Top 5 Players most likely to be traded in 2012 (Chris Kaman)
Posted: Wed Oct 5, 2011 10:13 pm
Top 5 2012 NBA TradesThe Hawks had discussions with the LA Clippers about Chris Kaman, but the Clippers didn’t feel Smith could fill their primary need for a starting three, and they certainly don’t need a starting power forward with Blake Griffin in the house. The Hawks are going to have to keep looking, and it may turn out that the best move is simply to keep Smith and let Horford continue to play the five and be well paid to do it.#1 – Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Kaman has been on the block for a while, and it has nothing to do with his not being a capable player. When healthy, Kaman is arguably a top ten center in the NBA. He averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game two seasons ago, which doesn’t quite put him in Dwight Howard territory, but certainly qualifies for the elite class of NBA big men. He missed much of last season due to injury, but is healthy now and had a stellar showing with Germany in Euroleague play over the summer. There no question that Kaman can be a big part of a very successful team, but the Clippers look poised to make DeAndre Jordan their starting center going forward.
Jordan’s numbers – roughly 7.5 points, 7.8 rebounds as a starter last season – aren’t as flashy as Kaman’s, but he’s a young and emerging player who seems to have unlimited potential. The idea in LA is to have Jordan develop alongside Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and the young Clippers nucleus. Of course, Jordan is a restricted free agent and the Clippers don’t yet know what it’s going to cost them to keep Jordan in town. The Houston Rockets are one team that’s extremely interested in Jordan, and they are expected to make him a sizable offer once the NBA lockout lifts. The Rockets have also had talks with the Clippers about Kaman, but those talks didn’t get very far.
Bill Ingram, HoopsWorld