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THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS--Clippers' training camp set to open in Hawaii October 1, 2024

Adam Ausland sits down with Don MacLean

Former UCLA great, NBA vet and now Clippers analyst Don MacLean joins the show to talk about his basketball career, philosophies, Paul George leaving, Kawhi and Harden and where this Clippers team can improve.

Yah, I called this one. Philly treated him well but his wife loves it here. Plus he loves Ty. Ballmerville remains a destination even though they traded Nic away against his will. It's still LA.

Batum, especially, played a big role for the Sixers. He was an important piece in terms of his passing, shooting ability, and willingness to do whatever it is coach Nick Nurse asked of him. He shot 39.9% from deep in 57 games with 38 starts for the Sixers.

In the offseason, Batum bolted back to LA to rejoin the Clippers in an expected move when considering his family was still in Los Angeles. However, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps on "The Hoop Collective" podcast, Batum was close to returning to Philadelphia:

They were really close to getting Nic Batum back. He was going back and forth between, at least my understanding, going back to Philly or going back the team that traded him--the Clippers and I think family played a part in him going back to the Clippers — he was pretty comfortable out in LA.

This stat is too off-the-wall not to be true.

No Kawhi until who knows when so who wants to step up and seize an excellent opportunity? Looking at you Zu, unleash that mid range jumper. KPJ, yes I'm giving him a 2nd chance career wise, huge-massive opportunity for him. Jordan Miller, he's on a two way but the team needs scoring. Kobe Brown, not sure of. Gotta keep Bones now right? I'd say Coffey & Mann, but they're not aggressive on offense enough and pass up too many shots. Does Cam Christie get a look? I take it Kai Jones makes the team. Interesting preseason coming up.

$15M+/yr. Seems right at market value, maybe a little more.

T-Mann and Zu are the longest-tenured Clippers, REAL Clippers, and with Zu's new contract both are hopefully here to stay. Congrats.

Clemenza wrote:No Kawhi until who knows when so who wants to step up and seize an excellent opportunity? Looking at you Zu, unleash that mid range jumper. KPJ, yes I'm giving him a 2nd chance career wise, huge-massive opportunity for him. Jordan Miller, he's on a two way but the team needs scoring. Kobe Brown, not sure of. Gotta keep Bones now right? I'd say Coffey & Mann, but they're not aggressive on offense enough and pass up too many shots. Does Cam Christie get a look? I take it Kai Jones makes the team. Interesting preseason coming up.

I'm on the KPJ train since he got signed -- guy is going to be big for this team, just watch.

Ballings7 wrote:I'm on the KPJ train since he got signed -- guy is going to be big for this team, just watch.

Me too. Listening to Lue talk about him he’s got big plans for him as well.

...that and nobody else wanted him. But OK, sure.

Media Day Recaps

Ty Lue finally speaking my language!! Lets Go!

vs Dubs in Hawaii

SATURDAY!!

4PM

Clemenza wrote:Ty Lue finally speaking my language!! Lets Go!

Read on Twitter

I don’t want to get my hopes up because he’s said things like this before and then you know. With the roster overhaul he almost has to though right?

He’s really talked up KPJ. And this today.

it's early but



NO BONES

It was always Kawhi's team but he didn't want it. It's not how he rolls. He wants to be the straw that stirs the drink, not the drink.

PG is a beta male. True he got us to the WCF one year, but Reggie was really the star that series. Then last year Pandemic P returned, he came up small and we were out first round.

Beard never wanted really wanted his own team--that's why he recruited CP3--but if circumstances force it on him, he says, ok. 213 never made the slightest attempt to lead like Beard has done here. As others have said about his championship in Toronto, Kawhi will be happy to stand aside and let others pull the cart.

One bright side is that Harden tends to shine when he is the focal point of the offense and almost everything is running through him- he has great court vision and often finds the open man. However, I don't know how much of a scorer he can be at this point of his career- sure he can go off every so often, but I'm not sure he can average much above 20 ppg at this stage of his career. Somebody will need to step up to make up for the points missing with PG gone now.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:One bright side is that Harden tends to shine when he is the focal point of the offense and almost everything is running through him- he has great court vision and often finds the open man. However, I don't know how much of a scorer he can be at this point of his career- sure he can go off every so often, but I'm not sure he can average much above 20 ppg at this stage of his career. Somebody will need to step up to make up for the points missing with PG gone now.

On a related note, Kevin Porter Jr. is saying all the right things and begging the NBA not to punish him too hard.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/kevin-porter-jr-expresses-his-gratitude-for-returning-to-the-nba/ar-AA1rCpwn?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ASTS&cvid=ad0df6d57d0142caa31d4cc87c6a65b2&ei=17

He's in a limbo, with no idea if he'll get probation or if Commissioner Nosferatu will throw him into a deep dark hole. But he could easily become a starter and our 3rd or 4th leading scorer and Ty has hinted as much. [KPJ is on a TWO-year contract, not just one.]

"This is the, if not No. 1, top two best jobs you can ask for as an athlete and person. So I've seen that get taken away, and then it just puts you in a place with what you want to do for the rest of your life. So I'm very grateful to be back, and I'm going to do everything I can and stay as long as I want."---KPJ on Media Day

A certain somebody is in shape! Is this our year?