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Getting Sentimental About the Prospect of Shaun's Return

Posted by Kevin Arnovitz on Tue, 08/05/08, 06:24pm:

Category: General

I have to confess that prior to very recently, I didn’t really care if the Clippers re-signed Shaun Livingston. There were far more important items on the agenda and far more valuable players in the free agency pool. I probably harbored the small, irrational instinct as a Clipper fan to allocate a little blame Shaun’s way for being yet another draft bust – even though there’s no evidence to suggests Shaun Livingston didn’t want to be the absolute best NBA point guard he could be.

Not much has been said of Shaun, even though there isn’t much left on the market. On August 1 – last Friday – the East Valley Tribune reported:

“Shaun Livingston, still not cleared for basketball as he recovers from a devastating knee injury, appears likely to re-sign with the Clippers if and when he is able to play.”

Now that the full roster has fleshed out and we have a palpable sense of who the Clippers are going to be next season, I have a visceral need for some stability. There’s very little to the team that’s recognizable. That isn’t a bad thing. There isn't much about the Clippers from year to year that you’d want to remember, or even get sentimental about. But the seismic changes this offseason have sparked a strong desire for the familiar.

Given that I wasn’t overly concerned with Shaun’s return back when it was all about pairing Davis and Brand – or even signing Kelenna Azubuike – it might be disingenuous of me to say I’d like to see Shaun succeed as a Clipper, but it’s the truth. He’d be a welcomed reminder – and one of the few remaining – of 2006. If by miraculous good fortune, the Clips put together an incredible season, it'd be a lot cooler if Shaun were a part of it.

Comments

Stian wrote:

You know, I feel bad for Shaun even though he was a horrible pick given how NOT NBA ready his body was.

I wish him all the best but I'm ready to move on. This is the Baron DAvis era now and I want to leave behind all the bad memories from the Brand years and that includes Shaun Livingston.

If we have a chance to pick up another quality backup I don't want to give that spot to someone who will most likely not be ready to play at this level for many more months. The West is too tough to make moves that are driven by sentimental reasons.

Good luck, Shaun - you need a clean slate and start fresh elsewhere. And so do the Clippers.

08/05/08 18:37:18

Blah wrote:

The truth stings.. but your right Stian. If he's not cleared for full contact, then we need to move on and get somebody ready now.

08/05/08 18:44:23

Clipper Pat wrote:

Sad, but it's been about a year and a half and he's still not cleared to play... Not a good sign.

Though I would love to see him come back, if he's capable... His size makes him a versatile player to have on the bench, able to play the 1, 2 and 3... No one would suggest he'd take minutes from Baron Davis...

Still, for the little we'd have to pay him, I'd like to see him be our 13th or 14th man... If he comes back, great. If he can't, there is someone to be found in the D-League, which is close to the level of player that's left anyway.

08/05/08 18:56:30

Jax wrote:

The Clippers need to move on now. Regardless of whether Sean is cleared to play. I hate to say it but his body was never ready for the NBA. You could see it in his inability to guard any strong players. Even if cleared to play now, how long before he suffers another injury?

08/05/08 19:11:13

Stian wrote:

ClipperPat, guys like Pargo, Boykins, Dixon or Flip Murray are not NBDL level players - they are proven NBA vets. And available.

The Clippers could still pick up a good player that will be able to contribute way more than Livingston this year.

08/05/08 19:14:24

RTT wrote:

@Stian: The Baron Davis era?
Anyways, bring Shaun back.

08/05/08 19:14:46

Stian wrote:

@RTT. Yes, the Baron Davis era. Since we now have Baron Davis. Who is easily the best player to wear a Clipper jersey in years if not ever. Would you prefer to call it the Brian Skinner Era Revisited?

08/05/08 19:20:11

Drew wrote:

Shaun may not have had an NBA body when he was playing, but he developed one while sitting on the bench injured. The kid just needed to go through puberty.

If he's able to play again, I'd love to see him come back. His ball handling skills are phenomenal and his court vision is excellent. Even if he's only 90% as athletic as he was before, he'll still be a great NBA player.

Don't give up on him yet.

08/05/08 19:45:28

The Chosen one wrote:

Off topic some, but here is an updated look at the 08-09 Clipper salary,age average,and team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/n...

On topic:

I'm very split on Shaun8

postives : He does help the Clippers image wise if they sign him (even ast the lowest deal know to man). Like posted before Shaun has the rare ability on paper to match up well at the 1,2,and 3. Sign him low use the D-league as a stomping ground until he is ready.

negatives- Even though he can get little to no money on a deal,that is still money that could be contributed to new player. The risks once he believes he is ready, what if once he is back on the court in front of the fans he fears what could happen. I believe still when Shaun goes for a lay-up he has to be somewhat frighten of what can happen. That is a great liability to have.

Off note again:

Damn Jason Hart is 30!!! Thought the guy was 24 or something. I wouldn't mind on the next Clipper move if we go young to balance things out.

08/05/08 20:31:49

Bongstradamus wrote:

I hated seeing that injury happen to Shaun. But....he's done. I'm sorry. That was a jacked injury, you dont recover from that and get back to NBA shape. Its sad like Jay Williams sad, but its also reality.

Sign him if theres still a spot and hell take minimum to play by training camp, other than that, I think its best not to commit money to Shaun. As great of a talent as he could have been, until something tangible is seen theres just more healthy talent out there for less money.

08/05/08 20:40:51

kenji wrote:

as much as i had hoped shaun would turn out to be a good player surrounding all the hype of his much touted "potential", i was never sold on him. he never developed into a player that would have been memberable even on the college level, and his jump shot was a joke. during the '06 playoff series against denver when boykins was guarding him, he still never looked for his shot. what was he afraid of? getting blocked by earl? and very rarely did he attempt to post him up.
i don't think the clippers should offer any deal to shaun until he is cleared for full contact 5 on 5. yeah it would be nice to see him come back as a clipper, but realisticaly it makes no sense to save a roster spot for him.
i felt he was a draft bust before he was injured. let me be more specific...before he was injured the last time. i think its time to add him to the group of bobby hurley, jay williams, etc and move on.

08/05/08 21:02:02

jgroove wrote:

I'd like to see Shaun back. If he can get to 90% that's still a very capable NBA defender. How soon we forget how clutch he was on the defensive side in that Phoenix series two years ago.

08/05/08 22:15:57

Clips fan2008 wrote:

Bring Shawn back. He is worth the 14th spot on the roster at vets min (about 850,000 for his years). It he able to come back, it is a deal. If not chalk it up to a gamble. I see it as loyalty on both sides to take the shot.

As for him not taking the shot in the playoffs- I sat next to his coach from High School at a game and Shawn has always been overly unselfish. It wasn't until the NBA that he even thought about his shot, so he has been behind the shooter curve.

Worth 1 more year.

08/05/08 22:58:30

JBeezy wrote:

I already got rid of my Brand, Maggette, and Cassell jerseys. I'd like to keep my Livingston. Besides his shot is supposedly much better since his injury, since he's had a lot of time to practice.

08/06/08 00:57:00

hans wrote:

i hope livingston comes back....

i mean if tj ford can come back, why not livingston.

08/06/08 01:26:56

Stian wrote:

@ hans: I have no idea how you can even compare TJ Ford to Shaun Livingston. The seriousness of Shaun's last injury is way beyond anything TJ has sustained.

08/06/08 02:28:30

Clipper Derrick wrote:

I agree with KA. I would like to see Shaun back.

08/06/08 02:38:08

TB wrote:

Talk about a lottery pick for $800-900K. If he works out it would be phenomenal on so many different levels, but if not then he didn't cost much more than a lot of the other guys who never left the bench... No doubt we should bring him back!!!

08/06/08 08:53:16

Johnny wrote:

The dude Owes us as far as im concerned. He should be happy to sign for the minimal just to keep him on the roster for future opps..
He hasnt lived up to the hype of his draft position.. Of course the injury hurt him but he wasnt all that before He got hurt.. Look WE ALL LOVE THE GUY AND WANT THE BEST FOR HIM.. I wou ld like for him to come back for the minimum ( we paid him well and took huge risk FOR HIM and he hasnt really give us much in return) but his potential seems amazing
I am rooting for him to continue to be on the roster .. let him show his stuff a bit more when hes healthy, than let him get the big contract he thinks he deserves

08/06/08 22:24:12

clippafan4life wrote:

I would love to see a healthy shaun playing alongside al thorton that would be a deadly combo. Let's not all sell our souls at once, the guy is still young and has the ability to re-hab. He is actually almost 2 years younger than thorton. I'm not saying we should over pay to keep him but his potential far exceeds that of any availiable guard and he is so versatile. I'm an underdog, so are the clips, and so is shaun, bring the man back.

08/06/08 22:29:59