Clippers Basketball | Love The Game

[SuperNova854]

Clippers to Meet with Wafer

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy asked free agent guard Von Wafer to come to L.A. Tuesday to meet with him.

"My agent called and said I am going to have lunch with Coach Dunleavy and the Clippers (Tuesday)," Wafer said in an interview Monday with FOX 26 Sports. "So I'm very excited and very happy."

After being with five teams in four years, Wafer was finally able to play meaningful minutes as a member of the Rockets and show what he can do coming off the bench.

He played in 63 games, starting 11 and was sixth on the team in scoring at 9.7 points a game. However, his play last season has not translated into the type of contract he was looking for. The Clippers invitation couldn't have come at a better time.

"It means a lot because it's been a tough time," Wafer said. "This free agency has been real difficult for me to deal with. It's just real stressful. I'm just ready for it to be over.

"At the same I want to get a situation that's best for me and my family. Just because I'm tired and upset doesn't mean I go out and do something. I've got to be patient."

Wafer believes part of his problem is how he is portrayed by the media and on the internet.

"I read all the comments that people make. They say I'm a weak defender. I feel I need to work on that. That's good.

"But it just irks me every time I always see he's a good player or he's an OK player, but he's a head case. That's just something that bothers me because I don't understand where people could get that from. I don't understand."

Wafer knows some of the negative speculation about him probably stems from his disagreement on national television with Rockets head coach Rick Adelman during game two of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adelman was in the process of replacing him on the floor and Wafer didn't act appropriately. Adelman sent Wafer to the locker room for the rest of the game.

Wafer apologized the next day for his actions and again during this interview.

"I'm sorry that it happened," Wafer said. "There was a lot of tension in the air and I'm a very emotional player and sometimes I do things without thinking. In that instance it was wrong what I did.

"I wasn't trying to show up Coach Adelman. I was just upset because I really wanted to be in the game. It didn't look good and I can understand where Coach Adelman was coming from. He has to do what he did. I didn't mean it that way and I just think it got blown all out of proportion."

While Wafer will meet with the Clippers Tuesday, he is still hopeful he might be able to return to the Rockets.

"This is where I want to be," Wafer said. "They gave me my first opportunity. I want to be here."

But if that's not possible, and the Clippers make him an offer, Wafer could be changing addresses again.​

 

[SuperNova854]

Wiz, Clippers two teams poised for a breakout season

The NBA just released the schedule for the upcoming season and you know what game caught my attention? Not the Shaq-Kobe-LeBron hook up on Christmas, but Dec. 14, when the Wizards head to L.A. to play the Clippers.

Only Sacramento had a worse record than the 19-win Wiz and Clips last season, but the Kings were supposed to be awful, with that basically D-League roster they trotted out every night. Washington and L.A. were supposed to be better than that. Yeah, both teams faced serious health issues all season -- Wiz starters Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood played a combined eight games, and the Clips rarely had their team at full strength -- and four of the Clips' top six players were new to the squad. But 19 wins was just deplorable.

I see change on the horizon, though. When both squads meet up in mid-December we might be watching two teams on their way to 50 wins.

Check these seven-man rotations. The Clips can come with two physical guards (Baron Davis and Eric Gordon), three bigs (veterans Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman and top pick Blake Griffin), with Ricky Davis and Al Thorton on the wings. Even in the stacked West, that's a tough squad. The Wiz will play three All-Stars (Gil, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison), a stopper (Deshawn Stevenson), one of the better young combo guards in the league (Randy Foye), a long-range bomber (Mike Miller), a rising scorer (Nick Young) and a center (Haywood) that can average close to a double-double. Both rosters are among the league's 16 best -- period. That means what? Playoffs. Yeah, I said it.

Everyone should be scared about a motivated Davis. Last season was a humiliating homecoming. I wrote a SLAM magazine feature on him before the beginning of last season's nightmare. Although the Elton Brand-to-Philly flip-flop was still stinging a bit, our conversations were full of optimism. He was intent on putting the Clips on the map.

Then the season happened. Nobody was more embarrassed than Davis. He's out to right wrongs now, and that means trouble for the league's point guards. Some folks may have forgotten that, when healthy, Davis is a top 15 player.

Then there's Gordon, fresh off Vegas runs at the Team USA mini-camp and owner of one of the prettiest jumpers in recent memory. Gordon is one of those dudes that can get off his shot on anyone, at any time. And the cat isn't even of drinking age yet. When you have two potential 20-point scorers in your backcourt and back that up with two big men that compliment each other (Camby's the defender, Kaman's the scorer -- both hit the boards hard), then you can see why I don't even have to add Griffin to the equation. Griffin could be a bust and this team would still be battling with Phoenix, New Orleans, Utah and the other squads that will beef for the last few spots in the West.

Meanwhile, back East, we're about to get reaquainted with one of the most unique talents and personalities of the decade. Who misses Agent Zero? I do. From 2004-08, Arenas was right up there with Kobe, D-Wade and 'Melo as a scorer. He averaged 26, then 28 and then 29 ppg. A torn MCL has derailed him the past two seasons, but the talk is that he's back to his old self. And he may not be the best player on his team.

Butler (aka Holy Caron, bka Tough Juice) is one of the most underrated players in the league. He can score every way, hit up a squad for 40 and shut down his opponent while he's at it. Between him and Stevenson, Washington has swag to spare.

Washington, on paper, is kinda frightening. I spoke with one Eastern conference exec a few days after the Wizards pulled off the Minny trade for Foye and Miller and he said plainly, "If those guys can stay healthy, that's an elite team." I didn't disagree.

If you're looking for a squad that can surprise everyone -- a la last season's Orlando -- check for these two squads. Their '08-09 campaigns were forgettable. Next season should be one to remember.​

By Vincent Thomas, NBA.com

 

[SuperNova854]

We're gonna spank that ass.

:dito:

 

[James2Stapleton]

wafer signed with olympiakos

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers trade second-round pick to Hornets for Butler

The New Orleans Hornets, in a move to shed some payroll after the recent acquisition of Emeka Okafor, have agreed to trade swingman Rasual Butler to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second-round pick, according to NBA front-office sources.

The trade is expected to be announced later Wednesday.

Butler is scheduled to earn $3.9 million next season. With the Clippers looking for an extra shooter and depth at both shooting guard and small forward, sources said the team was amenable to absorbing the final year of Butler's contract, which will save New Orleans nearly $8 million when factoring in the luxury-tax implications.​

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers Closing In On Sessions

The New York Knicks reportedly came close to a deal for Ramon Sessions a month ago.

Now the Los Angeles Clippers appear to be near an acquisition of the Bucks' restricted free-agent guard.

Clipper coach Mike Dunleavy is not commenting on the subject.​

 

[Macken]

making big moves.. sessions will be a good pickup

 

[SuperNova854]

Yep, hoping we can get him.

 

[SuperNova854]

NBA Star Warns Over Stolen Laptop

A laptop containing "a variety of private images" of NBA star Baron Davis has been stolen and the athlete's lawyers are threatening legal action if the material is published. Counsel for the the Los Angeles Clippers guard, a two-time All-Star and novice film producer, yesterday sent news outlets a letter threatening legal action over the personal photos, videos, and audio stored on the computer. Davis's counsel reported that the laptop theft has been reported to police, who are "investigating the matter." The photos and videos "depict, among other things, a variety of private images of our client, his associates and his colleagues," wrote lawyer William J. Briggs, II. Davis "had a reasonable expectation of enjoying total privacy with regard to the images," Briggs added. The 30-year-old Davis, who earns about $12 million annually, recently produced "Crips and Bloods," a documentary about the nation's most notorious street gangs.​

 

[SuperNova854]

Former Clipper Accused of Pizza Joint Beatdown

He was hungry for some pizza -- but a man who happened to be dining at the same restaurant as NBA star Zach Randolph last year says the basketball star dished out an asskicking! But wait! According to Zach, it could be a shake down. Or a Shakey Down.

A guy named Gary Ferguson has filed a lawsuit against Randolph, claiming the former Los Angeles Clipper beat the crap out of him on a night when the Clips got beat down on the court.

It all went down inside Berri's Pizza Cafe in L..A. -- where Randolph allegedly "verbally and physically threatened" Gary before "attacking" the guy.

Gary's lawyer claims his client walked away with damaged teeth, a messed up neck and back, a knee injury that will require surgery, and scars on his face.

As for Zach -- his lawyer, Raymond Brothers, tells us he met with Gary's lawyer who first demanded $250,000, then $200,000 and finally $25,000.

Brothers says Gary's own lawyer said Gary was "out of control" and just wanted a quick payout. Brothers says it was a shake down and he walked out, only to get a call from Gary's star witness, who said the case would go away quick if he coughed up some dough. Brothers told her to pound sand.​

By TMZ

 

[James2Stapleton]

lol
randolph want pizza

 

[SuperNova854]

Haha, hopefully more updates soon.

 

[SuperNova854]

Baron Davis Q&A

Baron recently had a roundtable discussioin with Dena, Ramona Shelburne and Mark Medina. Here are a few questions that were asked.

MM: What do you think of the offseason acquisitions?

BD: I think it makes us faster and I think it makes us scrappier. When you look at a team like the Denver Nuggets and the success that they had or a team like Orlando, they were scrappy. This is a league now where people are playing fast-paced basketball, and I think that last year we didn't play at the same pace. We played slow, we were very methodical, we played predictable and we didn't create any points off the hustle or off of steals. You can't look and place the blame on one person. Coach and I talked and he was definitely not happy with the job that we did or how we performed. We both take the blame for that: him as the leader of the team and right behind him is me.

DBK: What are Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan doing to improve?

BD: Eric is great. I got a chance to player-coach him at Tim Grgurich's basketball camp in Vegas last week. Eric looks good. His game has gotten better. Eric and DJ are young. There are a lot of things that they still have to learn, and it's funny for me to say that. I've been here 11 years, and I'm sure there was a lot I had to learn my first and second years in the league. Basically they're young and there's a lot they have to learn. The main thing is they have to work and they're putting in that work. That's the most important thing.

DBK: Can you talk about what somebody like Blake Griffin brings to the team?

BD: I love Blake. I love him. The one thing I love the most about him is his personality. I like people who have fun. He's fun to be around. I think we have a team of great personalities and I think he's going to bring a lot of that. You can tell he just has a natural leadership and it's going to be great to be a positive light in his career. He's the kind of guy who I can talk to about all of the things that I did right and all of the things that I did wrong to prepare him to walk into this greatness.

RS: The team is really young this year. You just turned 30. Is it weird to think of yourself as one of the older guys?

BD: Outside of Marcus (Camby) and Ricky (Davis), yeah. And I consider myself to be very young. I just think that it's a new wave of young guys coming into the league, and I'm not that far removed from what they're going through. I'm in my prime. We're all in a good position. We're a young team. Turning 30 was a little difficult for me. Looking at where I was in life and where I was in my career, and for me, growing up I never thought I'd be alive at 30. I've been smiling ever since I turned 30. I've been smiling. I realized that there are things that I can't do at 30. It's a lot different, even just with the preparation. This summer I started working out a lot earlier and just make sure that I get more rest. It's important that I not go out and play pick-up games all of the time or try to play five-on-five. That's the whole reason why I'm going back to the basics and back to fundamentals; it's recognizing the things that you need as you get older that's going to keep you fresh and give you a leg up on the younger guys that are coming in. I think from doing everything from coaching that I could capitalize on all of that. The young guys will figure it out when they're turning 30.

 

[Macken]

great write up and very in-depth

 

[SuperNova854]

Baron Ready To Move On From 'Bad Dream'

Baron Davis didn't enjoy a successful first season playing for the Clippers in his hometown.

He struggled with injuries, showed frustration and his team limped to one of the worst records in the NBA.

"It was like a bad dream," Davis said, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. "I don't know who that was last year. It was like a bad dream that you wake up from and you can't really remember, but you're like, 'Damn, I hope that never happens to me again.'

"Once the season was over, that was the last I was going to think of it. I mean, I can't even tell you where or how, or at what point (it all went wrong), it was just like a bad dream."

In addition to putting in a lot of work at the gym, Davis has worked to repair his relationship with Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy.

"We watched a lot of tape. You know, just kind of getting in his brain. Things that he went through as a player, players that he played with," Davis said. "Just getting a better construction of who he is. I don't think that we gave ourselves an opportunity last year to really know each other. We were trying to make it up on the fly, which is tough.

"Neither one of us really got to know each other. But I think all that is behind us now. And it feels good. It feels good."​

 

[SuperNova854]

You are so cool

 

[SuperNova854]

Blasphemy! I didn't say that

 

[SuperNova854]

Clippers Waive Mark Madsen

Madsen Won't Be Making Any Passes This Season.

The Los Angeles Clippers today waived forward Mark Madsen.

Madsen was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 22nd along with Sebastian Telfair and Craig Smith in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

The Clippers’ roster currently stands at 12 players.​

 

[James2Stapleton]

Not mark Madsen!

 

[mfbmike]

rofl uhhh who would honestly pick that guy up