Joe Johnson...the Clippers are waiting!

[ClipJoint]

The fun and gun season has ended and you can now come to the Clippers! We are waiting with open arms.

 

[RobFunk]

I still can't believe the celtics drafted this guy.

I guess that's what we do over here, draft good players and claim we're trying to 'build on the draft' and then let the rest of leauge have our good players.

I would appreciate Billups and Jhonson back

 

[dmmd98]

What Boston fans weren't happy with the way Kenny I got car payments to make during the lockout Anderson and R. Rogers played. Pitino gave up on Billups way too fast. If Boston got lucky in that draft they could of got Duncan and McGrady instead they got jobbed out of the 1st pick and ended up with Mercer and Billups, that's a tough break

 

[RobFunk]

I was pretty sure Billups was going to be good. He was an exciting young player to me.


JJ, that is a total suprise. But he may just be product of a system, although he produced last year, then again the Suns had nobody last year.

 

[royalfan]

It was a little tough to tell that Billups would blossom into such a tough clutch big game player at that time. The Celtics have been a little unlucky to go along with bad decision making.

 

[ClipJoint]

He may just be a product of the system and no one should expect him to match his numbers in Phoenix...but he is very versatile and can play 1, 2, or 3. He obviously has a great offensive game.

The question I have (and there is no way of knowing on this team) is if he can play defense. He is going to demand a HUGE salary and that is tough to give to a player not having a complete game.

I know the Clippers want him bad, but they also have Simmons and Maggette at his spot. I look for the Clippers to deal Maggette in the off season and go after Ray Allen and Joe Johnson hard.

 

[WildBill]

The Clippers can have him. Not worth busting the budget for a good, hard-working player, but one that has no upside. JJ is a vital cog to the Suns this year, but I think they realize if they max out JJ now they will be stuck without any resources to fill out the roster. The team will just learn how to play without him and pick up a guy with some size and ball handling skills, but maybe a little less offense. The guy you gave us last year, Q, needs to model his game more after JJ and he will be worth the money the Suns spent on him.

 

[RobFunk]

I have to agree with WB.

My take is actually that he is a very nifty player, who does'nt pose a firm physical presence in half court sets.

The more up tempo the game and helter skelter things are, the better he gets.

He is not worth paying big bucks for

 

[FatTony]

He may just be a product of the system and no one should expect him to match his numbers in Phoenix...but he is very versatile and can play 1, 2, or 3. He obviously has a great offensive game.

The question I have (and there is no way of knowing on this team) is if he can play defense. He is going to demand a HUGE salary and that is tough to give to a player not having a complete game.

I know the Clippers want him bad, but they also have Simmons and Maggette at his spot. I look for the Clippers to deal Maggette in the off season and go after Ray Allen and Joe Johnson hard.

I've been a Clipper fan for 15 years, (live in NJ), they are not spending that money! They have to sign Simmons first, then have to decide what to do with Wilcox and then they have to spend money on Wright or whoever in the draft.

Rumor was, they would go after Johnson to get back at Phoenix for signing Richardson, but seeing Donald Sterling spend money on a free agent is right up there with spotting Big Foot. He'd rather spend it on hookers, if you remember.

 

[ClipJoint]

That was the case until last year...he opened up the pocket book for Brand and Maggette. They let Richardson go without matching that offer which was a great move. Simmons was a much better all around player than Richardson and they got him for dirt cheap.

They had a deal that fell through for Ray Allen earlier this year when they were going to send Maggette and Wilcox.

I think this will be a great off season for them and signing Simmons is their top priority. If they can deal Maggette, they can pay Johnson the money they would have used on him. They will take the guy from Europe if he is still around when they pick and he won't get a huge contract. For the first time in a long time, they don't need the player they draft to play. They are pretty set and by adding one big free agent they are a playoff team without question.

 

[royalfan]

That was the case until last year...he opened up the pocket book for Brand and Maggette. They let Richardson go without matching that offer which was a great move. Simmons was a much better all around player than Richardson and they got him for dirt cheap.

They had a deal that fell through for Ray Allen earlier this year when they were going to send Maggette and Wilcox.

I think this will be a great off season for them and signing Simmons is their top priority. If they can deal Maggette, they can pay Johnson the money they would have used on him. They will take the guy from Europe if he is still around when they pick and he won't get a huge contract. For the first time in a long time, they don't need the player they draft to play. They are pretty set and by adding one big free agent they are a playoff team without question.

They seem like they have a bunch of good players, but to win you need someone that is truly great. I don't think paying a max or close to max contract to JJ is the answer.

 

[dmmd98]

The Clippers will only start winning when Livingston becomes a star and that isn't likely going to happen next year. He is the key to the whole deal there. Hope he can manage to play a full season cause without him LA still doesn't stand a chance in the West

 

[ClipJoint]

I am not sold either as I would prefer Ray Allen. But there is no denying they are pretty set even without any additions. I would love a more dominant big man, but Kaman should be solid if healthy next year:

C- Kaman
PF- Brand
SF- Simmons
SG- Maggette (or FA signing of Allen/Johnson)
PG- Livingston

Livingston is a future star and it might even be next year. If he didn't get hurt this season, this was a completely different team.

I would like to see them trade their 1st round pick for a veteran since we don't need anymore youth or "projects". Wilcox and Maggette can be packaged to bring in a veteran as well. It will be interesting to see what they do.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas is available but with his injuries in the past and his age, I don't think the Clippers are going to spend what it would take to land him. There are still Curry and Chandler from the Bulls (Chandler would love to come back to LA), Stromile Swift, and Dalembert also. I don't see the Clippers landing any of these guys, but there is always the possibility.

 

[TescoVee]

The only reason the Donald actually spent the money on Maggette and Brand was because they were below the league min salary. They had to spend it on somebody.

Then they gave a late chase to Gilbert Arenas when he was all but delivered to the Wiz.

Clipps are a joke. The Donald will make his money regardless of the teams losing ways and that is all he cares about.

They will probably draft another PF since they seem to collect them.

 

[ClipJoint]

They will always be profitable which Sterling has proven year after year. But he has never matched offers in the past or opened his wallet, but who did he have that we should have paid for?

They didn't need to go after Arenas but they actually made a better offer than Washington. I was surprised that we didn't end up with Arenas. I am glad we didn't get him though, that is for sure. There are only so many shots to go around and Arenas has proven he needs more shots than anyone else. He is one of the most selfish point guards in the league. Maggette, Brand, and Simmons would not get near enough shots. Now we have Livingston at point guard and he is a true point guard.

Who should they have paid? Odom? :lolBIG:

This is the first group that has actually been worth spending on. Now if they let Simmons slip out of their grasp, I will agree he is being a tight wad again. But I think he realizes this group is signed for multiple years and adding one more piece to the puzzle will allow him to become the #1 attraction in LA now that the Lakers have slid so far down.

 

[TescoVee]

He should have paid for good coaches and a GM over the years if he was serious.


I actually like Dunleavy though.

 

[WildBill]

They should be a playoff team next year (providing no lockout), but that isn't saying much. Seattle will be greatly weakened and Memphis aint much to beat out. Still that lineup they have doesn't scare anyone and they have a long way to go to be better than even Dallas. Then it will come time to commit even more to the young core and watch Sterling start letting guys walk. Typical Clippers stuff. As for being a big draw don't fool yourself. Maybe they will get a little more exposure, but LA won't come with full support until they are championship contenders.

 

[ClipJoint]

Don't fool myself? They already have one of the top attendances in the NBA. We can't put in extra seats.

I have been a season ticket holder for several years...I don't really want our prices getting up there with the Lakers anyway.

Saying the Clippers making the playoffs isn't saying much is laughable. They have only been to the playoffs 3 times since I became a fan over 20 years ago:

1992, 1993, and 1997

A playoff appearance would be a huge step in the right direction with such a young team.

 

[royalfan]

Golden St. will be vastly improved to provide more competion out west. Minny will likely be better somehow too.

 

[ClipJoint]

The West will be brutal again next year. There is no way the Lakers will be as bad. Golden State will be tough as you said, and Minnesota with Garnett will find better pieces to their puzzle than Sprewell and Cassell.

I think it will be a big accomplishment if the Clippers can find a way to make the playoffs and give the organization a much needed shot in the arm.