I need to vent. I've been holding in my rage concerning this Cleveland draft pick thing for far too long now. Most of us citizens were frustrated on the night of the Baron-Mo trade, and I think it's fair to say that most of us are frustrated now. Perhaps it's beyond frustration. Maybe, just maybe, it's torches and pitchforks time, if you know what I mean. You do. So let's talk Clippers and this draft pick, just one more time, for the sake of nausea. And let's counter ClipNation's awful homer-ism with some heaping helpings of healthy realism.

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II. A Game of Chess... er- Checkers? ... Okay. Kids throwing food at each other...

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First of all, let's address some fan proposals. Recent comments have suggested that the Clippers could obtain Gerald "Crash" Wallace for a humble trade involving Rasual Butler, Craig Smith, Aminu, and a first round draft pick.

Some people might call this a bad deal, citing that Wallace, at the age of 29ish (?) is "only" a one-time all-star. They could say that he's not really a "glue guy," that his 18-20 PPG indicates that he's much more of a scorer. Someone might even say that when you combine his PPG and his 31% career average on 3P%, Wallace becomes an in-the-box type scorer who will clog the lanes and Griffin's spacing. People can say that Aminu will probably become a better player than Wallace.

To all of those naysayers, I say... Well, yeah. That's completely plausible.

But, I also say that Wallace isn't spelled G-o-m-e-s. So this would be a G-r-e-a-t trade. Change is NEEDED! We need to win NOW! (right?)

The arguments against Wallace can be modified and applied to all of the other candidates. Prince is too old, or Detroit would ask for Kaman. Granger would cost too much. Why would Houston trade Battier anyway? I hear these completely logical questions, but i defer them to my red and blue colored glasses. Because, as a Clippers fan, I know that Age doesn't matter. Pay doesn't matter. Whether or not the other team is actually willing to a trade a player, that doesn't matter!

Who needs patience? All I know is that the Clippers should be in the playoffs this year (What was last year’s record, 42-40?). And, if getting there means trading away some of the team's bright, tantalizing, delectable future (young players and draft picks), so be it. I mean, we were so close to the playoffs last year, so this year we should be entitled to a playoff run.

With all of this said, here's the plan. We may not be "one player away," but there's a way around that problem, and it’s better than acquiring any of the aforementioned players:

First, trade Baron Davis, Aminu and the "Minny" pick for Paul Pierce. Pierce fills the gap at small forward quite wonderfully. He's an all-star, an L.A. guy, and a champion.

Of course, trading Baron opens a hole at point guard. So we could then trade Eric Gordon and a first round pick for Rajon Rando.

I KNOW. BUT WHO'S GOING TO BE OUR STARTING SHOOTING GUARD IF WE TRADE GORDON? I'm a step ahead of you. We could offer DeAndre Jordan and expiring contracts for Ray Allen. A this point, Boston will be in a rebuilding mode, so they'd be willing to part with Ray as long as they got smaller contracts and expiring contracts.

Then, could trade Blake Griffin and Chris Kaman for Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. Perkins is younger and a better defender than Kaman. And let’s face it, Garnett is a champion and a veteran. Rookie Blake can't compete with Garnett as a proven player. I KNOW. Blake will undoubtedly become a far better player than Garnett. But we're talking about winning NOW, remember?

Now, i have to admit, I'm not entirely sure that these numbers work. but, they do in a general sense. And both teams win.

The Clippers get a Starting line-up of Rando, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, and Perkins.

The Celtics get Baron, Gordon, Aminu, Griffin, and Kaman (and don’t forget about DJ and the draft picks).

The Clippers will compete this year, the NOW. And, they'll probably be competitive for the next year or so.

The Celtics get a roster full of amazing young talent. They can take a year or two to fully groom Blake and Eric, and they can invest in DJ and Aminu. As long as Boston is patient, as long as they don't trade away their valuable youth, who know's how high their ceiling is?

I know one thing, Boston would have nothing to complain about. Remember, they wouldn't have to trade for Ryan Gomes... He'd make their team unbearable. He'd probably ruin the team chemistry and most definitely ruin the potential. They'd definitely have to make a change.

I was a dumb waiter.

But I'm done now. Done waiting, as in waiting for this franchise to turn it around. I'm tired of being a Los Angeles Clippers fan. You should be tired too. So, join me and quit. Abandon ship, so to speak, because within the past week, the Clippers front office have done nothing to give me hope. In fact, they've done the opposite. They've forced me to give up. I'm out.

Let's recap how they've screwed all of us over.

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All this Free Agency talk is getting repetitive. LeBron, I know... I get it. Sure, Paul Pierce is an interesting knew topic, but like FA and just like the Draft, it's all speculation right now. And, I know, the speculation has lasted so much longer since the ClipShow has been over for quite some time.

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I'm really just curious. So, this should be fun.

The rumors about Geffen purchasing majority ownership of our beloved losers revolves around Geffen's supposed abilty to attract LeBron James to the ball club. For most of ClipperLand, the fruition of the scenario is a pipe dream because, if the club managed to remove the most hated owner in sports while acquiring the most impactful free agent in sports, the so-called curse would be shattered.

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That's what I thought coming into this season, following the preseason. I remeber watching the combine on '06, when Miles Austin was performing, and I was impressed. Then, obviously, I was elated when the Boys signed him as an URFA (is that the abbreviation?).

But, I lost hope in the kid. He seemed, to me, to be a physically gifted athlete, rather than a gifted WR or football player. I never thought he executed football technique as well as Sam Hurd, even though Austin is a better athlete. Then, in the first game of this season againstthe Bucs, I watched Austin catch a back-shoulder ball at the sideline and turn it up field with a stutter-step past a defender for a touchdown. That was the first true "football" play I could recall him making.

I was wrong about Austin, because he may very well reach his potential. At the very least he appears to be on his way to becoming a good NFL WR.

That being said, I think a lot you other BTBers can fess up to being wrong about a thing or two. You'll be the first to say I to you so. Why not admit you were wrong?

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In a sports world overshadowed by highlight reels, popular names, and tired rivalries, you offer such great insight to fans of a team that fails to get recognition from even the likes of local media.

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ClipperNation is at a very akward crossroad. Many fans feel that a new begining is necessary, and that this rebuilding should be focused around young shooting guard Eric Gordon. However, Mike Dunleavy Sr. seems to have a "win now" attitude. There is the conflict.

Because of the poor performance from the Clippers last year, many fans have echoed the idea that next season's ClipShow will be just as bad, or tad bit better. I believe the prediction of 19-25 wins has been common.

The problem with this so-called reality (or, what some fans might call cynicsm) is that the pridiction of a poor next season discounts the fact that the roster is composed of talented, and hopefully prideful players, who will be constructed to fit around Eric Gordon next season. Among the understanable negativity, ClipperNation seems to forget about the two guard who is the number one guard in our hearts.

If you think Baron Davis and Zach Randolph will be the focal points of the offense next season, then hopefully you are mistaken. BDiddy should be responsible for getting the ball into young EJ's hands. Along with Chris Kaman, Randolph's presence is needed to keep opposing defenses honest, and remove the inevitable double teams Gordon will face.

(Regarding the importance of Randolph and/or Kaman, low post threats teach young players how to play with bigs in the NBA, and open up the entire playbook for the kids. Everyone has to remember when the Clippers ran only Brian Skinner
onto the floor, as the lone big. Teams paid no attention to the paint and glued themselves to the perimeter, making life miserable for Gordon, Steve Novak, and others.)

The point is, if Eric Gordon is the superstar that we all hope he is, then the Clippers immediate future may be brighter than a lot of us foresee. So, let's take a look at what we can/should expect from EJ, in his second NBA season. He is a good kid, and he must have great work ethic: How big of a jump can he make?
 

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I've created a list of players who I think are attainable, for the Cowboys. By attainable, I mean that the Cowboys won't have to move into the first round, roughly. You know what I mean: Eugene Monroe won't be on this list.

I also followed public opinion on the list. Some may feel that a certain player does not belong on the list. For example, I think Sean Smith, out of Utah, is a top 15 talent; however, many "experts" claim he is a second round prospect. So, Smith is included.

I focused on the positions i feel most crucial to the Cowboys right now. SO, don't be too harsh, and please contribute your facts...*ahem*... opinions.

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