Transaction Discussion Part 4 (Trades, Free-Agency, News, Rumors & Ideas)

[ejftw]

Much rather have Brown than Chinanu

[KL2]

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[esqtvd]

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Exhibit 10

[clipsfever]

Not having to give Moses a guarantee pre-camp is a win, if that's the case.

After Saturday in Vegas, Scrubb might want to race to accept a 2-Way before Moon does.

[KL2]

Is Morris the only guy we haven’t seen at the workouts/mini camps?

[esqtvd]

why he's still a FA

pass

[TrueLAfan]

Great article by Law Murray in The Athletic – actually a mailbag article, where he answers questions sent in. (No, don’t ask me to copy and print the whole thing—that dude works for a living, and this is what he does.) I’ll summarize briefly—although I suggest dropping a buck a month to subscribe. Murray is smart and produces good stuff.

--The backup C is a different issue this year. Last year, the backup C would have been an 11th/12 man. As Murray says, we’re (much) healthier and deeper this year—the backup C is more like a 15th man. It’s a fight for the last roster spot, and that’s where you put young players to try out. Murray thinks it’ll be Moses Brown. And, if we don’t see someone we like, you can leave the roster spot open—a veteran doesn’t need to go through training camp.

--Our depth is great, and kind of a problem. Figure we start Zu, PG, Kawhi, Mook, and Wall or Reggie. I will post a brief quote here.

Whoever comes off the bench between Reggie Jackson (the incumbent and known commodity) and John Wall (the better talent with several hurdles to clear) is who I consider the eighth man in the rotation, with Powell as the sixth man. I have Covington and Batum as the seventh and ninth men, respectively.

Thing is, there just isn‘t a whole lot of difference, imo (or Murray’s, I suspect, from the tone of his article) between starting Mook at PF and having Batum or Covington play there. Someone is expendable; he thinks it’s Mook. So do I.

--That rotation also has Kennard and Mann as 10th and 11th men, respectively. I’ve been saying this all summer—something has to give. That’s young talent at a decent price that we’re hoping doesn’t get much run. (Those guys get more than 15-20 mpg only if there are injuries.) Another quote:

I’d be shocked if the Clippers go a whole season without a trade. I’d be even more shocked if the trade they make does not include Morris and/or Kennard.

…which I agree with 100%.

[KL2]

Justin Bean (signed with Memphis) and Keaton Wallace (on the 24th) were waived recently.

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They’ve added:

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[KL2]

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[KL2]

The Clippers waived Moon, Fitts, and Darling.

I wonder who they’re looking at for the other 2-way contract?

[KL2]

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In the replies it says it’s the same for the other guys they’ve signed and waived too.

So the other 2-way contract is still open.

[ejftw]

Looks like Moses got the other two way spot... going to be interesting if the 15th spot is kept open until ten days and then the buy out market, or if Dwight is possibly linked

[esqtvd]

Looks like Moses got the other two way spot... going to be interesting if the 15th spot is kept open until ten days and then the buy out market, or if Dwight is possibly linked

I don't hate this Dwight idea at all

all he has to do is be tall and stand in the right place

he can still do this

[TrueLAfan]

I dunno. On paper, I agree. But o the court—I mean, guys just run around Howard now. He doesn’t have any sort of off ball movement. Last year, he was the worst player on his team that played 600+ minutes in on-off. And that was on a really, really, bad team. And he’s a year older. I just—I think his time is done.

To me, it kinda shows the value of intelligence. I said this in a post about Trezz and Blake. Blake’s physical limitations are massive now. There are games where he simply can’t play from a physical perspective. But he’s adjusted to those losses better than I every would have imagined. I’m not saying he’s a really good player now—but even with lousy agility, he knows where to go and often gets there in time. He goes out to set picks now. He draws fouls, especially charges. If he still has range, he’s an overall plus, and that includes in playoff time. In the 2021 playoffs with the Sixers—his last postseason appearance--Howard was a -20.3 per 100 possessions in on-off. That’s not a typo. It’s just incredibly, mind bogglingly bad.

I don’t know what we’re going to do now, but if I were the Clipper front office, I’d keep the roster spot ready for the buyout market. If it looks like we’re healthy and headed toward a lengthy playoffs run, I’d rather have it be with Diabate developing some as a 14th man during the season, and with a good vet pickup that could give us 10-15 mpg.

[esqtvd]

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[wco81]

One thing I remember about Howard was that he got in Jokic's face after Denver beat the Clippers in the Bubble playoffs and then played the Lakers next.

It looked like he intimidated Jokic, was saying something to him.

Of course that was a few years ago and the refs would probably protect Jokic by putting Howard in foul trouble.

[STAT_88]

What does everyone think the Clippers best rotation is when Kawhi is back to starting? I think its this.

Zubac/Batum
Covington/Morris
Leonard/Mann
George/Powell
Wall/Jackson

I think Morris offense is wasted starting next to Leonard and George. And his defense is average at best and his rebounding is poor. Clippers are better of putting a better defender like Covington in against opposition starters and bring Morris off the bench when Leonard and/or George is resting. You keep the 3 point shooting and spacing with Roco and you get the extra rebounding and defense.

Kennard would be in the rotation too competing with Jackson, Mann and Powell for minutes in the backcourt.

Ideally you have Covington as your C when Zubac is out so you'll have to stagger Zubac and Covington's minutes. Maybe take Zu out after 6 minutes in the first, Roco plays the entire first quarter, Zu comes back in to start the 2nd and Roco comes back in at the 6 minute mark of the 2nd to play out the rest of the half. You can either keep Zubac in for the entire 2nd or take him out after 6 minutes. Roco is fine as a small ball 5 in todays NBA due to his shot blocking ability.

[STAT_88]

^ If you struggle to keep one of Zubac and Roco on the floor at all times you can start Batum at the 4 and bring Roco off the bench to back up Zu. That gives the bench unit some rim protection while still giving the starting lineup spacing and shooting.

[nickhx2]

What does everyone think the Clippers best rotation is when Kawhi is back to starting? I think its this.

Zubac/Batum
Covington/Morris
Leonard/Mann
George/Powell
Wall/Jackson

I think Morris offense is wasted starting next to Leonard and George. And his defense is average at best and his rebounding is poor. Clippers are better of putting a better defender like Covington in against opposition starters and bring Morris off the bench when Leonard and/or George is resting. You keep the 3 point shooting and spacing with Roco and you get the extra rebounding and defense.

Kennard would be in the rotation too competing with Jackson, Mann and Powell for minutes in the backcourt.

Ideally you have Covington as your C when Zubac is out so you'll have to stagger Zubac and Covington's minutes. Maybe take Zu out after 6 minutes in the first, Roco plays the entire first quarter, Zu comes back in to start the 2nd and Roco comes back in at the 6 minute mark of the 2nd to play out the rest of the half. You can either keep Zubac in for the entire 2nd or take him out after 6 minutes. Roco is fine as a small ball 5 in todays NBA due to his shot blocking ability.

knowing that wall's still got it, for a day in-day-out rotation, i mostly agree with this. but right now kennard is just too good to not be in the rotation, and that means overtaking reggie if it comes to it, since powell and mann can also handle the ball some.

[ERClips]

I agree with that 100%.
Based on what Reggie did for us last season we know he thrived in extended PT & being relied upon to be a primary scorer.
This year is very different because of Wall & so far in the small sample of games, Reggie has been ineffective. I hope he can adjust and fit more minutes of excellent play in less PT. They all have to do that now actually.