Clips' Rumor Mill Whirling

by Steve Weinman on Nov 26, 2008 1:13 AM EST in NBA Comment 7 comments

We opened the week by ripping the Clippers' front office for making it rather difficult to figure out what the plan is in Hollywood these days. The first Chris Kaman-to-Charlotte rumor didn't do a whole lot to change the attitude here.

Neither does the second.

ESPN's J.A. Adande mentioned on Tuesday that he heard that the Clips are now in talks with the Bobcats about a swap centered on Kaman and Jason Richardson rather than the originally rumored deal for Gerald Wallace (but he has a second source telling him that Kaman won't be moving).

Acquiring Richardson makes a bit more sense than does bringing in Wallace. But not a ton.

Richardson has two fewer seasons left on his contract than does Wallace, is only a year older, has a better health record, shoots the ball better from the outside and is the more prolific scorer over the breadth of their careers. He also plays the two rather than the three, and the Clips seem to have gone further toward integrating second-year three-man Al Thornton into the rotation than they have with rookie guard Eric Gordon, who made his first career start on Monday night. Richardson ran with Baron Davis in Golden State, and the two have a good rapport.

Still, a trade for Richardson means trading a relatively youthful big man talent who continues to come into his own for a non-elite swingman. Kaman is the most well-rounded of the three well-paid Clips bigs, and his name also isn't Zach Randolph. Those are two good reasons right there to keep him - or at least to hold him out for a more lucrative return than a good (but not great) swing player who will take minutes from either Thornton or Gordon, two of the team's most important young parts.

I remain curious to see how the Randolph experiment works out in Los Angeles. The forecast seems to call for plenty of points and box score filling early and then a poor ending. It's all a matter of how long it takes to get to that poor ending and what can be accomplished beforehand.

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One thing is for sure..

The Clippers are a mess right now. I can see what Randolph can bring to the team, but I still don’t get that trade, especially if this means giving up on Kaman.

He’s amongst the best ‘young’ bigmen in the league. I think he’d be more appreciated if he didn’t play for the Clips, even if that means playing for Charlotte (which says quite alot)!

But I don’t see the real necessity for this trade right now. The Clippers are what, 2-12? Jason Richardson is a scorer, granted, but I don’t see him joining the team being a real differencemaker. Even though their backcourt aren’t deep they are a team with a lot of talent. A starting five consisting of Davis, Gordon, Thornton, Randolph and Kaman could work really, really well, if they get the time to glue together.

by Shots on Nov 26, 2008 5:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I can’t see how moving Kaman would help the Clippers at all. Finding a good center is a very real challenge.

by BleedinGreen417 on Nov 26, 2008 7:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It wouldn’t be a good move in my opinion. If they make this trade within 2 years when Camby is off the books they would need another big man again and a good big man don’t come easily (maybe they are hoping to draft a talented big man if this year’s draft). They should just be patient and see how Gordon develops at the 2 spot. After all he is a lottery pick and you don’t want to end up having a minutes problem if Richardson comes on board and you already have some depth there with Ricky Davis also on the team. I wouldn’t be surprised though if Baron Davis is pushing this trade since he used to play with him and played well with him.

by JBcat on Nov 26, 2008 7:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

nice fantasy team I guess

the team is starting to sound like one that someone would put together for fantasy purposes but not for winning games

a lineup of Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Ricky Davis, Zach Randolph, and Marcus Camby? really? just odd to see all those names together

are we sure Zeke isn’t the GM out there in secret?

by Jeff Clark on Nov 26, 2008 7:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

hey, the clips are a mess no matter what they do. i remember your post from last year about richardson, saying what a key player he was for the cats. why rich? and what’s up with akafor?

by nazzbo on Nov 26, 2008 9:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Depends on how you judge Kaman

Last year Chris was great, but so far this year he has been inconsistent. For his career, he has been even more inconsistent and he has had a few injury problems. The fact of the matter is that Dunleavy needs to win now, and bringing in more fire power could be a good way to do that, I’m not saying I think this is a good trade. But if the Clippers aren’t as sold on Kaman as we observers, he might be the logical member of their front court to move, because he has the most trade value.

by mvnclipper on Nov 26, 2008 9:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think the move is good for the clippers. Not that they get the better player, but it gives them more balance. On paper its a good team, but we know games aren’t played on paper. This team never picks a direction and sticks with it… Apparently they are going for the championship this year! Haha, the clips are always a mess.

by moiso on Nov 26, 2008 9:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs