The Clipper General Board w/Random Thoughts, Youth Development, Ex Clippers Shinin', etc. Extravaganza

Ballings7 · Post #481 » by **Ballings7** » Tue Feb 10, 2026 1:20 am

So, that seems to be a true thing that probably happens. Interesting, out of nowhere.. maybe an expansion draft doesn't happen this summer, but if it did...

Just for kicks here's the 8 I'd set to protect today, and the rest not protected for draft pool; both with contract statuses into the summer, of the main roster. Some simulation of contract and roster statuses added for how things are now, to complete the secenario:

--Protected 8:
Kawhi
Garland
Mathurin (expires -> re-sign)
Collins (expires -> re-sign)
Yanic
Sanders
DJJ
Dunn

---Unprotected rest, have or making active contract status into next season:
Miller -- I'd prefer to protect him for depth purposes, but if he got drafted, Mathurin can kind of supercede him.

IJackson -- I'd prefer to protect him, even though he hasn't played a minute yet for LAC, but just knowing his game, and is not even 25 yet -- maybe Collins goes elsewhere though if he wants too much, and IJax replaces Collins. Between IJax and Yanic I'd take Yanic.

Lopez -- if brought back with team option, decent possiiblity, at least as of right now; also could well be not brought back.

Batum -- retires or re-signed on short deal.

Beal -- exercises PO; waived; signs elsewhere ultimately.

Christie

https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/LAC.html -- bit outdated (Miller and Sanders; but good enough)

Anyone else not listed is some kind of FA, not brought back, not protected etc. Also the variable of any external off-season additions not considered. Then see whos left not drafted.

Clemenza · Post #482 » by **Clemenza** » Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:42 pm

L. Frank let his man walk just to sell us on Mo Bamba and Kai Jones and neither made it past the all star break.. SMH

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Clemenza · Post #483 » by **Clemenza** » Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:44 pm

Ballings7 wrote:

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So, that seems to be a true thing that probably happens. Interesting, out of nowhere.. maybe an expansion draft doesn't happen this summer, but if it did...

Just for kicks here's the 8 I'd set to protect today, and the rest not protected for draft pool; both with contract statuses into the summer, of the main roster. Some simulation of contract and roster statuses added for how things are now, to complete the secenario:

--Protected 8:
Kawhi
Garland
Mathurin (expires -> re-sign)
Collins (expires -> re-sign)
Yanic
Sanders
DJJ
Dunn

---Unprotected rest, have or making active contract status into next season:
Miller -- I'd prefer to protect him for depth purposes, but if he got drafted, Mathurin can kind of supercede him.

IJackson -- I'd prefer to protect him, even though he hasn't played a minute yet for LAC, but just knowing his game, and is not even 25 yet -- maybe Collins goes elsewhere though if he wants too much, and IJax replaces Collins. Between IJax and Yanic I'd take Yanic.

Lopez -- if brought back with team option, decent possiiblity, at least as of right now; also could well be not brought back.

Batum -- retires or re-signed on short deal.

Beal -- exercises PO; waived; signs elsewhere ultimately.

Christie

https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/LAC.html -- bit outdated (Miller and Sanders; but good enough)

Anyone else not listed is some kind of FA, not brought back, not protected etc. Also the variable of any external off-season additions not considered. Then see whos left not drafted.

They want to expand now when the economy is in the toilet, mass layoffs, and Vegas is dying? :crazy:

Ballings7 · Post #484 » by **Ballings7** » Wed Feb 11, 2026 1:18 am

Kobe Brown Indy debut tonight at MSG.

Clemenza · Post #485 » by **Clemenza** » Wed Feb 11, 2026 6:08 pm

Ballings7 wrote:Kobe Brown Indy debut tonight at MSG.

I'm going to keep my eyes on this. Lue and company wanted Kobe to been too much of a three point shooter when he's a Draymond Green type of player... getting in the paint, defending, rebounding, bruising the opponent, and then shooting the occasional three ball.

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Ballings7 · Post #486 » by **Ballings7** » Wed Feb 11, 2026 11:41 pm

Clemenza wrote:
Ballings7 wrote:Kobe Brown Indy debut tonight at MSG.

I'm going to keep my eyes on this. Lue and company wanted Kobe to been too much of a three point shooter when he's a Draymond Green type of player... getting in the paint, defending, rebounding, bruising the opponent, and then shooting the occasional three ball.

Read on Twitter

Yeah kind of surprised he stepped up and had a solid game off the bat. Good for him, and like to see it.

I think he'll get plenty of time there, given Indy's approach rest of season, and be able to show what he can do.

Ballings7 · Post #487 » by **Ballings7** » Mon Feb 16, 2026 2:19 am

Watch on YouTube

Evening, Mr. Leonard ~ just a fun guy, having fun :-)

Incredible stuff. Shades of his 2020 ASG performance.. 2nd in MVP voting here; arguably should of won it, too.

Ballings7 · Post #488 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Feb 19, 2026 5:30 pm

Dalano Banton has moved on to Boston.

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Ballings7 · Post #489 » by **Ballings7** » Sun Mar 1, 2026 3:10 am

Watch on YouTube

JVG media scrum from earlier today.

A few interesting parts, particularily about the centers defensively, perimeter defense with Garland coming in changing the starters, increased team-speed defensively. Makes a joke about tanking at the end.

Clemenza · Post #490 » by **Clemenza** » Mon Mar 2, 2026 10:17 pm

Really good video right here on why players make it in the league while others don't. A ton of factors are involved.

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Ballings7 · Post #491 » by **Ballings7** » Tue Mar 3, 2026 3:49 pm

Watch on YouTube

off of the Warriors game, Dunn will likely stay to start next to Garland for this season. Dunn while 6'3", plays bigger than he is most nights defensively thanks to his length+strength; also a secondary ballhandler.

Add: Personally would prefer DJJ to start.

In the right world, Kris Dunn should really make an all-nba defensive team this season. Agree with Kawhi there.

Clemenza · Post #492 » by **Clemenza** » Fri Mar 13, 2026 6:50 pm

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Ballings7 · Post #493 » by **Ballings7** » Sat Mar 14, 2026 12:18 am

Indy Zubac debut.

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Ballings7 · Post #494 » by **Ballings7** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 3:58 am

Watch on YouTube

Luke Kennard .. wow - I can't help but enjoy that, even if its the Lakies.

Ballings7 · Post #495 » by **Ballings7** » Fri Apr 17, 2026 1:23 am

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Ballings7 · Post #496 » by **Ballings7** » Fri May 1, 2026 3:26 am

Congratulations to Moussa

Won NBA Hustle award

Once he gets his 3P range going, will be pretty dangerous two-way player. Darn shame he's not a Clipper, but fun to follow him.

Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate has won the 2025-26 NBA Hustle Award. The honor recognizes players whose effort-based contributions drive winning but rarely appear in traditional statistical categories.

Diabate's impact coincided directly with Charlotte's dramatic midseason turnaround. The Hornets went 9-20 through Dec. 22 before posting a 35-18 record the rest of the way, the sixth-best winning percentage in the league during that stretch. Dec. 23 marked Diabate's first game as a full-time starter.

The award is determined by a statistical formula tracking deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots, and box outs. Among the 124 eligible players, Diabate ranked first in offensive box outs per minute and fourth in screen assists per minute.

Diabate posted career-best numbers across the board in his fourth NBA season, averaging 7.9 points on 63.1 percent shooting, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals in 26.0 minutes per game. His 20 double-doubles nearly tripled his previous career total.

Dyson Daniels, Draymond Green, Cedric Coward and Josh Hart rounded out the top-5.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/285393/Moussa-Diabate-Wins-2025-26-NBA-Hustle-Award

MartinToVaught · Post #497 » by **MartinToVaught** » Fri May 1, 2026 5:03 pm

Watching Denver go out as embarrassingly as they did against the Wolves' MASH unit of backups just shows once again how Lue is the worst coach in the league and we need to move on from Kawhi (and were right to move on from Harden and Zu). Just maddening that we couldn't beat that team last year.

Roscoe Sheed · Post #498 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Thu May 7, 2026 4:44 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:Watching Denver go out as embarrassingly as they did against the Wolves' MASH unit of backups just shows once again how Lue is the worst coach in the league and we need to move on from Kawhi (and were right to move on from Harden and Zu). Just maddening that we couldn't beat that team last year.

the Denver team last year was quite different- Gordon was basically healthy and playing well, Braun was better- his ankle injury really set him back and Westbrook played out of his mind in some of the games.

Ballings7 · Post #499 » by **Ballings7** » Thu May 7, 2026 7:30 pm

Roscoe Sheed wrote:
MartinToVaught wrote:Watching Denver go out as embarrassingly as they did against the Wolves' MASH unit of backups just shows once again how Lue is the worst coach in the league and we need to move on from Kawhi (and were right to move on from Harden and Zu). Just maddening that we couldn't beat that team last year.

the Denver team last year was quite different- Gordon was basically healthy and playing well, Braun was better- his ankle injury really set him back and Westbrook played out of his mind in some of the games.

Also got Peyton Watson.. who took a leap this year from 3/D athlete wing last season, to legit two-way threat this season.. I think if Denver had both of those guys - they're playing the Spurs right now. Both were key to complimenting Jokic and Murray on both ends.

MartinToVaught · Post #500 » by **MartinToVaught** » Fri May 8, 2026 2:00 pm

Maybe a fully healthy AG could have made a difference, but I just think well-coached teams (so, in other words, not us) have figured out how to exploit Jokic and Murray's non-existent defense to the hilt, so IDK if they can still hide those guys when it matters by surrounding them with better defensive personnel like they could in the past.