transition for CP3 as well.

    However, the CP3 deal is highly dependent on whether or not the Hornets will agree to “settle” for Kaman, Aminu, Bledso and the Minny pick cause right now there is NO WAY the Clippers should include Gordon OR DJ in the deal, as doing so would defeat the whole purpose of it. B-Griff, Gordon, and DJ are the nucleus of the future and if the right quality veteran pieces are sprinkled in, a line up of those 3 would be a force once they get a little more polish, which could be as early as this upcoming year. The shortened NBA schedule should favor the youthful Clips as some pundits have pointed out but it all depends on how the Clippers make the most of this unique opportunity to land a big time free agent like CP3…I do NOT think the Clippers should put any effort into D. Howard as his particular skillsets won’t work well with B-Griff’s as they both demand the ball, are above the rim, have limited range and poor FT shooting…CP3 seems to be the best fit to push the Clips over the top…IF the Clips MUST throw in DJ in a deal for CP3 than the Minny pick MUST be pulled from the deal and the Clips would then need to secure Chandler at all costs…

    My best bet is that the Hornets will cave and be forced to take the Clippers existing offer of Kaman, Aminu, Bledso + 2012 Minny pick as Golden State has already cooled on talks since they are not going to give up Curry and I am not sure that NO would settle for some combination of Odom/Gasol/Bynum as that Minny pick has the potential to put their rebuilding efforts in a good spot with the depth of talent in this upcoming draft PLUS Kaman would provide huge cap relief at the end of the season where they could then also have the cap space and flexibility to sign a big name free agent to a max deal. Additionally, NY does not have enough to get a deal done nor does the Spurs as in the end that Minny pick is really a gong to be the biggest draw.

    Starting line up this year will be:
    PG – C. Paul, SG – E. Gordon, SF – T. Ariza, PF – B. Griffin , C – D. Jordan

    GET IT DONE OLSHLEY!

  • old666

    there’s a reason he was waived-better than gomes but still sucks

  • jjjc

    Battier is signing with the Heat and Prince is getting a new deal with Detroit. We need to get somebody at SF and we can’t take a wait and see approach.


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