12/22/24
July 15, 2004
Defcon 2 Jerk Alert: Kobe asks the Clippers if they are willing to play 10 or 12 games a year at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, which is closer to his Newport Beach home than Staples Center. [via CB]
posted by dusted to basketball at 11:53 AM - 29 comments
All I want for Christmas is Kobe Bryant on the LA Clippers.
posted by filthyboy at 12:25 PM on July 15, 2004
Old news. Still trying to wrap your head around how Shaq-God, the mighty man of steel who could have won the world championship single handedly if Kobe would have just passed him the ball, got traded for Odom, Butler, and Grant (i.e. zero all stars)?
posted by Mike McD at 12:27 PM on July 15, 2004
I heard the same exact thing, that Sterling has always tried to broaden his fan base by playing in Anaheim which gets them out from under the Lakers for a few games each year.
posted by usfbull at 12:30 PM on July 15, 2004
Yep, if Kobe signs with the Clippers, it's got to go down as the worst series of offseason moves ever.
posted by dusted at 12:32 PM on July 15, 2004
All I want to know is who's going to play center. Slava Medvedenko? Brian Grant? Ha!
posted by dusted at 12:34 PM on July 15, 2004
So in essence, Kobe and T-Mac did trade places. McGrady is now the setup guy to the best big man in the game (if Yao ain't now, he soon will be, and for a long time), and Kobe (court issues aside) is going to win the scoring title and average 40 points a game for whichever LA team is stupid enough to pay his salary and give him a bunch of players good enough to lose 50 games with next year. (Pop quiz, Kobe. Name three other Clippers players. Any three. And, go!)
posted by chicobangs at 01:52 PM on July 15, 2004
Uh, Kobe on the Clippers is no laughing matter. He and Elton Brand are more than a decent pair of All-Stars - but with the moves Phoenix, Utah and Houston making, and the continued excellence of the Spurs, Kings (who else sees these guys taking a hit?), TWolves and the Grizz - there only looks like one playoff spot left. Here's to the Lakers and Clippers battling it out for it.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:59 PM on July 15, 2004
How 'bout them Mavs, Weedy?
posted by chicobangs at 02:12 PM on July 15, 2004
Wow... You're right. Neither of these teams (Clips, Lakers) stands a chance right now.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:15 PM on July 15, 2004
I'd include Denver in that playoff mix, if they can land KMart.
posted by filthyboy at 02:18 PM on July 15, 2004
Possibly Seattle too, if Collison can come in an have an impact. There are fewer and fewer teams that are easy wins in the West this coming year.
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:35 PM on July 15, 2004
Possibly Seattle too, if Collison can come in an have an impact Wow, things are getting a little frothy in here, gushing about Nick Collison and all. I'm not sure I'd pin any playoff hopes on Collison. I guess what's great about the offseason, everyone's team still has hope.
posted by Mike McD at 02:43 PM on July 15, 2004
Kobe's on the Lakers, so long Clips, had fun leading you guys on.
posted by platocave at 02:47 PM on July 15, 2004
Not really pinning hopes, Mike. But Collison was an outstanding college player that has yet to be tested in the NBA. With Brent Barry gone, there'll be more pressure on him to perform, and I think he's got a good shot at being an impact player. Seriously, out of the 15 teams in the West, there are only 3 or 4 that probably have NO chance at making the playoffs (as the rosters stand right now).
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:10 PM on July 15, 2004
Ufez, are you thinking of Portland, Golden State and Seattle? And maybe the no-Kobe Clippers?
posted by dusted at 03:22 PM on July 15, 2004
True, Ufez. And the Lakers are one of them. Really. Kobe, even undistracted (which he won't be), will be alright, and it's not like there's no one left (Odom & Grant? Uh, alright, sure), but Walton had better step up large, Payton might want to show up a bit more often, and Karl Malone had better come back and keep playing like he's not five years older than Abe Vigoda, if they wanna even sneak onto the bubble in the West. It ain't happening. Now is the winter of Jack's discontent.
posted by chicobangs at 03:30 PM on July 15, 2004
Walton plays the same position as Caron Butler, so I can't see him doing much more than fight for playing time. I really really doubt Malone will re-sign now. Shaq's four (!) interview segments on Sportscenter last night were rambling and stupid at some points, but I think everyone can agree with one thing he said: they're not going in the right direction.
posted by dusted at 03:40 PM on July 15, 2004
Ufez, are you thinking of Portland, Golden State and Seattle? And maybe the no-Kobe Clippers? Yes, but my order was: 1) Golden State (esp. if someone wrests Dampier from them) 2) Kobe-less and Q Richarson-less Clips 3) Portland 4) Seattle (maybe)
posted by Ufez Jones at 04:00 PM on July 15, 2004
The Lakers w/Kobe still won't make playoffs next year. Even with some necessary roster moves to bolster their currently undersized and, there's no other word for it, pathetic front-court, the Lakers just don't have enough. Spurs, Wolves, Rockets, Nuggets, Jazz, Kings, Blazers, Grizzlies, and Mavs are all much better talent-wise, size-wise, and chemistry-wise.
posted by platocave at 04:41 PM on July 15, 2004
1) Golden State (esp. if someone wrests Dampier from them) Adonyl Foyle, a career backup/injury lister gets $41M over five years, the team lets Brian Cardinal go to the Grizzlies and has no chance to resign Dampier, somebody tell me again that Chris Mullin is the new genius in town?
posted by billsaysthis at 05:25 PM on July 15, 2004
Ufez, are you joing about Portland? They went on a tear the second half of last year, and they've got at least one major move to make. The Blazers will have home court in the first round next year.
posted by djacobs at 06:13 PM on July 15, 2004
djacobs, I'm bookmarking that comment. We'll see.
posted by chicobangs at 11:19 PM on July 15, 2004
Adonyl Foyle, a career backup/injury lister gets $41M over five years, the team lets Brian Cardinal go to the Grizzlies and has no chance to resign Dampier, somebody tell me again that Chris Mullin is the new genius in town? Don't worry, bill. Derek Fisher will save your team! The Blazers will have home court in the first round next year. Now that's optimism! I just don't trust Zac Randolph to lead a team to much success. He's great as a #2 guy, but kind of uninspiring as a leader. I could very well be wrong though. Probably also worth mentioning: K-Mart to the Nuggets.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:15 AM on July 16, 2004
Is K-Mart that good or is the draft that much of a crapshoot that the Nuggets gave up 3 first rounders? I suppose the Nuggets figure they'd at least be middle of the draft anyway, so . . . actually that's weird that Jersey would take 3 picks that will probably be in the 20s for a decent big man in the East. Of course, they have Brian Scalabrine to fall back on.
posted by yerfatma at 10:07 AM on July 16, 2004
Those first round picks are all in the middle of the round, as they contain protection clauses for picks 1-14. Also, the Nuggets have a ton of 1st round picks in the next few years because of trades they made in the past.
posted by filthyboy at 11:50 AM on July 16, 2004
Yes, Martin is that good. He'll look worse on offense because he won't get the fast-break chances that Kidd created for him, but he is an absolute FREAK on defense. Seriously, the guy is just fearsome. I'm pretty sure somewhere in Dallas Antwan Walker is feeling pretty scurred right now. And he's improved every season he's been in the league.
posted by Mike McD at 01:13 PM on July 16, 2004
Can't blame the Nets for moving K-Mart; it's not clear he's worth a max contract. Surprising, though, that the Nets didn't get any players in return. I guess the Nets will take a step back for a while.
posted by cg1001a at 07:18 PM on July 16, 2004
Don't worry, bill. Derek Fisher will save your team! Oh yeah, just what GSWs need, another point guard.
posted by billsaysthis at 07:47 PM on July 16, 2004
Last night on ESPN, I thought I heard something about the Clippers having played games there before, so it's not like this is some new idea. This is still one of the most exciting and strangest off-seasons in a while.