Clippers Basketball | Love The Game

[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

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers Set 2009 NBA Summer League Roster

Second year players Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and Mike Taylor will be joined by Blake Griffin, the first pick in this year’s NBA Draft, to form the nucleus of the Los Angeles Clippers’ entry in the 2009 NBA Summer League, presented by EA SPORTS.

The league will be comprised of 21 NBA teams competing from July 10-19 at two venues in Las Vegas; the Cox Pavilion and the Thomas and Mack Center, both on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

The team will hold a three day mini-camp at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista on July 10th, 11th and 12th prior to leaving for Las Vegas on July 12th. The Clippers roster and schedule for the 2009 NBA Summer League are listed below:

# Player POS HT WT BORN FROM YRS.

33 Sean Banks F 6-8 210 01/20/85 Memphis 0
21 Dionte Christmas G 6-5 205 09/15/86 Temple 0
10 Eric Gordon G 6-3 215 12/25/88 Indiana 1
32 Blake Griffin F 6-10 251 03/16/89 Oklahoma 0
9 DeAndre Jordan C 6-11 265 07/21/88 Texas A&M 1
22 Marcelus Kemp G 6-5 210 05/18/84 Nevada 0
7 Kyle McAlarney G 6-0 195 07/07/87 Notre Dame 0
24 Nik Caner-Medley F 6-8 240 10/20/83 Maryland 0
54 Kevinn Pinckney C 6-10 245 12/12/79 Nevada 1
4 Mike Taylor G 6-2 166 01/21/86 Iowa State 1

Summer League Head Coach: | Kim Hughes, Wisconsin
Assistant Coach: | Fred Vinson, Georgia Tech
Head Athletic Trainer: | Jasen Powell, Cal Poly Pomona

Predicted Rotation

POS | Starting | Bench PG: | Mike Taylor | Kyle McAlarney
SG: | Eric Gordon | Marcelus Kemp
SF: | Dionte Christmas | Sean Banks
PF: | Blake Griffin | Nik Caner-Medley
C: | DeAndre Jordan | Kevinn Pinckney

2009 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS NBA SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE

July 13: vs. Lakers 5:30 PM Thomas and Mack Center
July 14: vs. New Orleans 7:30 PM Thomas and Mack Center
July 16: vs. Memphis 7:30 PM Thomas and Mack Center
July 18: vs. Washington 5:30 PM Thomas and Mack Center
July 19: vs. Phoenix 7:30 PM Thomas and Mack Center

​

 

[The Messenger]

Damn you got Sean Banks and McAlarney. Hopefully they make the team so I can pick them up on 2k10.

 

[mike3]

There's a lot of good rookies on that team.

yeh i see what you mean

 

[SuperNova854]

Clipper Summer League team will pwn.

 

[SuperNova854]

Im hoping the Cliippers can land a good SF in FA. We can offer the MLE and now have a 7 mil trade exsception.

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers Sign Blake Griffin

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed rookie forward Blake Griffin, the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

A dominant power forward and a commanding physical presence, Griffin was the consensus National Player of the Year following a sophomore season where he averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for the Sooners.

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.

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.

Griffin is a member of the Los Angeles Clippers’ entry in the 2009 NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports. The Clippers begin summer league play on Monday, July 13th vs. the Lakers in a game played at the Thomas and Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, tipping off at 5:30 PM.

Griffin’s line is as follows:

32 Blake Griffin F 6’10” 251 3/16/89 Oklahoma R​

 

[mike3]

Can't wait to see how Blake will do in his rookie season.

yeh same here

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers Receiving Calls About Camby

Marcus Camby recently met with Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, who revealed to him that a number of teams have inquired about his services.

"A lot of teams have been calling. He was up front with me," said Camby. "A lot of teams are calling and asking for my services. A lot of contenders are looking for different pieces to add to their team, especially the way the economy is going and with the salary cap."

Camby has an expiring contract that will pay him $9.15 million in 2009-10, but ultimately doesn't believe that the Clippers will trade him.

"I actually talked to Mike a few days ago, and he asked me about free agents," Camby said. "It looks like I'll still be there. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but he made it seem like I was still going to be around."​

 

[SuperNova854]

Richardson/Randolph Swap Delayed a Week

The Grizzlies made a nice little profit in the move but will need another week before executing the agreed-to Quentin Richardson/Zach Randolph trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

First, the multi-team deal needs to be finalized by players passing physicals with their various teams. Once the league gets acknowledgment from all four, the deal is truly complete.

(Note that on occasion teams waive physicals, taking on unhealthy players for financial reasons.)

After given the green light, Memphis will take advantage of the $2 million buy-out built into Stackhouse's contract.

During the offseason it takes seven days for a player to clear waivers. Once done, the Grizzlies and Clippers will get on a conference call and complete their agreed to swap of Richardson and Randolph.

While technically Memphis can make the Clipper deal today, a number of sources say the team doesn't want to temporarily lock up their cap space while waiting for Stackhouse to clear waivers.

Currently the Grizzlies are negotiating with free agent guard Allen Iverson, needing that financial flexibility to sign him.

The Clippers appear content to wait a week while Memphis takes care of some housekeeping.

HOOPSWORLD has been told the Memphis/Los Angeles deal isn't in any danger and will be completed in about a week's time.​

 

[SuperNova854]

Tony Brown Named Assistant Coach

The Los Angeles Clippers today added coaching veteran Tony Brown as an Assistant Coach to Head Coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy’s staff.

Brown joins the Clippers after last serving as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2007-08 campaign. This will mark Brown’s third stint under Dunleavy, serving as an assistant coach on Dunleavy’s staff in Portland (1997-2001) and as an advance scout in Milwaukee from 1994-97. This also is a return to the Clippers for Brown, who averaged 4.7 points in 22 games played for Los Angeles during the 1991-92 season.

Overall, Brown has spent 11 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, serving a three-year stint with the Boston Celtics (2004-07), before joining the Bucks in 2007. Prior to his three-years in Boston, Brown served as the lead assistant to Kevin O'Neill in Toronto (2003-04). He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons from 2001-03. During his time with the Pistons, the club registered back-to-back 50-win seasons, captured two Central Division titles, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003. Brown’s time in Portland saw the Trailblazers make four straight post-season appearances as well as two consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances (1999 and 2000).

In seven seasons as an NBA player, Brown split his time with nine teams, finishing with career averages of 6.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 359 games. His best statistical season came in 1986-87 with New Jersey when he averaged 11.3 points in 30.4 minutes per game. The University of Arkansas product was a fourth-round draft choice of New Jersey in the 1982 NBA Draft.

Brown also played in the Continental Basketball Association (Lancaster Lightning, Ohio Mixers, Kansas City Sizzlers and Albany Patroons) and overseas with Reggio Emilia in the Italian League (1992-94).

Brown joins returning Clippers assistant coaches Kim Hughes and Fred Vinson.

Clippers.com​

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers first game of summer league is today. Can't wait.

 

[James2Stapleton]

Griffin just beasted

11-15 fg 27 points 12 rebounds

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers talking to A.I.

The makeover of the Los Angeles Clippers may include a former scoring champion.

The team is in "very serious" talks with Allen Iverson on a contract, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported on Sunday that Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, while still hopeful of signing Iverson, regards the Miami Heat as the "odds-on favorite" to land the former MVP. The Charlotte Bobcats were also reported to have interest.

Iverson is a 10-time All-Star who has led the league in scoring four times. He has averaged 23.5 points and 5.4 assists per game over his 13 seasons but posted a career low 17.4 ppg average last season.​

A bad back limited Iverson to 57 games last season between the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons. He was also embroiled in controversy when he bristled at coming off the bench for Detroit.

The Clippers may be prepared to offer their full mid-level exception of $5.8 million on a one-year contract. The Grizzlies are reportedly willing to offer something in the same neighborhood, but the Heat are thought to be interested in paying him less than half of that figure.

The Clippers drafted Blake Griffin with the first overall pick in this year's NBA draft. They also traded forward Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies for swingman Quentin Richardson.

 

[SuperNova854]

Vegas Notebook: Camby, Gordon like idea of A.I. in L.A.

LAS VEGAS - Center Marcus Camby is ready to help recruit free-agent guard Allen Iverson to his Los Angeles Clippers.

Camby played with Iverson in Denver during the last half of 2006-07 and for all of 2007-08. When Camby was traded last July to the Clippers, Iverson was disappointed, and four months later he joined Camby in being dispatched by the Nuggets.

"I would," Camby said Monday from the NBA Summer League about his willingness to recruit Iverson, who is being courted by the Clippers. "It'd be a great opportunity for the Clippers (to land Iverson)."

While Iverson, who turned 34 last month and is coming off a disastrous season with Detroit, clearly isn't the same player he was when Camby played with him, the center said not to sell him short.

"I still feel like he's got a lot left," Camby said of Iverson, looking to command a salary for around the midlevel exception of $5.854 million. "I know he wants to come back and bounce back from the season he had last year. Whatever organization gets him will have a Hall of Famer. ... Lots of people say he had a down year and he's lost a step or two. But that guy has a lot of heart. You can never question that."

While Clippers assistant coach Kim Hughes acknowledged he's "heard some things" about his team going after Iverson, he doesn't yet know how close a deal might be. Memphis and Miami are also believed to be in the mix for Iverson, who averaged 17.5 points last season, well below his career average of 27.1.

"I don't know what numbers," Hughes said of Iverson's contract demands. "I've heard from various teams one-year. I don't know what are the teams that can sign him."

If it turns out to be the Clippers who throw Iverson a life preserver, guard Eric Gordon believes he wouldn't have a problem fitting into a backcourt with Gordon and Baron Davis.

"Iverson, he's a Hall-of-Fame type of talent," Gordon said. "You know, if we get him, that'd be fine. That'd be good. ... He should (fit in well)."

If the Clippers need somebody to help recruit Iverson, Camby is ready.​

 

[SuperNova854]

Griffin finishes with 27 points, 12 boards

LAS VEGAS -- Los Angeles Clippers center Blake Griffin didn't wait long Monday night to show why he was the top pick in last month's NBA draft.

Griffin scored seven points in the opening 75 seconds of the Clippers' first NBA Summer League game and finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 93-82 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Right now, just like everyone else, I'm trying to show my coaches and teammates what I can do," Griffin said. "It was just another game. I was relaxed. I hadn't played a game in months, so it was nice to get back out there."

With NBA commissioner David Stern sitting courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center, the 6-foot-10 Griffin went 6 of 6 from the field in the first half and didn't miss a shot until the third quarter. He finished 11 of 15 from the field and played 29 minutes.

"That was really cool," Griffin said of Stern being in attendance. "It shows he cares about how I play and wants to pay attention to me."

Griffin, who led the NCAA last season with 30 double-doubles for Oklahoma, couldn't have asked for a better start to his professional career.

He opened with a layup off a pick-and-roll on the Clippers' first possession, banked in a 12-foot jumper on the second and buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key on the third. The outburst gave the Clippers a 7-2 lead and they never trailed.

"That is something I have been working on, something I didn't get to do much of in college," Griffin said of his 3-pointer.

Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 points for Oklahoma as a sophomore last season, had seven points in the third quarter as the Clippers extended their 11-point halftime lead to 71-52.

"I'm not surprised he made all those shots," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, who did not coach the summer team but was a very interested observer at the game. "I watch him go 8 of 10 every day from five spots on the court.

"He handled the pressure tonight very well, but that was not a worry. The kid comes to play every day."

Griffin did show some minor flaws. He missed his first three free throws and finished 4 of 8 from the line. He had five turnovers.

With Griffin resting for the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, the Lakers cut their deficit to 12 points.

Griffin re-entered the game and tipped in a missed shot on the Clippers' first possession to spark an 8-2 run that got the lead to 18 points.

Eric Gordon finished with 21 points for the Clippers and DeAndre Jordan added 16.

Adam Morrison led the Lakers with 20 points.
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