"They're Not Willing to Trade the Future"

[mkwest]

...If that doesn't happen by Thursday's trading deadline, it won't be because of a lack of effort, said Elgin Baylor, vice president of basketball operations, and Coach Mike Dunleavy.

The Clippers are continuing to make and receive phone calls across the NBA, but Baylor and Dunleavy say they are unwilling to mortgage the team's future just to make a move.

"We are making every effort to improve the team, but we are not going to do anything that's not going to improve the team," Baylor said.

Said Dunleavy later, in echo-like fashion: "We are committed to making a good trade, if we can make one. If there's something to be made that can help our team, we'll do that. We are not going to change just for the sake of change."

LA Times

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I think other teams and people are writing us off. They think because we're having a bad season that we'll have a bad future. With Brand, Kaman, Livingston, and Thornton we'll be fine. I wouldn't mind getting Lowery if we can but I don't want to give up too much.

[loflin3hree5ive]

if we can land a guy like miller (and a top 5 pick) in preperation for next year we will be looking damn good. i hope we can work something out. cassell and a-train's expiring and our 2nd rounder this year should get it done. unless the nugz take back cardinal's ugly deal, i don't see why we can't win the mike miller sweepstakes. i can't wait to see what happens...

[ClipperEric]

I agree. We're not in bad shape, we just need to hold out and get through this bad year. But the west is tough, too many teams are stacked. Although I think Phoenix and Dallas are going to regret the big deals they made.

We need to do something to bring a star to this team. We have a great frontline but we need a first-class guard. Somebody like Arenas if we want to really compete for a championship. I've always been a Maggette fan but he's not in that class.

Mike Miller would be a good pickup and certainly an upgrade on Maggette, but I don't see how we beat San Antonio or the Lakers. We would be about the same level as Utah, pretty good team but not a real threat to go the distance.

3 Cheers for Dominique Thornton. He's the man, gotta love a rookie who takes turn-around jumpers all day with no conscience.

[illastrate]

I agree. We're not in bad shape, we just need to hold out and get through this bad year. But the west is tough, too many teams are stacked. Although I think Phoenix and Dallas are going to regret the big deals they made.

We need to do something to bring a star to this team. We have a great frontline but we need a first-class guard. Somebody like Arenas if we want to really compete for a championship. I've always been a Maggette fan but he's not in that class.

Mike Miller would be a good pickup and certainly an upgrade on Maggette, but I don't see how we beat San Antonio or the Lakers. We would be about the same level as Utah, pretty good team but not a real threat to go the distance.

3 Cheers for Dominique Thornton. He's the man, gotta love a rookie who takes turn-around jumpers all day with no conscience.

I think we're in extremely bad shape. We have tradeable assets in Sam and Maggs and are doing absolutely NOTHING with them. Management is using the "we don't want to mortgage our future" excuse to stand pat through the trade deadline. What kind of FUTURE will we have if Maggs, Brand, and Sam are gone and all we're left with is a lottery pick? Hell, even teams like the Nets and Grizzlies have brighter futures than us at this point......

[loflin3hree5ive]

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I think we're in extremely bad shape. We have tradeable assets in Sam and Maggs and are doing absolutely NOTHING with them. Management is using the "we don't want to mortgage our future" excuse to stand pat through the trade deadline. What kind of FUTURE will we have if Maggs, Brand, and Sam are gone and all we're left with is a lottery pick? Hell, even teams like the Nets and Grizzlies have brighter futures than us at this point......

we still have several significant events to happen between now and next season to say what kind of future we have. we don't know what kind of team we will have after tomorrow. i don't think anybody will be too down on our future if we end up drafting michael beasley. and if corey is still on the team this summer don't underestimate his value as a potential sign & trade freeagent. just like the wolves paniced and gave us all sam and the pick for what they thought would be a new kg running mate in jaric, a team like the cavs desperate for a guy like maggette could pay off big for the clips. just be patient...

[jgustav1]

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I think we're in extremely bad shape. We have tradeable assets in Sam and Maggs and are doing absolutely NOTHING with them. Management is using the "we don't want to mortgage our future" excuse to stand pat through the trade deadline. What kind of FUTURE will we have if Maggs, Brand, and Sam are gone and all we're left with is a lottery pick? Hell, even teams like the Nets and Grizzlies have brighter futures than us at this point......

I agree, we should definitely be a sub .500 team going into the future even if Brand comes back healthy next year if Maggette and Sam leave without receiving anything for them. The West is too tough, look at the depth and young talent teams ahead of the Clippers like Portland and Golden State have. These teams are poised to continue to move up in the standings.

[illastrate]

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we still have several significant events to happen between now and next season to say what kind of future we have. we don't know what kind of team we will have after tomorrow. i don't think anybody will be too down on our future if we end up drafting michael beasley. and if corey is still on the team this summer don't underestimate his value as a potential sign & trade freeagent. just like the wolves paniced and gave us all sam and the pick for what they thought would be a new kg running mate in jaric, a team like the cavs desperate for a guy like maggette could pay off big for the clips. just be patient...

I agree that the Jaric trade was a steal. That was one of the few great deals in years for the Clips. However, I don't see Corey re-signing with us, not as long as Dun Sr. is still the coach. A sign-and-trade is probably the best we could do at this point.

I agree, we should definitely be a sub .500 team going into the future even if Brand comes back healthy next year if Maggette and Sam leave without receiving anything for them. The West is too tough, look at the depth and young talent teams ahead of the Clippers like Portland and Golden State have. These teams are poised to continue to move up in the standings.

We didn't even get to .500 last year, and that was with a healthy Brand. You're right, other teams are getting younger and more talented. We're just getting old. I think with the exception of Brand, Kaman, and Thornton, everybody on this team is expendable and we should explore all our options to make this team better. Hopefully with our lottery pick and Minny's pick, we can draft some guys who will come in and take us to the next level...

[loflin3hree5ive]

if no teams have money to throw at corey this summer he will be very valuable in a sign & trade. the likelihood of corey opting out of his contract is the only thing holding back teams from make significant offers him.

[jgustav1]

if no teams have money to throw at corey this summer he will be very valuable in a sign & trade. the likelihood of corey opting out of his contract is the only thing holding back teams from make significant offers him.

Corey will likely be as valuable as Odom, Miller, Q or Simmons were to the Clippers after they went into UFA status. He will likely leave with nothing in return. Jaric wasn't that popular of a free agent, Corey will be.

[loflin3hree5ive]

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Corey will likely be as valuable as Odom, Miller, Q or Simmons were to the Clippers after they went into UFA status. He will likely leave with nothing in return. Jaric wasn't that popular of a free agent, Corey will be.

i'd agree with you if there were more teams out there with money to spend this summer. but with guys like okafor, iguodala, deng and even jamsion, arenas and (hopefully not) elton out there, nobody will be in a rush to sign maggette out-right when there are sexier options available. new jersey and philly looks like they'll have money but they have richard jefferson/iggy/thad young respectively and they won't be looking to add maggette. this is why i think maggette will still be a free agent by late july and teams witout capspace and small contracts to trade will be drooling to get their hands on corey (see the cavs).

[jgustav1]

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this is why i think maggette will still be a free agent by late july and teams witout capspace and small contracts to trade will be drooling to get their hands on corey (see the cavs).

The Cavs currently only have Daniel Gibson under a small contract that would be useful to the Clippers. Guys like Pavlovic and Damon Jones aren't worth their present contracts. They were just involved in a big trade today anyway, acquiring Wally Szczerbiak if it is approved by the league.

[loflin3hree5ive]

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The Cavs currently only have Daniel Gibson under a small contract that would be useful to the Clippers. Guys like Pavlovic and Damon Jones aren't worth their present contracts. They were just involved in a big trade today anyway, acquiring Wally Szczerbiak if it is approved by the league.

if not the cavs then whoever disappoints the most in the west playoffs this year is probably our next best bet, especially if they don't have cap space. i'll be rooting for the jazz to lose, they love corey. maybe we can pry away brewer from them this summer if they go into win-now mode like the rest of the west titans.