Clippers Basketball | Love The Game

[SuperNova854]

Nova's Mock Draft 2.0 (Picks 15-30)


[*]= Indicates last weeks rank

Team Needs: The Pistons are a franchise at a crossroads and so they will be a tough team to predict, but could probably use the most help in the frontcourt.
Why This Player: Rumors have been flying on if the Pistons need to rebuild. Plus, Rasheed Wallace is unlikely to return to the team next season making Clark a perfect pick for them. He can play the three or the four.

Team Needs: With Derrick Rose now the franchise's centerpiece, Chicago will look for talent that will fit best around him, especially on the wing and possibly even at point guard.
Why This Player: The Bulls don't really need a upgrade at any position. They are a young team that is hungry for a championship. Getting Johnson will give them a nice combo forward that surprisingly has great speed for a man of his size.

Team Needs: Regardless of what happens to Andre Miller, the Sixers need a young, true point guard.
Why This Player: The Sixers need a true point guard that can contribute immediately. Lawson fits in perfectly for the ball club and can make an instant impact coming of a NCAA Championship.

Team Needs: The Wolves have a nice foundation with Jefferson and Love up front, but need upgrades at both backcourt positions.
Why This Player: Williams is an athletic guard/forward that can contribute to any team instantly. He can go from anywhere from the 7th pick to the Hornets at 21. After snagging Tyreke the Wolves will need another athletic guard to help in the backcourt.

Team Needs: The Hawks will likely look for a point guard again this year, but will also be compelled to look at center prospects.
Why This Player: Mullens can go as early as 12, but many teams will likely pass on Mullens because of his limited action at Ohio State. He has tons of potential and could maybe push Horfod back to his natural power forward position one day.

Team Needs: The Jazz are likely to look at the power forward position in the draft, but could also select a backup point guard.
Why This Player: Hansbrough might be a stretch here as Hansbrough's stock has plummeted over the last couple of weeks. But, with Boozer likely leaving the Jazz this offseason the Jazz will need all the help they can get at the power forward position.

Team Needs: A high-level scorer at the wing position is a definite need for the Hornets, who rely on Chris Paul for everything on the offensive end.
Why This Player: With Williams likey gone, the Hornets could go with Ellington. Although the Hornets will most likely sell this pick like in the past, Ellington is a high scoring guard and can be a huge future threat in the league one day.

Team Needs: The Mavericks need to get younger in the backcourt and will look at both the point and shooting guard positions.
Why This Player: The Mavericks have said that they have liked Calathes, but with a player like Maynor still on the board, it will hard to not go with him. Maynor was dominant at VCU this season and will be a great future replacement for Kidd.

Team Needs: The Kings are set at shooting guard and center, but would particularly like a point guard.
Why This Player: After snagging Rubio at four, the Kings will likey look to update their backup SG and SF positions. Budinger can play the two and the three, and even some of the four.

Team Needs: The Blazers have depth and talent at every position, but would welcome more options at point guard, small forward and a pit bull of a power forward.
Why This Player: With no real power forward available the Blazers will likely go with Daye because of his height and defensive capabilities. He can be turned into a threat and if he worked out more he could be a threat at the four too.

Team Needs: With the core set around Durant, Green and Westbrook, the Thunder need high quality bigs and a shooting guard.
Why This Player: With no center being worthy of a 1st round pick left the Thunder will look to update others positions, such as the small forward. Claver was predicted to be a lottery pick if he went to the 2010 draft and could be a huge steal for the Thunder here. They could always keep him in Spain for a coupe years so he could develop some more.

Team Needs: With Derrick Rose now the franchise's centerpiece, Chicago will look for talent that will fit best around him, especially on the wing and possibly even at point guard.
Why This Player: The Bulls have reportedly shown alot of interest in Sam Young. Young can be a versatile player and could help at the small forward position for the Bulls. The Bulls could also take Calathes or Collison here.

Team Needs: The Grizzlies will likely draft the best players available to them with their picks.
Why This Player: Brown is a special player. He can play both forward positions and can shoot the lights out. He would be an excellent backup for Rudy Gay.

Team Needs: The Grizzlies will likely draft the best players available to them with their picks.
Why This Player: With DeMarre Carrol's stock dropping the Wolves would take the bets player available. Summers didn't have that great of a year at Georgetown but can still develop into a great player..

Team Needs: Depending on what they expect to happen to Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza in free agency, the Lakers will need to potentially need to address the small forward position. Regardless, they need more help on the wings.
Why This Player: Calathes had a great season for Florida last year and could contribute to the Lakers alot. It would help grow their young nucleus even more.

Team Needs: The Cavaliers will probably focus on prospects that can make an immediate impact in 09-10.
Why This Player: Gibson is just the athletic power forward the Cavs are looking for. He will be an instant impact for the team.

[SuperNova854]

I can't believe I forgot Budinger and Ellingotn in my first mock lol

[SuperNova854]

The thing about Daye is, that he looks good at first, but when you start to see his workouts and his strength, he doesn't look as good any more. He is like a mcdonalds bickmack burger. Int he commercials, ti looks so luscious and tasty and awesome. But when you take that first, and unfortunately your last, bite, you realize it was a fraud, and everything you ever dreamed of wasn't real. You see what I'm saying?

[SuperNova854]

i might have some updates later. ive been busy

[SuperNova854]

Clippers Take Griffin #1


The Los Angeles Clippers selected University of Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin with the number one overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, held this evening at the WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A dominant power forward and a commanding physical presence, Griffin was the consensus National Player of the Year following his sophomore season. The Naismith, Wooden and AP Player of the Year, Griffin averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for the Sooners.

“Obviously, we are extremely excited with the selection of Blake,” Clippers General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “The night of the lottery, when we got the lucky bounce that we had hoped for, it was jubilation. We are getting and incredible player and an incredible person with an impeccable work ethic.”

The 20-year old Oklahoma City native dominated college basketball last season, winning every major postseason player of the year award. Griffin led the nation in rebounding (504 rebounds) and double-doubles (30) and helped the Sooners advance to the Elite Eight in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

“Blake is a guy who we plan on having in L.A. for many years to come,” Dunleavy said. “We think he is going to be a great, exciting addition to our ball club.”

The 6-foot-10, 251 pound Griffin was named to the All-Big 12 Team as a freshman in 2007-08, and continued to improve last season, finishing second in the nation in field goal percentage (.659) and 11th in scoring (22.7 ppg). Griffin’s 504 rebounds last season was the highest season rebound total in college basketball since Larry Bird grabbed 505 boards in 1978-79.

“We are pleased with the player Blake is right now,” Dunleavy said. “And we are also really pleased with his upside.”

[SuperNova854]

Lawler's Law: The first team to 100 points wins the game.
by Ralph Lawler - Thursday, June 25, 2009 @ 5:38 pm


Today marked the third in the Clippers' 25 years in Los Angeles that the team owned the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. There was no hesitation, no consternation, no deliberation this time. They didn’t need the league allowed five minutes to decide. Head Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy immediately barked into the hot-line phone to New York : "BLAKE GRIFFIN."

It took the league the full five minutes to announce the pick to a nationwide TV audience, but the local draft room was filled with smiles and handshakes.

When Commissioner David Stern announced the pick on ESPN, the Clipper Draft room erupted in happy applause. The coach immediately went on the air on ESPN and then moved downstairs to address the local media. He was clearly anxious to get back upstairs where he hoped his day’s work was not over.

The team would love to acquire a later pick in the first round. It was clear the ballclub was not in a "Salary Dump" mode. They turned down more than one opportunity to give up a salary without getting substantial basketball help in return.

But this is now official, the consensus College Player of the Year from Oklahoma will be a Clipper. No. 1 in the land has reason to be surprised. Some say this is a one-man draft. While that may be something of an over statement, but Griffin is the one sure thing in the 2009 Draft.

Blake Griffin will be in Los Angeles on Monday to greet the media.

The team was headquartered in the sparkling new Training Center in Playa Vista. A large throng of media was clustered downstairs on the basketball court while the upstairs conference room was packed with the team’s brain-trust headed by team President Andy Roeser, Dunleavy, his top aide Neil Olshey and his full basketball staff. Club owner Donald T. Sterling and his family were on hand in addition to the Clipper training and medical staff.

The TV cameras were whining away when it was time for Dunleavy to announce his pick. It is a vision that will serve this team well for many years to come.

[SuperNova854]

The Griffin Era Underway in L.A.


NEW YORK -- Blake Griffin went No. 1 and then the Draft really started.

Griffin going first to the Los Angeles Clippers was a no-brainer. Second is where the fun began Thursday night and where Ricky Rubio began to fall. Memphis, rumored to be possibly dealing its pick, snapped up Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet at No. 2. "I was surprised," admitted Thabeet, who recently canceled a workout for the Grizzlies.

Oklahoma City went for backcourt help, but away from the Spanish phenom and selected Arizona State scorer James Harden third. It was thought Rubio wouldn't get past Sacramento at No. 4. No dice as the Kings opted for Memphis guard Tyreke Evans.

Rubio sat through it all with a nervous smile as his sizable buyout from Spanish club DKV Joventut grew more daunting. Minnesota finally gave the 18-year-old showman reason to exhale with the first of the Timberwolves' four first-round picks. Rubio is trying to negotiate down the reported $6.6 million buyout. (The difference in salary on a rookie contract between the second and fifth picks is about $3.2 million over the three-year life of the deal.) "If necessary, I'm going to pay the buyout," Rubio said. "We are closer to an agreement with [Joventut], so we are going to see."

Other first-round notables included Golden State snapping up Stephen Curry at No. 7, one spot before New York, and Tyler Hansbrough going higher than expected to Indiana at No. 13. Brandon Jennings, initially not in the Green Room because concerns he was falling in the Draft, ended up going 10th to Milwaukee. Jennings made his way to the WaMu Theater from his hotel not long after.

Knicks fans in attendance at the theater voiced their displeasure in a way only New Yorkers can when Curry went off the board. The NCAA scoring champ from Davidson could have been a perfect fit for Mike D'Antoni's system. The local rowdies were somewhat pacified with Arizona power forward Jordan Hill at eighth. "That type of crowd, if they don't get what they want," Hill said, "they will give a couple of boos. But there was some that wanted me."

The first round proved point guard heavy, with 12 playmakers going in the first 27 picks. Minnesota took three -- Rubio, Jonny Flynn and Ty Lawson -- but is trading Lawson to Denver. Depending on what happens with a pair of free-agent starters in Philadelphia and Atlanta, Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague, respectively, may take over the quarterbacking duties sooner rather than later.

The Clippers never wavered on their decision to select Griffin after bucking the odds to win the ping-pong derby 37 days ago. Now all the consensus collegiate player of the year has to do is play like top pick in the Draft and jumpstart the lottery regulars. Griffin joins a team with a logjam in the frontcourt, but the Clippers will make room. "Hopefully I can bring something they don't have," Griffin said. "I know they have a lot of great players, but at the same time I'm excited about the opportunity."

While the Draft took center stage, there's been plenty of trade activity outside of Madison Square Garden lately. Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson headlined the changes of address in a series of seemingly one-sided trades that are reshaping contenders going into next season.

The biggest, in terms of sheer size and quote-ability, is Shaq's arrival as LeBron James' new sidekick in Cleveland. When the Cavaliers fell short of the MVP Finals, it was obvious the MVP needed more help. The question is whether James gets enough from a 37-year-old who experienced a career rebirth last season and is also headed to his fifth team. "It is a really unique and rare opportunity to bring in a player of Shaq's caliber," Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry said. "We are excited to see how his presence, experience and play positively impacts our team."

The Magic knocked James and the Cavs out in the Eastern Conference finals, and they're not standing pat. Carter, one of the top shooting guards of the past decade, is headed to his hometown of Orlando for a package that includes starters Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee. The defending champion Lakers are also siege in the West, as rival San Antonio added a high-scoring complement to Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker in Jefferson.

The Clippers likely won't be challenging their cross-town neighbors right away, but Griffin is a start. The 6-foot-10 All-American follows Derrick Rose (Chicago) as the latest No. 1 pick in the 44-year history of the Draft. The Clippers would be quite content with Griffin following in Rose's footsteps as the rookie of the year. Other notable top selections in recent years include LeBron (2003), last season's defensive player of the year (Dwight Howard) and perennial All-Star Yao Ming (2002).

The Clippers just have to hope their fortunes have turned around from previous No. 1s. L.A.'s other franchise selected Michael Olowokandi in 1998 and Danny Manning in 1988. Not exactly the Spurs' luck in snagging David Robinson in 1987 and Tim Duncan a decade later.

Griffin isn't concerned with the Clippers' checkered history and limited success -- they've made the Playoffs only four times since moving to Los Angeles in 1984. Instead, the first Oklahoma product to go No. 1 is ready to be part of the brighter days ahead. "I am. I'm not worried about anything that's happened in the past," said Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds during his second and last season at OU. "I wasn't a part of that. A lot of the guys that are there now weren't a part of it. We're only looking forward to the future."

[SuperNova854]

Monday, June 29, 2009

The Clippers Introduce Blake Griffin


The Los Angeles Clippers held an introductory press conference for No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin at the team's Training Center in Playa Vista, CA on Monday, June 29th.

CLIPPERS HEAD COACH MIKE DUNLEAVY:
"Thank you all so much for coming. This is a very exciting day for us. We finally have the opportunity to introduce Blake [Griffin] to the city of Los Angeles. The greater news is that we were in the gym Saturday and this morning, and things went very well. This is the first off-season that we have had this training facility open for our young guys like Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor and Al Thornton. I cannot say how happy I was to be in Barcelona scouting and to hear the news of the Clippers getting the first pick in the draft. Hearing that allowed me to sleep easily and to head back home. We are very excited to add Blake [Griffin] to our team and happy to have his parents here in support of him as well."

[SuperNova854]

Blake Griffin Photos
[media]http://www.nba.com/media/clippers/bgpc_090629_14.jpg[/media][media]http://www.nba.com/media/clippers/bgpc_090629_16.jpg[/media][media]http://www.nba.com/media/clippers/bgpc_090629_17.jpg[/media][media]http://www.nba.com/media/clippers/bgpc_090629_19.jpg[/media][media]http://www.nba.com/media/clippers/bgpc_090629_20.jpg[/media]

[SuperNova854]

The Clippers Introduce Blake Griffin


The Los Angeles Clippers held an introductory press conference for No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin at the team's Training Center in Playa Vista, CA on Monday, June 29th.

CLIPPERS HEAD COACH MIKE DUNLEAVY:
"Thank you all so much for coming. This is a very exciting day for us. We finally have the opportunity to introduce Blake [Griffin] to the city of Los Angeles. The greater news is that we were in the gym Saturday and this morning, and things went very well. This is the first off-season that we have had this training facility open for our young guys like Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Mike Taylor and Al Thornton. I cannot say how happy I was to be in Barcelona scouting and to hear the news of the Clippers getting the first pick in the draft. Hearing that allowed me to sleep easily and to head back home. We are very excited to add Blake [Griffin] to our team and happy to have his parents here in support of him as well."

bump this up

[mike3]

I'm looking forward to next season, Clippers are gonna be a cool team

[SuperNova854]

Griffin Set To Play In Summer League


Blake Griffin is ready to get to down to business. The top pick in June's Draft has a busy few months ahead, starting with the NBA Summer League later in July in Las Vegas. Griffin will headline the Clippers’ entry, as 21 NBA teams head to the desert to put their rookies to the test and continue the search for those who can contribute next season.

“I’m going be to be working out as hard as I can,” Griffin said. “You know, Summer League, I'll be there, and I'm also going to the USA trials at the end of July in Vegas.”

Griffin won’t be the only one putting in extra time. Drafts and free agency collide each summer, as players from both ends of the spectrum look to make their mark before the start of a new season. There’s no time to mess around. Summer League is not only the first opportunity to watch the prizes of the Draft compete under NBA conditions, it also gives many free-agent hopefuls a second and third chance to stick. In many cases, the 10 days of Summer League action are an open audition.

In addition to Griffin, nearly the entire Top 10 of the Draft will be in Vegas. Memphis (Hasheem Thabeet), Oklahoma City (James Harden), Minnesota (Jonny Flynn), Golden State (Stephen Curry), New York (Jordan Hill), Toronto (DeMar DeRozan) and Milwaukee (Brandon Jennings) are fielding Summer League teams. The one notable missing name there: Ricky Rubio, the Spanish sensation, whose name is not on the Timberwolves' Summer League roster.

The 21 teams will be joined by an NBA Development League select squad. The entire 55-game Summer League schedule, running from July 10-19, will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of UNLV.

Though teams have yet to finalize rosters, here are 10 potential games to watch when the action tips off just a few blocks from the Strip:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 11
Golden State vs. Sacramento (COX Pavilion): Combo guards Curry and Evans take top billing in this battle of Northern California rivals.

July 12
Minnesota vs. Houston (COX Pavilion): Without Rubio, the Wolves will get to see if Flynn can generate as much buzz and help boost the Minnesota attack.

Oklahoma City vs. Memphis (COX Pavilion): The second and third picks, Thabeet and Harden, square off.

July 13
Phoenix vs. Dallas (COX Pavilion): The Suns drafted Earl Clark, the long and athletic forward from Louisville. Those are the same adjectives used on Mavs point guard Rodrigue Beaubois.

L.A. Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers (Thomas & Mack): Top pick Griffin gets his first crack of many to come against the crosstown champs.

July 14
Washington vs. Cleveland (Thomas & Mack): The Cavs ended the first round with swingman Christian Eyenga. The Wiz didn’t keep any picks.

July 15
New York vs. Detroit (COX Pavilion): The Knicks are running with high-energy forward Hill, while the Pistons, who fired coach Michael Curry on Tuesday, try to prove that they didn’t reach for Austin Daye.

July 16
Toronto vs. Milwaukee (COX Pavilion): DeRozan vs. Jennings is another treat from a Draft loaded with backcourt talent.

July 18
Portland vs. San Antonio (Thomas & Mack): The Blazers always stock their team with up-and-comers. The Spurs’ Draft haul includes second-round steal DeJuan Blair.

July 19
L.A. Clippers vs. Phoenix (Thomas & Mack): Summer League ends with a curtain call from Griffin.

[SuperNova854]

Clippers agree to deal Randolph to Grizzlies for Richardson


By David Aldridge, TNT Analyst
A week after the Los Angeles Clippers backed out of a proposed trade that would have sent forward Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Clippers have changed their minds and will now agree to the deal, with newly acquired Memphis swingman Quentin Richardson going to the Clippers, TNT's David Aldridge reports. The deal can't officially be announced until next week.

The deal would clear a logjam for the Clippers' frontcourt. The team was determined to make room for its first-round pick, overall number one selection Blake Griffin, but playing time was split up between Randolph, center Chris Kaman and forward/center Marcus Camby. It was believed that Randolph, with his low-post skills, was the safest of the three, because halfcourt basketball is the preference of Coach Mike Dunleavy. But Kaman's contract, with an expensive trade kicker, may have made him more difficult to deal.

The trade probably wouldn't have been made if the Clippers hadn't won the Lottery, but they did, and Griffin's presence signals a likely change to a more up-tempo attack in Los Angeles next season.

The 27-year-old Randolph averaged 20.8 points and 10.8 rebounds last season, playing the first 11 games in New York and 39 in Los Angeles after being dealt by the Knicks in a package for Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas. It was the second straight season Randolph averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds.

It's a low-risk deal for Memphis, which hasn't had a legitimate low-post option since dealing Pau Gasol to the Lakers in that often-vilified deal in early 2008. But that deal brought forward Marc Gasol, Pau's brother and the team's starting center last season, and the other pieces in the deal ultimately led to the Grizzlies getting a draft pick in last week's draft that turned into Pittsburgh forward Sam Young. Young was one of three solid picks in last week's draft, along with center Hasheem Thabeet and forward DeMarre Carroll.

Milicic, signed as a free agent last year, has been turned into Randolph.

The deal also makes the Clippers yet another team that could be a player in the summer of 2010. With the final two years and $33.3 million of Randolph's deal off their books (Richardson has one year at $8.7 million left on his contract), Los Angeles will only have a little more than $36 million committed in team salaries, including Griffin's second-year salary of $4.4 million, for 2010.

The Grizzlies changed potential players in the deal to make it work. Last week, they had offered forward Marco Jaric for Randolph, but with two years and $14.7 million left on his deal, he wouldn't have given the Clippers with the potential to get involved in 2010 that Richardson's contract provides, and owner Donald Sterling nixed the deal.

Richardson, 29, has seen his production fall off in recent seasons. He averaged just 10.2 points in 72 games for New York last season. The Grizzlies traded center Darko Milicic to the Knicks last week for Richardson, but there was no place for him in Memphis with O.J. Mayo well set at the shooting guard spot and Rudy Gay the incumbent at small forward. Richardson spent his first four seasons with the Clippers after being drafted by Los Angeles in 2000.

[SuperNova854]

sickness, Dionte Christmas is on the Clippers summer league roster. Another update coming.

[mike3]

Good trade for Clippers, Q-rich is past his best yeah but hopefully he'll find some old form for LA