SB Nation User Blog: mikey p

Kaman to play for Germany

mikey p — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:47:55 -0000

ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=3472026

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman has received German citizenship and will team up with Dirk Nowitzki for Germany at an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season with the Clippers.

The 7-foot Kaman will add size to a German team seeking to qualify for its first Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

"We'll be stronger under the baskets with Chris," Nowitzki said Thursday.

The German team is practicing at home for a warmup tournament before it travels to Greece for the July 14-20 qualifying event in Athens.

"Chris is a significant addition and we'll now have to integrate him in time for the Athens tournament," coach Dirk Bauermann said.

Clippers sign Eric Gordon

mikey p — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:35:25 -0000

http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/gordon_080702.html

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed rookie guard Eric Gordon, the team’s first round selection (7th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft, announced Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor.

An explosive scorer and a dead eye outside shooter who leaves Indiana University after a successful freshman campaign, the 6’3” guard averaged 20.9 points for the Hoosiers en route to being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

A former Indiana Mr. Basketball, Gordon, led the Big Ten in scoring as a freshman and earned Second Team All-American Honors from the NABC and Third Team honors from the Associated Press as he established an Indiana and Big Ten freshman record with 669 total points, breaking the previous record held by Michael Redd from Ohio State and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Indianapolis native scored 20 or more points 19 times in 2007-08 and topped the 30-point mark three times, including a career-high 33 points in the season opener vs. Chattanooga, establishing an Indiana record for most points ever in a Hoosiers debut. Gordon, 19, was the 2007 Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year as a senior, putting an exclamation mark on a standout career at North Central High School in Indianapolis.

Warriors make offer to Elton Brand

mikey p — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:06:06 -0000

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clips3-2008jul03,0,2057944.story

In a move that could act as sweet revenge, the Golden State Warriors have offered free-agent Elton Brand a more lucrative, multiyear deal than the Clippers have proposed, according to NBA sources who requested anonymity because they are not allowed to speak about other free-agent dealings.

On Tuesday, the Clippers reached a verbal agreement to sign Warriors free-agent Baron Davis and were nearing a new deal with Brand.

For laughs, I guess. Supposedly in the $85-90M range.

Nice try, Dubs.

I think GSW should go after Maggette. He would be a nice fit.

Clippers, Davis reach verbal agreement

mikey p — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:34:54 -0000

LA Times

Former Golden State All-Star guard, who walked away from a guaranteed $17.8 million next season, is expected to sign a five-year, $50-million deal with the Clippers. By Jonathan Abrams, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
5:25 PM PDT, July 1, 2008

Baron Davis' agent, Todd Ramasar, told The Times that they have a verbal agreement to sign with the Clippers.

Davis is expected to sign a contract in the five-year, $50-million range.

"From a basketball standpoint it's always been about winning for Baron," Ramasar said. "This presented a good opportunity to do that to pair him with Chris Kaman and Elton Brand is expected back."

The Clippers can't announce any deals until July 9 when next year's salary cap is determined.

In a move that took the league by surprise, Davis opted out of the final season of his contract with the Golden State Warriors late Monday to become a free agent, walking away from a guaranteed $17.8 million.

Only 11 NBA players have a higher salary guaranteed for next year.

Still, Davis chose free agency and the Clippers, who would have about $10 million in salary space if they renounce their rights to free agent Corey Maggette, began targeting Davis today, according to the team source.

The team could also find more cap space if they resign Elton Brand to a lesser annual price than the $16.4 million he was owed next season before he also opted for free agency Monday.

Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy was in New York and met with free-agent point guard Beno Udrih last night. But Udrih resigned with the Sacramento Kings this afternoon, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Clippers other main target for point guard, Jose Calderon, resigned with the Toronto Raptors.

Davis, a Los Angeles native, played in all 82 games last season for the Warriors, averaging 21.8 points and 7.6 assists.

Maggette has been contacted by several NBA teams, including the Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz regarding his availability -- according to a source close to him who requested anonymity because negotiations are still in the early stages.

Also, the Clippers denied to offer Shaun Livingston a qualifying offer today, making him an unrestricted free agent.

"The Clippers have expressed an interest in re-signing him," said Henry Thomas, Livingston's agent.

Thomas added that he expects interest around the league in Livingston even though he is still rehabilitating from a serious knee injury. He declined to specify what teams had contacted him.

Celtics offer MLE to Maggette

mikey p — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:02:52 -0000

Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/07/celtics_make_of.html

The Celtics have made contract offers to two forwards: Their own free agent, James Posey, and Clippers free agent Corey Maggette, sources told the Boston Globe. The most the Celtics could offer is the mid-level exception (about $5.8 million), and it's doubtful that they could sign both players. The terms of the offers were not disclosed.

Posey averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 2007-08 and was a NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate in his first season with Boston. The two-time NBA champion was a strong leader for the Celtics and opted out of the second year of a two-year deal on Monday to become an unrestricted free agent. Maggette averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds last season for the Clippers and played for Celtics coach Doc Rivers in Orlando during the 1999-2000 season.

Baron: "Clipps r possible. G State is where I wanna b."

mikey p — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:52:56 -0000

from ESPN

In his first public statement on his unexpected foray into free agency, Baron Davis acknowledged Tuesday that he is considering a free-agent move to his hometown Los Angeles Clippers but insisted that his preference remains staying with the Golden State Warriors.

Communicating with ESPN.com's J.A. Adande via e-mail, Davis wrote: "Clipps r possible. G State is where I wanna b."

Davis surprised the Warriors on Monday by forfeiting next season's $17.8 million salary for the right to become an unrestricted free agent, after numerous indications from the Davis camp that he was not likely to opt out.

Elton Brand likewise opted out of next season's $16.4 million salary with the Clippers on Monday to join Davis as an unrestricted free agent, creating a scenario in which L.A. could have in excess of $25 million for the 2008-09 campaign to split between the two of them, so long as the Clippers are willing to renounce their rights to unrestricted free agent Corey Maggette and able to convince Brand to take a slight pay cut.

Maggette also opted out of his contract Monday after averaging 22.1 points per game this past season.

But Davis' statement Tuesday suggests that he is hoping his decision to opt out will convince the Warriors to return to the negotiating table after making little progress with Golden State in pursuit of a contract extension before NBA free agency commenced at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Davis, though, isn't the only point guard on the Clippers' wish list. Sources said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was in the New York area over the weekend and stayed over Monday to meet with Beno Udrih of the Sacramento Kings at the first allowable minute, with Udrih coming off a strong first season with the Kings and expected to cost roughly half what Davis would.

NBA teams are permitted to commence negotiations and strike verbal agreements with free agents, with actual signings and trades on hold until a leaguewide moratorium is lifted July 9.

Brand and agent David Falk insisted that their decision to forfeit next season's $16.4 million salary and allow Brand to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career was designed to give the Clippers more payroll flexibility to strengthen the team around the face of its franchise.

Falk told ESPN.com that a visit to Boston for Game 2 of the NBA Finals to see the Celtics' triumvirate of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen was Brand's spark.

"He watched what happened when a few stars get together and agree to have a communal effort," Falk said. "He said, 'That's what I'd like to accomplish in my career.' "

Signing Davis away from the Warriors would certainly supply the Clippers with elite anchors in the backcourt as well as the front line, provided that Davis continues to stay healthy after playing all 82 games this past season and if Brand continues to recover from an Achilles tear that limited him to just eight games in 2007-08.

Davis, 29, was the key figure on a Golden State team that halted a 12-season playoff drought in 2006-07 and produced a historic first-round upset of the 67-win Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs. He then averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds playing every game this past season, but the Warriors just missed out on a second consecutive playoff berth despite a win total (48) exceeded by only three teams in the Eastern Conference.

Davis has repeatedly professed his desire to establish long-term roots in Oakland and responded angrily last Wednesday to suggestions that he wanted to be traded, telling ESPN.com: "I know what's in my heart and the people in the Bay Area know what's in my heart."

But it's believed that Davis is not only frustrated by his inability to reach a long-term agreement with the Warriors but also somewhat unsettled by the fact that Golden State still must re-sign young cornerstones Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins and has coach Don Nelson under contract for only one more season.

"[Opting out] was a difficult decision, to say the least," Ramasar said. "The past couple years, he's had a lot of success with the Warriors, and I think they've had a lot of success with him.

"But he had gotten to the point that we were at a crossroads and it was something we had to address. ... With no extension or deal in place ... [opting out] was a bit unexpected but something that I advised Baron to do."

The Clippers appear to be the only realistic free-agent destination for Davis if his opt-out gamble doesn't lead to a new round of contract negotiations with the Warriors or if he can't convince Golden State to participate in a sign-and-trade. Memphis and Philadelphia are the only other teams with cap space to offer, and neither is expected to pursue Davis.

The Warriors, meanwhile, weren't commenting Monday night, so it was not immediately known whether they plan to return to the negotiating table or if they're willing to let Davis go -- despite Golden State's success since pairing Davis with the freewheeling Nelson -- and press ahead with their growing youth movement and the cap space that would be created by Davis' departure.

Golden State let a $9.9 million trade exception -- created by the 2007 draft-day deal that sent Jason Richardson to Charlotte -- expire Monday in part to ensure that it would retain the flexibility beneath the luxury-tax line to match any offers to restricted free agents Ellis and Biedrins. The Warriors also have stockpiled a promising group of youngsters behind those two 22-year-olds: Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli and last week's first-round pick, Anthony Randolph of LSU.

MDSr. meets with Udrih

mikey p — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:03:36 -0000

From Jonathan Abrams, LA Times http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/clippers/la-sp-clippers1-2008jul01,0,1092404.story

...the Clippers took the first steps in filling their gaping hole at point guard. Coach Mike Dunleavy met late Monday with free-agent Beno Udrih, of the Sacramento Kings, in New York to discuss a multiyear deal. They also are expected to contact the Raptors' Jose Calderon, who is a restricted free agent, meaning Toronto can match any offer made to him.

EB seems to be in favor of this: "We're definitely playoff contenders with the pieces we have," Brand said. "There are guys like a Beno Udrih or someone like that, solid at the point guard spot, because we don't really know Shaun [Livingston's] situation and Brevin [Knight] is the only point guard we have on the roster right now, but I think we're fine."

They also are expected to contact the Raptors' Jose Calderon, who is a restricted free agent, meaning Toronto can match any offer made to him.

Maggette to Orlando??

mikey p — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:09:35 -0000

Story claims Corey tells "friends" that he wants to play for Magic.

First there was this story in the Orlando Sentinel:

Orlando Magic may make move for Maggette http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-magic3008jun30,0,3269777.story

It talks about how Corey's parents live in the area and how he would love to return, even for the mid-level.

Not long after, there was this from the Sentinel's Magic blogger:

Maggette Move Unlikely As Strapped Magic Bargain Hunt http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2008/06/maggette-move-u.html

So, for what is is worth, Orlando would be interested in Maggette, but cannot afford to pay him. Unless, of course, he is open to playing next to Rashard Lewis, a player who Corey is at least on par with, for 1/3 of what Lewis is being paid.

That would be funny. I'm calling BS on Maggette to Orlando.

Shaun Livingston will become a free agent next week when the Clippers decline to tender him a qua...

mikey p — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:34:29 -0000

Shaun Livingston will become a free agent next week when the Clippers decline to tender him a qualifying offer and is still rehabilitating from a devastating knee injury.

LA Times

More on Gordon

mikey p — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:54:43 -0000

Day after stuff

Ian Thompson, SI: My own guess, based on conversations with league personnel executives, is that O.J. Mayo (No. 3 to Minnesota, then dealt to Memphis), Eric Gordon (No. 7 to the Clippers) and D.J. Augustin (No. 9 to Charlotte) are three guards who will make an impact over the next few years.

A couple of executives named Gordon as a shooting guard capable of becoming a prolific NBA scorer. "He has an NBA body already," said one. Added the other: "When it's all said and done, he's going to be one of the top two or three players in this class. One thing he can do is score and get to the foul line. The pro game is suited for him."

"also has detractors who say ... that Gordon is one-dimensional and lacks handling skills..."

Chad Ford, ESPN: The Clippers have a huge hole in their backcourt and Eric Gordon will really help them there. He can be a star: He is strong, can shoot the long ball and can be a tough defender. I'm not sure he's ready yet, but he'll have to be. With Corey Maggette hitting the free-agent market, the Clippers need Gordon to be good.

I'm not sold on Gordon. He's a good shooter and an excellent athlete, but he lacks two important things: a midrange game and size. Since L.A. also needed a point guard, I think D.J. Augustin would've been a better pick.

LA Daily News: "We've hoped, way back (during the college basketball season), that we'd be able to get get him. We've targeted him for a while," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He's a great fit for out team, he'll be able to stretch the defense, and he can attack the rim. We think he can make an impact right away."

Most NBA scouts compare him to Chicago's Ben Gordon.

"He's 6-foot-3½, but when we had him in here and saw how wide his shoulders were, it was clear he plays a lot bigger than that," Dunleavy said of Eric Gordon. "He's got double-wide shoulders."

He's also incredibly athletic. At the NBA pre-draft combine in Orlando, Gordon was one of only five players with a 40-inch vertical leap. He also ran the third-fastest three-quarter court sprint (3.01 seconds) since they've measured that at the combine.

Dunleavy said the Clippers drafted Gordon as a shooting guard. If he's able to play point guard, Dunleavy said, it would be a bonus. But Gordon said he's more than ready to take the reins at the point.

"I'm equally comfortable (at point guard)," Gordon said. "I played a lot of shooting guard at Indiana, but I usually play point guard. I've played there all my life, I just didn't show that in college.

"I know some people don't think I can play point guard on the next level, so I guess I'll have to show that I can."

Either way, it was exactly the result the Clippers had hoped for. Before the draft, they'd settled on Westbrook and Gordon. If there was a chance to trade up for Mayo, they would haved considered it.

LA Times: And with both (Gordon and Bayless) still there, was there any debate?

Both Dunleavy and Baylor chuckled.

"No," they both said.

OC Register:

Dunleavy said Gordon was probably a top 3 pick until he hurt his left (non-shooting) wrist last season and his production dropped off.

"But we had him in for workouts, his hand was healed and he looked great, shot the ball incredibly well, with range. All the things that we thought he could do, he showed us he can easily do. He is a great fit for our team," the coach said.