My take on the Z-bo trade.

[PlinkingPanda]

I probably could have just posted in one of the threads already made, but here is my actual take on it with some insight.

Now I know Z-bo isn't exactly the greatest teammate, but I feel this is a good move(if Dunleavy happens to go with my plan ). Now with this transaction taken place. It does a few things for us.

1. Provide a much needed boost on offense.

-This could help us with the slow starts that completely kill us. We spend so much energy trying to make comebacks that it kills us in the end.

2. Depth in the front court.

-Even with the signing of Skinner and Davis. They don't provide the spark we need. Skinner has been shown to be a good defensive force below, and Davis has shown he still has that decent mid-range jumper. But the acquisition of Z-bo allows us to solidify our rotation. Here is what I think should happen:

C:Kaman(32)/Camby(16)
PF:Z-Bo(32)/Camby(16)
SF:Thornton(38)/Novak(10)
SG:Davis(30)/Gordon(18)
PGDavis(36)/Taylor(12)

Some minutes can be adjusted, but this would make a solid 8 man rotation. Kaman, Z-Bo, and Camby getting quality minutes with Camby off the bench to sub for either man. This gives Gordon playing time he deserves. I know some of you may want him starting, but I don't honestly feel he is ready yet. I believe Ricky would play better starting, if not we could always swap to Gordon in the starting line up after some more games.

Just think of it this way. We traded a cancer and overpaid underachieving player for a productive overpaid cancer. I was with most of you for not wanting Z-Bo, but it was when the Kaman talks were around. We do lose salary cap for '10. But honestly how many of you truly believe we could steal a superstar/all-star player from another team? It may have worked if the current lineup played well, but 2-9 doesn't look pretty to anyone when they can be paid just as much anywhere else with.

We kept Kaman and got rid of Timmy(and Cat.. who I have no issues with other than his salary). I'm not that disappointed.

[ClipperEric]

I'm just glad we made a move. We needed something. And good riddance to TT !!!

[madmaxmedia]

My thoughts are exactly the same as yours. I don't think waiting for FA in 2010 would be smart, because it is too far away and chances are realistically slim (or none) of getting a superstar. Even if the chances were somewhat better than that, we still have very little control over the outcome. I think players are going to want to sign in places like NY or even NJ- do guys want to play for Donald Sterling or Jay-Z?

We do have a few trade assets, TT and Mobley especially due to their contracts. I think the main question going forward will be 'Could we have gotten more for them?' It could be argued that we could've gotten more next year for sure. But not every team is going to be as lucky as the Lakers. If Zach plays hard and stays out of trouble though, he is a quality NBA PF and IMO justifies the trade. Again, I'm thinking like you that getting a big FA to sign with us in 2010 is unlikely.

We do have BDiddy for a few years, he is still good but getting older every year. If the plan was truly to wait for 2010 then he's not such a smart choice to sign to begin with. Also, our really bad start gives us greater sense of urgency to move TT and Cat now, before things get too depressing.

The other shoe that I think is going to drop is Kaman. He is a quality NBA center, but not necessarily the guy you'd pick if you wanted to maximize BDiddy's talents while he's still in his prime. He does have good trade value IMO, which is why I think the Clippers will look to move him. It would be nice if we could pick up a good, somewhat explosive SG for Kaman. That would transform the team overnight into a more offensive team. Yes defense matters, but right now we are doing neither. Diddy can't create when there's nothing there to create with (i.e. you don't pay him $65 million to bounce low post passes into Kaman.)

This team is going to be on the outside looking in for the playoffs this year no matter what. Not because we can't turn it around, but because we are realistically WAY in the hole for a Western Conference playoff spot with our poor start. So add another lottery pick to our roster going forward.

Thornton and Gordon will get more PT with TT and Cat gone, that is a good thing. Trading Kaman for a wing player would take minutes away from Gordon, but would help the team overall IMO.

This was definitely a calculated risk, one that may or may not work out. I think their ideal scenario was to play pretty good ball this year, then trade TT and Cat in the offseason or early next year to add another significant piece to the team and really compete in the West. But the status quo was simply no longer acceptable for the Clippers, that's why they made the move now.

[cinnamon]

Also:

3. Gave us an untradeable contract.

and let's not forget:

4. Introduced a new Big Attitude level of difficulty in the locker room. Might as well have taken Marbury while we're at it.

[Ming Kong!]

Also:

3. Gave us an untradeable contract.

and let's not forget:

4. Introduced a new Big Attitude level of difficulty in the locker room. Might as well have taken Marbury while we're at it.

Uh, wasn't he traded today?

[cinnamon]

Yes, and why are the New Yorkers turning cartwheels? Isiah used to be the only one who would absorb these contracts considered untradeable --- now that he's gone it appears that there is another place they can end up.

[KnicksScholar24]

Just think of it this way. We traded a cancer and overpaid underachieving player for a productive overpaid cancer. I was with most of you for not wanting Z-Bo, but it was when the Kaman talks were around.

People on online NBA forum throw the word "cancer" around WAAAAY too much. Which is wrong fo two reasons. One is obvious, and the other is just overused to the point of ridiculousness. There is virtually no talented player that is so bad for a team that he'll cause that team to lose. Not even Marbury is a cancer. Zach Randolph, Tim Thomas, or Mobley definitely aren't cancer.

Being a good offensive player and a weak defender isn't a cancer. Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford fall into that category and aren't cancers. Randolph has been a model citizen. You got Randolph for basically nothing, even NY had to give up their 2005 lottery selection, in Channing Frye, to get him. Y'all just gave up a couple old role-players for a 27 year old 20 & 12 forward. Frankly, I thought the Knicks should have gotten DeAndre Jordan or Eric Gordon out of the deal, IMO, but I'm satisfied with the deal because it make LeBron and possibly Bosh in 2010 possible.

Anyway, if y'all can move Kaman and (a young player or draft pick) for Vince Carter y'all will be dangerous.

Camby, Randolph, R. Davis, Carter, B. Davis. (Thorton and Gordon) off the bench.

NY is looking to move Curry so maybe he'll be involved in a multi-team trade that will bring y'all Carter or Gerald Wallace or something.

[JJ LoDuca]

Also:

3. Gave us an untradeable contract.

and let's not forget:

4. Introduced a new Big Attitude level of difficulty in the locker room. Might as well have taken Marbury while we're at it.

This was the way I felt at first, but after watching last night's game with a critical eye, I'm starting to think this trade might not be so bad. If Z-Bo puts up the type of numbers he's made a career out of, I really don't give a damn how many friends he has in the locker room. What we're missing is a consistent scorer in the low-post, and if Z-Bo can come in and provide that, go ahead and slap that LAC jersey on his back. I'm still not sold on the Kaman-Camby-Randolph front court trio that Dunleavy was tryin to sell though. Playing those 3 at the same time?

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I just noticed that we have like 8 million treads for the same topic.