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Neil Olshey downplays likelihood of Clippers making a trade

Neil Olshey has listened to everyone clamoring for the Clippers to make a move before Thursday's noon (PST) trade deadline in an attempt to stop the team's current slide.

The Clippers' vice president of basketball operations has heard from his coaching staff, the team's fans and media, all of them stressing the need to acquire a player in the wake of Chauncey Billups' season-ending Achilles' tendon injury that appears to have shaken the team.

Olshey is making and taking phone calls from other general managers. But his mantra to Clippers fans is: "Your help is coming from the inside."

"If the Clippers can acquire a player without giving up much in terms of assets that help them move the needle a little bit this year and maintain their flexibility long term, they may do something," Olshey said.

Making a deal now, Olshey suggested, "takes away your ability to get better next summer, when you really need to get better. [So] why would you do it?"

Brad Turner, LA Times

The Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz have discussed a Raja Bell trade, according to sources.

Alex Kennedy

Em1 wrote:ouch. hopefully a negotiating tactic

apet8945 wrote:This is whats best for the team. Glad Olshey see's it that way. Amazing how things can change in just a month's time. We were just a piece away from contending for a championship to now basically accepting that we won't do anything this year and putting ourselves in position for next year.

Olshey was so close to having a team contend for a championship, it sucks it didn't happen. But I still take my hat off to this guy for the job he's done. I trust whatever Olshey says.

og15 wrote:Sadly, Raja Bell has kinda dropped off a lot defensively. He's shooting great, but defensively he's not better than Foye, actually I'd say current Raja is worse, and his contract extends into next season. Unless it's for Gomes who's contract also extends until next season and makes slightly more, Raja is just not worth it at this stage in his career.

I mentioned it in the other thread, but the minutes that Ellis takes might open up trade possibilities in regards to one of Milwaukee's wings.

While some sources are claiming the Los Angeles Clippers are in talks with the Utah Jazz for Raja Bell, those close to the team deny LA has any interest in the veteran guard.

The Clippers would like to add in a defensive-minded two guard who can score but Bell doesn’t appear to be on their wish list. Raja’s $3.2 million salary fits easily into LA’s $3.8 million
trade exception and wouldn’t cost a first-round pick but given Bell’s age and $3.5 million salary next year, he just doesn’t appeal to the Clippers.

The younger C.J. Miles might be more attractive (also at $3.7 million a player who fits in LA’s exception) but he’s probably not someone the Clippers would give up Eric Bledsoe (or a first-round pick) to attain.

Sources tell HOOPSWORLD that the Jazz and New Jersey Nets have discussed a Miles swap for pieces like Anthony Morrow and Johan Petro. The Nets would like to trim off as much salary as possible for the offseason when they hope to attain the services of center Dwight Howard. Miles has an expiring deal while both Morrow and Petro have another at a combined $7.5 million.

Eric Pincus, HoopsWorld

og15 wrote:Sadly, Raja Bell has kinda dropped off a lot defensively. He's shooting great, but defensively he's not better than Foye, actually I'd say current Raja is worse, and his contract extends into next season. Unless it's for Gomes who's contract also extends until next season and makes slightly more, Raja is just not worth it at this stage in his career.

I mentioned it in the other thread, but the minutes that Ellis takes might open up trade possibilities in regards to one of Milwaukee's wings.

apet8945 wrote:Damn, Morrow and Petro are available? Clippers should be on that.

I wonder if Nets would take Foye + Cook for Morrow and Petro.

We would then have to get Bell though. Maybe Jazz would take a 2nd rounder for him.

Lol, it's so hard not to want the Clippers to make a move to stir things up a bit. I think we would get better though if we were able to get Morrow, Petro, and Bell at the expense of Foye, Cook, and a 2nd rounder. Leaves us with no capspace though.

og15 wrote:I would like Morrow, but not in exchange or Foye, that is a lateral move in terms of their overall impact except that Morrow goes into next season. If they would do it for a trade exception, then it's a better option, but even then, one has to think whether Morrow is a fit into the teams overall plan and structure.

apet8945 wrote:Well we would have 12 people on the roster next year. So we could use the Mid-Level to sign Chauncey or Ray Ray and sign Reggie to a vet's minimum. Maybe with a good coach a lineup like this would be able to do well.

Paul-Mo-Bledsoe
Billups-Bell-Leslie
Butler-Morrow-Gomes
Griffin-Evans-Thompkins
DJ-Petro

Doesn't seem so bad.

apet8945 wrote:Well we would have 12 people on the roster next year. So we could use the Mid-Level to sign Chauncey or Ray Ray and sign Reggie to a vet's minimum. Maybe with a good coach a lineup like this would be able to do well.

Paul-Mo-Bledsoe
Billups-Bell-Leslie
Butler-Morrow-Gomes
Griffin-Evans-Thompkins
DJ-Petro

Doesn't seem so bad.