Back to the old days
OK, who out there remembers that spring two years ago when it was the Clippers, not the Lakers, who owned L.A.?
Not that it was such an important milestone since the Clips would soon re-cross it, going in the direction they had come from, after rising from decades of ignominy to reach the second round of the 2006 West semifinals and putting Phoenix on the ropes.
They’ve been rolling and tumbling ever since. It’s still not like their old Dark Ages but if they don’t handle things right, a round trip won’t be out of the question.
Reconfigured as this season’s team is after the mysterious loss of Elton Brand and the departures of Corey Maggette and Shaun Livingston, talent isn’t the problem.
With Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby and last season’s rookie find, Al Thornton, they may even still have a shot at the playoffs if everything works out spectacularly.
Of course, everyone in the West has the same problem with all eight slots appearing to be spoken for by the Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Rockets, Mavericks and Trail Blazers.
In addition, the Clippers have one problem no one else has: Themselves, which is to say their front office, which is really to say madcap owner Donald T. Sterling.
Before reverting to type last season, Sterling was coming off the best years of his career as an NBA owner, which coincided with the hiring of coach Mike Dunleavy.
Investing in Dunleavy as he had never invested in anyone, Sterling gave his coach control of the entire basketball operation to go with a four-year, $22 million extension – more than the rest of Donald’s coaches had made put together.
Arriving at a good time in 2003 with profits flowing and a roster loaded with good young players, Dunleavy took them into the second round, where no team in the history of the franchise in Los Angeles, San Diego or Buffalo had ever been… Where they were about to take a 3-1 lead until Raja Bell tied Game 5 with a three-pointer with :01.1 left in the first overtime in Phoenix.
The Suns won in double overtime and ultimately put them away in Game 7 back in Phoenix, ending the Clipper Spring, amazing as it was with their TV ratings eclipsing those of the Lakers, whom the Suns had ousted in the first round.
Jack Nicholson even came to Game 5 in Phoenix, although Brand joked later, noting the fact they had lost, “We’re not sure Jack will be invited back.”
It was good they enjoyed it because it soon ended. They missed the playoffs in 2007 when Sam Cassell turned back into an old man after his salary drive the year before and Livingston was lost after his devastating knee injury.
Last season was a disaster before it started with Brand tearing his Achilles tendon, but that was just the start of their problems.
With nothing to do but endure this disaster, Sterling turned back into Donald Sterling, targeting Dunleavy in one of the rare interviews he granted, telling the Los Angeles Times’ T.J. Simers he might “make changes.”
Dunleavy, fearing he was being punked in the eyes of his players, fired back, daring Sterling to fire him, dropping hum the owner’s Seventh Circle of Hell.
Sterling put Dunleavy on ice, refusing to accept his apology or even take his calls – which posed a problem since Mike was running things, assuming anyone was.
I guess you can see why Donald doesn’t do more interviews.
Aside from undermining his coach, it had been totally meaningless. With Dunleavy’s $22 million deal kicking in, Sterling wasn’t about to fire him if they lost the rest of their games and they came close enough, going 6-26 after the All-Star break to finish 23-59.
They paid a horrible price for their dysfunction. At the trade deadline, the Clippers were close to agreement with Memphis on what would have been a companion deal to the Grizzlies’ trade that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers. This one would have sent Mike Miller to the Clippers for the expiring contracts of Cassell and Aaron Williams and their No. 1 pick.
The principals were down to how much lottery protection the draft pick would get but Sterling refused to OK it.
Dunleavy couldn’t even talk to his owner on the telephone. The request had to be forwarded by team president Andy Roeser. With Sterling always reluctant to give up draft picks who work so cheap, it died there.
Only then did Sterling reconcile with his coach.
Things picked up last spring when the Clippers got lucky with Baron Davis, who had always wanted to come home and was at loggerheads with the Warriors over a new deal. However, no sooner did they sign Davis then they lost Brand.
What happened may always be a mystery. Everyone’s favorite Clipper, Brand set new standards for loyalty and service in seven seasons with them (although he tried to leave in the only other chance he had, signing an offer sheet with Miami in 2003 and begging Sterling not to match it).
Dunleavy, with whom Brand had been close, said Elton helped recruit Davis, volunteering to take less money to make it happen. Brand and his agent, David Falk, acknowledged Elton made a verbal deal with Dunleavy – which, Falk pointed out, was a violation of the CBA.
Whether it was Falk who turned him, Brand definitely turned on the Clippers during negotiations, refusing to return their calls and using their offers as a wedge to get more out of Philadelphia, even as the Clippers promised to renounce as many players as they had to to beat the 76ers’ offer.
Now Dunleavy is picking up the pieces, yet again. Happily, he has some good pieces which lend themselves to a new uptempo style, rather than playing half-court basketball and pounding the ball inside to Brand and Kaman.
However, they’re in fast company and this will also require stability in their front office.
Mark Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
The Clippers should move out of L.A….This is a Lakers town and they should never have come here in the first place.
ERIC YOUNG Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
I MUST COMMENT ON THE ABOVE STATEMENT THAT THIS IS A LAKER TOWN….FIRST OF ALL YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY THERE ARE 2 TEAMS IN LOS ANGELES AND I PERSONALLY WITNESSED HOW YOU LAKER FANS JUMPED ON THE CLIPPER WAGON WHEN THEY WERE WINNING A FEW YEARS BACK AND THE LAKER FANS WERE IN STAPLES WITH EX LAKER FAN SIGNS……SO WHEN YOUR LAKERS GOT BOOTED YOU DID HAVE THAT OPTION..
1Clipperfan Said,
September 25, 2008 @ 10:07 pm
You must obviously not remember the true “Sterling of old”. To say that Sterling is reverting back to his old ways because he called out his coach when the team was having a bad season? And the Memphis trade that didn’t happen? Come on! The Clippers had a great draft pick this year, and to say that the only reason they kept it was because the player’s cost is cheap is flat out ridiculous. Further, if the Clippers would have taken on Miller’s contract they would not have been able to bring in Baron Davis this offseason. I’d much rather have Baron Davis than Mike Miller, wouldn’t you? To assume that every time the Clippers don’t pull the trigger on a deal it’s because the owner is cheap is just flat out ignorant.
The Clippers aren’t the team that’s at the league’s salary minimum like they had been in the past. They have fielded competitive teams since Dunleavy has been coach and have just had some bad luck with injuries. But that should hopefully be minimized with their brand new practice facility, a state of the art center for Clippers players to train, practice, and rehabilitate in. They have top of the line equipment that most other teams do not have yet, and this is all provided as a promise from Donald Sterling to Mike Dunleavy when Dunleavy was signed on as a coach. The center is set to open before the season begins.
tim legler Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 1:54 am
Baron Davis is not a Mike Dunleavy type of player (i mean Dunleavy Snr, but of course Jnr would also agree). It will be amusing to watch Dunleavy’s expression as BD shoots up low percentage 3 point shots early in the shot clock instead of following dunleavy’s scripted plays. Of course, BD will also ignore the coach as he vents on the sideline .
burakov Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 7:36 am
remember magic (earvin johnson) with dunleavy? how about sam casell? they run script not dunleavy.
Capital Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 8:07 am
tim, I cant imagine Sam Cassell being much of a Dunleavy scripted plays kinda guy either back in their playoff run. So, Dunleavy has taken a team somewhere with a Shoot First Point Guard in the past, why cant he do it again??? Baron is still a 10 assist / per game player and having Camby and Kaman in the block and setting picks for him jumpin all over the boards as well, The Clippers should be very interesting to watch this season… hey… speaking of shot selecion, dont forget they got RICKY davis too…. haha need i say more?
MISER Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 8:28 am
How can something be written about the 2008-2009 Clippers and there not even be a mention of the former 6th man of the year runner up, Ricky Davis? Should he get his due off the bench he should certainly be considered for that same award this season. Don’t discount his positive energy with this group.
space Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 8:45 am
how many times are we going to hear stories of management making something personal and not doing what it truly takes to win? being an ass to your players, staff and coaches is a franchise killer.
stuckey Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Mark - the Clippers owned Los Angeles two seasons ago? You are out of touch. They had two more wins over the Lakers. Also in those playoffs the Lakers were closer to beating the Suns in the first round than the Clippers ever were in the second round. The Lakers were leading 3-1 in that series with Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Luke Walton. The Clippers were NEVER ahead of the Suns.
I’m from L.A., and the only ppl that ever thought the Clippers owned L.A. are the three thousand delusional Clipper fans and the bozos who write for the L.A. Times.
Hey, how can you talk about Clipper failures and IGNORE bringing up Elgin Baylor. He has been the general manager for 22 years, and has had two winning seasons. If you say that he has no decision making power because of Sterling, than that just makes him look even worse. He is collecting a fact pay check to make some of the worse decisions in sports franchise history, or even worse, just watching those decisions being made from the sideline.
I dare you to write that story.
Carter Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
the clippers will still blow next year and not make the playoffs yet again. Why are you guys even arguing about this one?
opsrus Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Clippers have become stronger. They lost players to whom they would have to overpay and collected several good underpaid players. So they have Baron, reasonable rooster and cap space. Compliments to their GM.
Kos Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
They need to move and have their own identity. A fresh start so they can hopefully erase the stigma of losing that seems to be associated with the franchise.
Dee Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
they will be better then the blazers
BD > Roy
Kaman > ALdrige
Clippr4evA Said,
September 26, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Now that J-will retired they might as well scoop Shaun Livingston back up .
Clippers revamped their roster drastically and all praises go to the gm for summer moves
Edwin B Said,
September 27, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
Why is it a mystery that Elton Brand left? A player who is any good bolts the Clippers the first chance he gets. Cassel, Brand, Magette. Just wait a few years, Kaman and Thornton will be out the door when they get their chance. The Clippers aren’t an NBA franchise, they are a prison. Clippers fans, just do me one favor: stay Clippers fans. That’s the worst possible thing I could wish on you.
theunderdogg1965 Said,
September 27, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
Everyone is talking like the clipp’s are not even competitive, these are not the clippers of old, We(the clips) have a good team and for the past 4 years weave held our own, Thy should stay right where they are right here in L.A. I wonder how many teams think they are just going to come in to L.A. and get an easy victory? Now that would be the clippers of old.
Friend of Don Said,
September 28, 2008 @ 1:05 am
Would someone please give me three reasons Dunleavy should be respected. Two season’s ago was due to Cassell, not Dunleavy. Elton Brand learned to just shut up and play, waiting for the day to get out –he would tell Dunleavy anything just to get him to shut up and now we know he did. Dunleavy squadered one of the best players I have ever scene — Corey Maggette. If Dunleavy was such a great coach Maggette would have realized his potential instead of leaving with an inferiority complex. Donald was sold a bill of goods. He should give control to a good basketball man — but that is not Dunleavy. If Larry Brown had been given the control Dunleavy has abused the last few years this frachise would have turned around years ago.Kaman, Brand, Davis Maggette, Al Thornton and a coach who knows how to win. It would have been beautiful. Bring back Cassell as coach.
space Said,
September 29, 2008 @ 8:20 am
the only reason they would have more wins than the blazers is because they have more vets. thats it. they are not good. the franchise sucks and they consistently make BAD moves. they went out of their way to add tim thomas. as if he was the missing championship piece? get real. then they completely abandon livingston? elton brand left for a reason. he nearly jumped ship to miami before they had the good season.
players jump ship because something is going down.
baron probably does not know what he got into.
space Said,
September 29, 2008 @ 8:46 am
they can compete, but for what? the final playoff spot so they can lose to the number #1 seed. fans see through that veil really easily. camby, kaman, thorton, davis, ricky davis, with thomas, gordon, mobley & jason williams and who else off the bench? —SO exciting.
compete for mediocrity. have fun.
STEVE Said,
September 29, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Didn’t the Clippers explore the possibility of moving to Orange County a few years ago? I believe it was the Pond. They would have attracted OC and San Diego fans which would have helped refresh their brand (but the “loser” stigma remains). I guess Sterling, being a real estate gazillionaire, knew somthing that we did not or he is hands down the most stubborn and clueless owner in all of professional sports.
stuckey Said,
September 29, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Under the management of Elgin Baylor, the Clippers have consistently underachieved. Every year take a look at the talent they have, and then take a look at their record. The losing environment that consistently comes from Elgin only makes his players under perform and lack team skills.
Fire Elgin!
stuckey Said,
September 29, 2008 @ 11:38 am
Elgin Baylor picked Michael Olowokandi as the NUMBER ONE PICK IN 1998.
stuckey Said,
September 29, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Michael Olowokandi over all stars Antawn Jamison, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, and Vince Carter. He could have had Mike Bibby or Rashard Lewis.
Lets take a look at some of the recent draft picks under the worst General Manager in Sports Franchise History (remember, these are first round picks and most are lottery):
no pick in 2006 traded
Yaroslav Korolef in 2005 (has anyone heard of this guy?)
Shaun Livingston in 2004 over Andre Iguadala, Luel Deng, Josh Smith (he is too skinny for high school basketball)
Chris Wilcox and Melvin Ely in 2002 over Amare Stoudimire, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer (he missed out on two all star forwards for two cupcakes)
Tyson Chandler at No 2 in 2001 for Elton Brand (a solid guy that even Elgin could figure how to screw up)
Darius Miles in 2000 (elgin is horrible at analyzing character)
Lamar Odom in 1999 (became a free agent as soon as possible)
Maurice Taylor in 1997 (a flop)
Lorenzen Wright in 1996 over Kobe, Steve Nash, Peja Stoyakovic, Jermaine Oneal, Derek Fisher (how stupid can you be?)
Antonio McDyss at No. 2 in 1995 for Rodney Rodgers on draft day (ouch, that would have gotten most gm’s fired on the spot)
Lamond Murray in 1994 (instant bench warmer)
Terry Dehere in 1993 (crash and burn)
trust me, it gets alot worse ( you older fans look it up for some quick laughs)
don’t get me started on his trades!
space Said,
September 30, 2008 @ 9:10 am
the clippers have done some amazing crap. i have to defend wilcox though —he got the shaft and lost his game riding the bench behind brand for 3 years. but olowakandi was too big of a question mark to take with your number 1 pick.
mrod Said,
October 1, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
the clips have a solid team
PG Baron Davis
SG Cuttino Mobley
SF Al Thornton
PF Marcus Camby
C Chris Kaman
————————
PG/SG Eric Gordon
SG/SF Ricky Davis
SF Steve Novak
PF Tim Thomas
C Brian Skinner
And not to forget Jason Hart and other rookies Mike Taylor and DeAndre Johnson.
They have a star, a great defender, a strong center, three point shooters, up and coming youngsters, and role players.
stuckey Said,
October 2, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
the clips have talent, so do the new york knicks…
stuckey Said,
October 2, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
Mark, come on don’t be chicken $#!^.
Someone write the story on Elgin Baylor. He has the worst record of anyone in sports, but I’ll I hear is what a great GM he is. His teams have consistently underachieved. They have only had two decent (I woundn’t even call them good) seasons. But if you look at the talent on those teams, they underachieved. I guess their is something to celebrate if you have a better record then the Lakers, but what did they get out of it. One first round loss and one second round loss in the playoffs. He has had many lottery picks but the Clippers never benefit. Even when they get a high draft pick that is a no brainer, the player doesn’t really develop until they are on another team. It must suck to be a Clipper fan.
Wake up.
Hey even the Charlotte Bobcats have potential.
reidz Said,
October 19, 2008 @ 7:53 am
Why don’t they move to Seattle?