[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

Clippers: the new Bulls and Blazers?

Blake Griffin could have a Brandon Roy-like effect in Los Angeles.

Bucher By Ric Bucher
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

Baron Davis is a top-tier talent, but could actually be holding back the Clips.

See if this sounds familiar: a lottery team gets the No. 1 pick, drafting the eventual Rookie of the Year. A few choice trades with players on soon-to-expire contracts and suddenly an underachieving team is in the playoffs producing one of the league’s most memorable seven-game series against the defending champions.

Chicago Bulls? Yes. And, quite possibly, your Los Angeles Clippers.

“I love their talent,” said one Western Conference scout. “In the West right now you can catch some people in those 7, 8 spots. Dallas and New Orleans could easily go down.”

The scout’s optimism begins, of course, with the Clippers landing Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin, whose work ethic and leadership has the potential to transform a fractured lockerroom the way Brandon Roy’s did a little farther north.

“He does have that,” the scout said. “The one huge obstacle is Baron Davis. That’s a hard guy to overcome.”

Hard, but not impossible. Davis is certainly a more dominant personality than anyone in the Blazers’ lockerroom when Roy came on board. (Griffin should have no problem eliminating the influence of Zach Randolph, the same Randolph Roy neutered to get Portland on track.) But Davis’ issues are with coach Mike Dunleavy who (as GM) has now, unequivocally, put together too much exciting talent not to be in the playoff race. Davis isn’t opposed to winning; he’s opposed to following anyone he doesn’t respect.

To avoid another long season of Davis hang-dogging it, all Dunleavy has to do is let loose the offensive thoroughbreds he’s assembled. Talent-wise, Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Blake Griffin and Marcus Camby are certainly a better starting five than Phoenix, Dallas or New Orleans can boast.

And that’s without moving center Chris Kaman or packaging one of their expiring contracts — Mardy Collins, Camby or Ricky Davis — with one of their young talents, Thornton or center DeAndre Jordan.

Bottom line, the Clippers are loaded with talent, have all sorts of options to consolidate or upgrade it, and the bottom of the West playoff picture is permeable. It’s certainly within their power to let it all go to waste — after all, they did win only 19 games last season and only the Knicks and Kings gave up more points. But with Griffin added to the mix, it’s going to be hard even for the Clippers to screw this up.

what do u think of this article? agree or disagree?

[Meditated StatesParticipant]

I think if they can trade those contracts do it, but if not no worries. Davis and Griffin will fit well together. When Davis is healthy he is one of the best in the league without doubt. Golden state sure missed him last year. Now Davis will have someone to fast brake with and throw the lob to. When Davis penetrates he can Dish to Griffin who knows how to finish. If I was the clips I would be comfortable with Davis running my team when healthy, and taking a lot of pressure off of Griffin. Randolph is the guy I would try to move for sure though. Add superstar waiting E Gordon to the mix I like what they have. They have pieces to trade and still keep Griffin,Gordon , and Davis. Future is bright, but they are the clips so?

[BubblebuttParticipant]

Ya I agree they should move Randolph and a smart move might be trade him to the Grizzlies. It’s a win win situation. The clips get Aurther and some first round pics. The Grizzlies get their power forward spot filled and they get a point guard in the draft.

[HaleParticipant]

They have a lot of talent, but get over Griffin and talk about DeAndre Jordan or something. This is so annoying.

[borlackParticipant]

their young guys are great…and this creates a strong core. obviously no one can expect them to go on playoff run after this season even though griffen is an excellent addition he still needs to develop. dont get me wrong i think blake is a great talent and i see great things in his future but hes not going to be 20 and 10 guy we all think he’ll be his first year. his first i think he’ll be somewhat like boozers first year kinda like a 9 and 9 guy…but he’ll explode his sophmore year when he can get more touches. but they should worry about developing their young core this year almost in the same way oklahoma city did and next season grab another young talent and potentially pick up a decent player in 2010.

But im a huge mike taylor and deandre jordan fan i see them doing great things for the clippers.

[RickyRubio9Participant]

If they can somehow get rid of Randolph this team will be fine.
Starting Five:
PG-B-Diddy
SG: EG
SF: Thorton
PF: Griffin
Center: Camby
Bench: Kaman, Jordan, Davis, Taylor, Novak, and Collins.

[rtbtParticipant]

As usual, there are many factors to consider.

1. There are numerous examples of teams that have great individual talent and go nowhere.

2. The Clippers are an organization where management is never held accountable. Elgin Baylor was the GM for 20 plus years and ran the organization into the ground. In NY or Boston, he would have been fired after 4 or 5 years.

3. Dunleavy put together this team of malcontents and they will never be good. He is the GM and coach, why wasn’t he held accountable for their horrible season last year?

4. With Z. Randolph, B. Davis, and some of those other “me first” guys on your team [the group that Dunleavy assembled], this team will never win on a regular basis. Not even Blake Griffin can change that.

[dolla130Participant]

because 1 they have no type of system they just put players together hoping and wishing that the mix and match of young and old player personalities will work, 2, the clippers are just a bad team there in the lottery almost every year and they cant draft right

[Stanford hoopsParticipant]

i dont think they need to get rid of zac..hes still a 20-10 guy eventhough he doesnt play much defense..thats nice to have comming off the bench because you do need a second unit..more than likely no one is gonna want his contract so he will make a great 6th man..i do think giffin will do better than 9 and 9 for one because hes better then what boozer was comming in and with baron and eric jacking alot of shots and not to mention al he can get a couple of offensive rebounds

[dugg]

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[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

this team was always full of young talent. They just don’t know how to use them right.

[stanford hoops]

lol..the new blazers…they have been getting young talent for years(they have season tickest every year front row to the nba draft lotto)

[stanford hoops]

lol..the new blazers…they have been getting young talent for years(they have season tickest every year front row to the nba draft lotto)

[WizardofOzParticipant]

As long as they have Donald Sterling, the Clippers shouldn’t look forward to make it to the playoffs anytime soon.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

As long as they have Donald Sterling, the Clippers shouldn’t look forward to make it to the playoffs anytime soon.

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