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NBA Market Watch: Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers follow up year to their best year in L.A. history started off bad, and got continually worse. Many Los Angeles Clippers regressed this year, and new additions did not do enough to offset this regression.

By the time the Los Angeles Clippers started playing to their potential they were so hobbled by the injury bug, that their starting point guard was someone who was claimed off of waivers. Despite all of this, they controlled their own fate the last two weeks of the year. Win and they were assured to get into the playoffs no matter what. Lose, and they would need some help. They ended up having a meltdown against a team they could have beaten, and ended up on the outside looking in this year.

Record/ Overview:

40-42, 4th place Pacific Division, 9th in Western Conference

The first negative for the season was starting training camp in Russia. They weren't able to get the practices they needed in due to the traveling and scheduling, and it was obvious right away that two key players were not the same guys. Chris Kaman was hobbled with injuries that ended up bothering him much of the season, and even later disclosed that personal matters also served as a distraction. Elton Brand was mentally exhausted after a whirlwind summer that included playing in the World championships, producing a movie that was rumored to be Oscar worthy, and getting married. Sam Cassell started showing signs of aging on his injury riddled 37 year old body.

One of the biggest problems on the team was the uncertainty regarding Corey Maggette. He could rarely get along with the coach during the year, being relegated to the bench because he could not play the defense or the controlled style of play that Dunleavy demands. Any team would be hurt when a 20+ point a game scorer has a feud with the coach, and thus gets limited minutes.

There were trade talks that persisted until the deadline regarding Corey Maggette, and many reports said that this whole rift caused chemistry problems and friction in the locker room. It did not get any easier when the owner, Sterling, stepped in and said that he basically didn't care about what Dunleavy wanted. Since last year, the Los Angeles Clippers had chances to include Shaun Livingston and Corey Maggette in deals that would have netted them players such as Iverson and Paul Pierce, but their refusal to deal Shaun Livingston nixed those trades.

As far as the regression goes, one just has to look at the stats to see the story. Chris Kaman only went down less than a point in points/48 minutes, and a rebound in rebounds/48 minutes, but his FG% took a nosedive, going from 52% to a career low 45%. Elton Brand's scoring average went down by 4 full points, and rebounds by .6. Sam Cassell was only able to play in 58 games, and having reductions in points and assists of 5 and 2 respectively.

The aforementioned Corey Maggette's scoring went down as well, despite a strong push after the all star break. Mobley as well had his point production decrease. The only starter or part time starter who showed improvement over last year was Shaun Livingston, who everyone knows suffered a career threatening injury during the season. Rebraca, the backup center did not play a minute the entire year.

If not for the strong play of Tim Thomas, waiver wire acquisition Jason Hart, and Corey Maggette's improved play coming on in the last couple of months of the year, the Los Angeles Clippers most likely would have been in the top 7 or 8 of the lottery.

Current Assets:

It is unknown who the Los Angeles Clippers would consider trading. Chris Kaman has been deemed untouchable before, and his new contract, which kicks in this year, would be very difficult to move anyway. Elton Brand is also considered untouchable, and the owner of the team has all but declared Corey Maggette to be untouchable as well, despite what Dunleavy might want. The team does have a future top 10 protected pick from Minnesota, but overall not much that would be desirable to other teams, since Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley both have large contracts due to them for years to come.

Expiring Contracts-

The Los Angeles Clippers do not have any major contracts coming off of the books at the end of this season. The biggest one is Rebraca’s 3.2 million. He actually had a 3 million dollar team option for next year, but any chance of that being picked up was nixed when he was released toward the end of the season to make room to add another point guard. The bigger story would be the lottery pick of two years ago, Yarislov Korolev’s team option not being picked up, making him an unrestricted free agent. Some rumors have the Los Angeles Clippers not resigning him, others say the Los Angeles Clippers do want to resign him, but for the minimum. All of the other expiring contracts are under one million dollars. Quinton Ross’s team option is certain to be picked up, while Will Conroy’s is undetermined.

James Singleton is reported in different places to be coming off of the books this year, but in other places to have a team option. Regardless, his return is by no means certain, as he was another player seemingly inexplicably in Dunleavy’s doghouse much of the year. If he is an unrestricted free agent, he will be picked up by another team for sure. He was instant energy off of the bench in the little playing time he did receive, has shown he can hit the outside shot, outside of Elton Brand, the best offensive rebounder on the Los Angeles Clippers, and a decent shot blocker as well.

Total Cost: $6,830,000

Rotation Players-

The Los Angeles Clippers potential core is locked up already for this year: Elton Brand, Mobley, Corey Maggette, Sam Cassell, Thomas, Chris Kaman, and Ross. It’s not expected for Shaun Livingston to come back this year, or at least come back to be the player he was this year, but he too is still on his rookie scale deal and is signed for the coming season. The keys are Elton Brand and Corey Maggette. Technically, they could walk after this year if their deals are not extended, and if they opt out of their contracts.

Elton Brand, with a full offseason of rest is expected to return to something near his 2005/2006 form. Many Los Angeles Clippers fans lamented his lack of killer instinct at the end of games, which many point to as the important next step for him to emerging into a superstar. Cuttino Mobley improved his three point shooting percentage over his first year with the Los Angeles Clippers, but was too inconsistent. One game he would score 25, the next night 10. Corey Maggette, if he plays the way Dunleavvy wants him to play and stays out of foul trouble, is an easy 20 point scorer. If the Corey Maggette of the 2nd half of last season shows up again next year, look for him to get that average back up above 20.

No one really knows what “personal problems” Chris Kaman was dealing with that contributed to his FG% going down. Last year he was still on his rookie scale contract. If he has another 45% FG year next year when he’s making 8.5 million dollars, look for Los Angeles Clippers Nation to be calling for his head.

Tim Thomas was not spectacular this year, but was solid, and shot the most three pointers for the team since Terry Dehere in the 90's. He pretty much earned his MLE contract, and will be around until 2010, barring trade. Sam Cassell is the key to the team's success. If he can return to something close to his 05/06 form, the Los Angeles Clippers can go places. If he is not able to go, the Los Angeles Clippers have a big hole at the PG position, even if they do resign Jason Hart. The Los Angeles Clippers do get great bang for their buck with part time starter and defensive specialist Q Ross who is still on a minimum scale contract.

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