[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

It may seem far-fetched to some that the Clippers could sign one of the two elite pg’s in the summer of 2012 (Chris Paul and Deron Williams) when they are after all "The Clippers." However, I can assure you that MANY star players around the league would love to play with Blake Griffin. In addition, its not like they’re in Milwaukee or anything, they’re in Los Angeles! The only teams that will be in contention for CP3 and Deron Williams will be New York, New Jersey (D-will), New Orleans (CP3), Dallas, and the Clippers. Now assuming that CP3 bolts New Orleans for New York, that leaves New Jersey, Dallas, and the Clippers for Deron Williams. Although the Mavericks have been mentioned as a possible destination for Deron Williams due to the fact that he is from there and that they will have money and have Dirk, the cap space argument is actually not true. The Mavericks will have about 43 million dollars on their roster with only Dirk, Haywood, Marion, and Beaubois under contract. However, I’m pretty sure that Dallas will re-sign Tyson Chandler and JJ Barea to multi-year deals this summer which will most likely put them out of the picture for a max deal. Here are the exact Dallas salary figures if you would like to confirm: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/dallas.htm
That leaves it down to the Clippers and New Jersey. Most likely, Deron Williams will want to go to the better team. So pretty much you have the Clippers who will have Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, Deandre Jordan, Mo Williams, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe, a top 5 draft pick from Minnesota who will likely be one of: Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, or Quincy Miller because they need a SF, and extra cap space to get good bench players; against the Nets who will have Brook Lopez, Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, and cap space. Now the deciding factor will be if the Nets can entice Dwight Howard to come to Brooklyn to team up with Deron Williams, but that is doubtful considering the rest of the team. Also you have to keep in mind that Deron Williams already praised Blake Griffin after playing with him in the all-star game "I haven’t really played with anybody who, you can just throw it up anywhere, and they will get it," Williams said. "I’m used to having guys where I pass it on the ground and let them go to work.

"His all-around game is phenomenal. I don’t see many weaknesses in his game. He doesn’t really know how to play the game yet. I heard Charles Barkley talking about it the other day. … He’s already unstoppable, but it’s going to be worse."

Clearly Deron has a lot of respect for Blake and would love to team up with him rather than Brook Lopez. If the fact that the Lakers would overshadow the Clippers scares you off from thinking this could happen, then think about this: If the Knicks land Chris Paul to team up with Carmelo and Amare, they’ll overshadow the Nets even more than the Lakers will overshadow the Clippers! If the Clippers were to land Deron Williams and then drafted a SF like Harrison Barnes in the draft, they would probably be about equal if not better to the aging Lakers. It would be 4 young stars in Griffin, Williams, Gordon, and Barnes vs. aging stars in Kobe, Gasol, and Odom along with the injury prone young center Bynum. Now maybe that Laker roster would still have a better record than the Clippers, but not for long…

[CalipariParticipant]

Your post interestingly misrepresents the Nets talent level, as well as the implications of future moves by both teams. This just is not going to happen. First of all, how many superstar players in the prime of their career would choose Vinny Del Negro to lead the championship chase from the pine? Granted, his players tend to like him, and he surely could develop, but his appeal, barring a rift with Johnson, is low. Also, there is a fundamental fact that will continually prevent the Clipper from transcending to greatness. DONALD STERLING IS THEIR OWNER. Williams will re-sign with Nets. The Clippers will develop and become a good team, but without D-Will in the fold.

[CalipariParticipant]

Deron isn’t going to go running to LA because of a man crush on Blake.

[aamir543Participant]

If Minesota’s rookie gives them solid production, then I dont think the pick will be top 5. However it will be a lottery pick. But what if Mo Willimams gets back to his all star form, or Eric Bledsoe continues to progress. I still think that if one of the two proves they can be a solid point, then they will pursue Dwight. And if they get Dwight, then this team is a contender. Mo Williams/Bledsoe, Eric Gordon, Aminu(Luol Deng 2.0), Griffin, Kaman, De Andre Jordon, plus a lottery pick. They wont run away with the tittle, but that team is kill.  

[HotSnotParticipant]

I don’t know that DWill will resign with the NETS.  If they don’t pick up some other star level talent by the end of next season… he’s outta there.  Right now the Nets are trying to sweet talk him into signing and then later they’ll probably try to shame him into signing like some patheitc chick you just don’t want to see anymore.  Bottom line is DWill won’t sign with the Nets for the same reasons he wouldn’t sign with the Jazz. 

[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

Minnesota’s pick will probably be a top 5 pick because last year they had a worse record than Cleveland when Cleveland sucked and they had incredible production from Kevin Love! Even with those things, they still managed to finish last.  Then Cleveland ended up getting the 1st and 4th picks in the draft so most likely they’ll be better than minnesota who will probably either once again botch the pick or they’ll trade back and pick a bust like biyombo.  Also, how did I misrepresent the Nets talent?? Is Johan Petro going to have a break out year and become an all-star or something?

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