I think Blake would be ok with choosing Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon over Chris Paul.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:07 (twelve years ago) link
But the likelihood they'll be better than the Thunder is really low. Since they have to go through them to advance, I don't see why Blake wouldn't want proven parts instead of a hodgepodge of possibilities.
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:02 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark
i just don't agree w/ this
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:08 (twelve years ago) link
if they made that trade this is their team,
pg chris paulsg randy foyesf ryan gomespf blake griffinc ...they wouldn't have one
i don't see how that team is better than the clippers current core PLUS two more first round picks
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:09 (twelve years ago) link
If the Clippers were a well run franchise they would just be focusing on signing Deron as a free agent imo.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:10 (twelve years ago) link
but since they're total bush league they know getting glamour free agents is almost impossible.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:11 (twelve years ago) link
they don't need deron williams. if eric bledsoe is the fourth best player on their team (and he will be once they get a player from that t wolves pick) they will have a really good team. they aren't ready to win a title now, they shouldn't be trying to win a title now. there's a bunch of teams that have already built up teams that are better than them. they need to continue to draft well, build chemistry with their core and make a run in 2013 and on.
i think people are really underestimating the clippers chances of keeping blake if they follow that model
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:14 (twelve years ago) link
blake's knee could blow out again idk
― am0n shumpert (dayo), Monday, 12 December 2011 02:14 (twelve years ago) link
Clips have Caron Butler at SF, but I get your point.
I just don't see why Blake wouldn't leave in two years because the potential is all further in the future than that.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:15 (twelve years ago) link
they don't need deron williams, but they could have him! Instead they sign flotsam like Caron. You're absolutely right that they should just keep drafting well. But if you've got cap room you use it, especially with the 90% salary floor forthcoming.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:16 (twelve years ago) link
it's really not! the thunder made the playoffs two years after they drafted durant and it became very clear that they were going to be a force
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:18 (twelve years ago) link
the clippers are going to make the playoffs this year
Well shit, if they get the next Durant it's a no brainer!
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:18 (twelve years ago) link
so, as i understand it, you won't "officially" know if a player is passed over in the amnesty bidding process until 6PM EST on the day the bidding ends. but does the player learn beforehand is he's selected? if so, and if billups is chosen, i'm guessing we'll hear about it -- loudly.
― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 12 December 2011 02:18 (twelve years ago) link
...they have the next durant
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:19 (twelve years ago) link
and yes, this upcoming draft is going to be one of the deepest in a VERY long time
I watched the Clippers blow too many games last year to think they're gonna make the playoffs. Too many dumb, raw players in the rotation.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:22 (twelve years ago) link
getting rid of kaman would be a nice start.
god did you see any of those awful games early in the season that they lost almost entirely because of Kaman?
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:23 (twelve years ago) link
name 8 teams in the west better than them
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:24 (twelve years ago) link
but Matt, those dumb raw players are all better than Paul. Even if they're worse than an average NBA player right now, Bledsoe and Aminu are first ballot hall of famers, as is whomever they might get next year.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:25 (twelve years ago) link
they're gonna be better than the hornets, could be better than houston, portland and denver
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:25 (twelve years ago) link
alright whatever -- a two man team of blake griffin and chris paul is obviously enough to win you an nba title, and is a better idea than building an actual team
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:26 (twelve years ago) link
the idea that either
a. chris paul is going to sign a long term deal w/ the clippers after their team is decimated by a trade for him
or
b. chris paul, blake griffin, caron butler and a bunch of bums are going to win the nba title in the next two years
is completely idiotic, and if the clippers deal away one of the best young cores in the nba bcuz they think one of those things is true, they really are going to be the clippers forever
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:28 (twelve years ago) link
I think that right now they're a playoff team that'll lose in the first round. If that's the goal, they've reached the promised land.
None of this matters anyways - the Clips are about making money not winning, so the constant churn of young players and the tease of future greatness is all Sterling has ever needed.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:28 (twelve years ago) link
what's the ultimate goal? the clippers winning an nba title this year or next year with chris paul and blake griffin as their only top 75 players? their goal isn't to build a team that may win the nba title, even if it's -- gasp! -- four years from now?
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:29 (twelve years ago) link
this argument is completely inane
― v-shasty, Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:24 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Permalink
well, let's see how free agency shakes out first!
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:30 (twelve years ago) link
I'm not as high on Bledsoe as Aminu as you seem to be. When it comes to their "core" I see it as gordon, griffin and the minnesota pick.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:31 (twelve years ago) link
if they gutted the team but kept the minnesota pick I might be down if Paul extended. They'd probably become a free agent destination even with their ownership.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:33 (twelve years ago) link
griffin is gonna be one of the 10 best players in the nba, gordon is gonna be top 20, the t wolves pick could net them another huge star. bledsoe will be a top 15 point guard, aminu at worst is a decent sixth man. deandre jordan fits w/ them.
this seems like a no brainer to me. i'm not saying that this is a championship dynasty or something, but paul + griffin + butler and no picks and no other conceivable way to significantly improve your team is not winning you jack, esp not in the next two years
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:35 (twelve years ago) link
if the clippers make that trade for chris paul he'd hitch hike to the knicks
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:36 (twelve years ago) link
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds -- Get some new people. RT @sportsfreakk33: people keep saying trade Lebron for Howard
― Daniel, Esq., Monday, 12 December 2011 02:36 (twelve years ago) link
i truly don't think that the free agency model is the way to win, btw -- the heat are an incredibly unique situation, not a prototype
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:39 (twelve years ago) link
I agree this is inane. You are starry-eyed over potential and, after living through the Celtics of Gerald Green and Jefferson and Perk and top picks year after year, I'm less enamored of possibilities versus proven talent.
Not having a center is the real kick-in-the-balls for the Clips if they make the trade, and the Warriors offer sheet is murder if you take it or leave it.
They aren't going to win with Paul in the next two years, but hopefully they'll be good enough to sign both stars and fill in the blanks around them. That potential is higher than the young core they have now, in my opinion.
But as I said, it's the Clips so they're likely fucked no matter what they do. I'd just like to see them role the dice for once instead of always accumulating parts that leave asap.
If all those guys reach the peaks you project than of course it's a dumb trade. But if any of them besides Griffin actually do I'd be pleasantly surprised; even more surprised if it's while they're on the Clippers.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:41 (twelve years ago) link
Outside of the Spurs almost all the champions of recent vintage have been built through free agents or trades. Three in one fell swoop is the rarity, as is it all falling in place in one go.
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:43 (twelve years ago) link
You are starry-eyed over potential and, after living through the Celtics of Gerald Green and Jefferson and Perk
i'm sorry but all of the guys on the clippers are already better than gerald green, jefferson was a very good nba player, and perk was a key component of a team that won a title and probably would've won another had he not blew his acl out
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:45 (twelve years ago) link
i'm not starry eyed over potential, i'm being realistic that chris paul, as good as he is, isn't worth essentially six first round picks
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:46 (twelve years ago) link
bledsoe will be a top 15 point guard, aminu at worst is a decent sixth man. ― v-shasty, Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:35 PM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Permalink
I'm not that high on Bledsoe at all. He has serious issues with his shooting. Yeah it's possible but it's also possible he won't even be a top 30 pg imo.
I love Aminu but he also has bust potential.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:47 (twelve years ago) link
Like I said I wouldn't do this trade as reported but not because of aminu or bledsoe.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:48 (twelve years ago) link
what massive free agent is going to sign w/ the paul + griffin + caron superteam?
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:48 (twelve years ago) link
The vast majority of guys in the nba are first round picks! If 6 is too many, what about 5? Or is 4 your cut-off? What if they through in a guy drafted in the first round in return?
We aren't going to see eye-to-eye on this no matter how many times we go back and forth. And we can't even share a drink over our preseason bar conversation through the net.
I'll toast you later if I grab a beer from the fridge.
xposts
― EZ Snappin, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:51 (twelve years ago) link
Ugh - throw in not through in. I need to proofread.
well the massive free agent would be Dwight
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:51 (twelve years ago) link
If 6 is too many, what about 5? Or is 4 your cut-off?
four seems about right to me, yes
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:52 (twelve years ago) link
hahaha gtfo matt
dwight and blake feel like very similar players and not too complementary
― am0n shumpert (dayo), Monday, 12 December 2011 02:52 (twelve years ago) link
I would pull the trigger on the CP3 to clips deal, just to see CP3 and Blake blow out their knees in a single play
you guys aren't seriously about to discuss the possibility of chris paul and dwight howard signing with the clippers, right?
― v-shasty, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:53 (twelve years ago) link
it would be awesome if it happened
― am0n shumpert (dayo), Monday, 12 December 2011 02:54 (twelve years ago) link
― v-shasty, Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:53 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Permalink
I wouldn't trade for paul in the first place if he didn't extend.
― Matt Armstrong, Monday, 12 December 2011 02:55 (twelve years ago) link