Wiretap: Lakers looking at Livingston

[JJ LoDuca]

But as crowded as the guard spot appears to be, it would not hurt the Lakers to take a long look at Shaun Livingston, who has been playing five-on-five, for at least the past week and a half, at fitness trainer Tim Grover’s Attack Athletics facility in Chicago.

http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/ ... not-shaun/

Talk about a slap in the face if the lakers pull this off. I guess dude better take his LA house off the market...

[dockingsched]

your title is misleading. the writer is simply saying that the lakers should look at shaun.

"it would not hurt the Lakers to take a long look at Shaun Livingston"

"It would behoove the Lakers to take at least a cursory look at Livingston because, according to several NBA insiders, if healthy he could be one of the NBA’s top backcourt players."

[mj_shoefanatic]

First L-O, Radman then Powell now Livingston(maybe)

[mkwest]

I'm still pissed that ATIII doesn't write/blog for the Clips anymore.

[jgustav1]

As a free agent, the Lakers are probably a very good fit for Livingston since Jackson has a history of preferring tall PGs. Whether or not he can be productive as an NBA PG again is certainly a question mark.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Livingston the next Ron Harper ala 2000 Lakers

[GuyverX]

Livingston the next Darius Miles without the success.

[JJ LoDuca]

Livingston the next Darius Miles without the success.

Oooh. Bitter, Guyv?

[GuyverX]

Livingston the next Darius Miles without the success.

Oooh. Bitter, Guyv?

Eh, a little. The fact that he's apparently not giving the Clippers first dibs on signing him after all of the support bothers me. But he's not even in the same stratosphere of disdain as Brand, Odom and Miller.

[mkwest]

I'm disappointed how the whole Livingston situation played out. On one hand I don't think he owes the Clippers anything as he was injured on the job, and the lack of long-term opportunity that he would have on the Clips. On the other hand, they did invest a lot in him over the years (high lottery pick, rejected trades for star players, 17 months support through his rehab) so it would have been nice to see him take the deal that was offered to him.

I have read that scouts have not been impressed with his play in the scrimmages and some feel that his days as a pg are over. I don't know how true that is since there have been conflicting reports as to where he's even been playing (UCLA or Chicago). However it plays out I wish him the best. I'll never forget watching him go down the way he did, and feeling absolutely disgusted. So if he's able to make a comeback I have to support it, I just wish it was with us.

[dockingsched]

On the other hand, they did invest a lot in him over the years (high lottery pick, rejected trades for star players, 17 months support through his rehab) so it would have been nice to see him take the deal that was offered to him.

they didn't do anything special. i mean, supported him through rehab? what does that even mean? he should be grateful they didn't waive his guaranteed contract?

here's a good write up on the livingston situation:

http://www.clipsnation.com/2008/8/21/59 ... -on-with-s

Now, let's try to get into Shaun's head a little. Why didn't he sign with the Clippers? After all, this is the team that drafted him, and he's been through 18 months of rehab with the training staff. Where is the loyalty?

The loyalty question is probably overstated. Livingston was under contract to the Clippers when his knee imploded. To say that the Clippers 'stood by him' through his rehab is really to misrepresent the situation. The Clippers did nothing extraordinary - any team would have done as much or more. What are they going to do? Waive him? They'd still have had to pay his guaranteed contract, so they'd be saving Jasen Powell and Richard Williams' time and one roster spot. Big deal. No team in the NBA would waive an injured lottery pick while there was any hope for a recovery.

Then there's the flip side. Was Livingston insulted that the Clippers didn't make a qualifying offer and renounced his rights? Give me a break. It's a business, and Livingston and his agent know full well that the Clippers couldn't tie up $6M on damaged goods for next season. So assume that, beyond simple inertia and familiarity, Livingston felt neither compelled to remain with the Clippers, nor anxious to get away.

He most likely is looking for three things: money, security, and opportunity. If the Clippers offered one year, that really only covers one of the three, and that at the minimum. It remains to be seen if he'll get a better offer, but he can hope, and I for one would not be surprised if he does. But the money and security issues are pretty straightforward - the more money, and the more years (a player option would be the best for him if he expects to make a full recovery) the better.......

[GuyverX]

they didn't do anything special. i mean, supported him through rehab? what does that even mean? he should be grateful they didn't waive his guaranteed contract?

For me, I was talking more about the support from the fans. We were all hoping he would recover in time to at least play a few games during last season. Then it got pushed to summer league...still nothing. Then he turns down the guaranteed contract. You can't fault him for wanting money and playing time but the fans had so much high hopes for him.

As far as the Clippers supporting him through rehab...you're right, any team would've done the same. It was all routine. Even the Blazers had to put up with Miles and his apparently futile rehab. But the Clippers did have a lot of faith him. Picking a HS PG at #4 and rejecting a proven superstar in Iverson all because they believed in his talent. Danny Ainge was always interested in Livingston while he was healthy and he was basically untouchable. Does that not warrant some type of loyalty? Even before the Clippers offered him that contract, he was already going to the media hinting that he didn't want to come back.

[dockingsched]

But the Clippers did have a lot of faith him. Picking a HS PG at #4 and rejecting a proven superstar in Iverson all because they believed in his talent. Danny Ainge was always interested in Livingston while he was healthy and he was basically untouchable. Does that not warrant some type of loyalty?

eh, not really. not like the clippers took a huge leap of faith. everyone thought livingston was a high lottery pick. before the draft scout.com said "If Livingston falls out of the top six on draft night, it’ll be an enormous surprise. He could go anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6". the clips weren't doing shaun any favors, he was going to go in the top 6.

Even before the Clippers offered him that contract, he was already going to the media hinting that he didn't want to come back.

yeah, thats why i suggested he should be booed when the clips board had a thread on that a while back. shaun doesn't owe the clips anything, but that sure doesn't excuse him from appearing to be counting down the days he could leave the franchise.

[mkwest]

On the other hand, they did invest a lot in him over the years (high lottery pick, rejected trades for star players, 17 months support through his rehab) so it would have been nice to see him take the deal that was offered to him.

they didn't do anything special. i mean, supported him through rehab? what does that even mean? he should be grateful they didn't waive his guaranteed contract?

Yes, most teams would have supported their lottery pick through an injury. Does that mean that because most would do it that it is not something that can be taken into account in the long run? It's not just helping a guy through an injury, it's also showing continued faith in the kid. A lot of people were ready to count him out for good when the devastating injury took place, but their trainers and doctors were there with him everyday through the process reassuring him and keeping his eyes on the ultimate goal. Special state of the art equipment was brought in to assist his recovery. If you want to see this as purely routine, that's fine as well. I do place more weight on the leap of faith that they have taken on him prior to injury, but over the years they've showed that they believed in him even when others didn't. On a side note, they didn't declare him out for the season with hopes of him and Brand returning at some point in time. I don't know if that affected us being able to receive an injury exception or not, but we definitely could have used all the extra bodies that we could get (with the exception being Smush).

I am rooting for Shaun as a person even more than Shaun as a player, so wherever he ends up I hope he does well. As a fan of this team, I would have liked to have seen him give us the opportunity to see this through.

[madmaxmedia]

here's a good write up on the livingston situation:

http://www.clipsnation.com/2008/8/21/59 ... -on-with-s

I think that link summed it all up pretty well. I think everyone pretty much meant well during the entire process, from draft day until now. But things don't always work out. Shaun could've taken the Clips offer, but it's not hard for another team to top their offer either. The Clips could've offered more, but don't really need to after signing BDiddy.

How far does 'loyalty' extend in either direction? The Clippers didn't reject the trade offers out of sentimental feeing, they thought he was worth more than what other teams offered. They're obviously (and justifiably) not quite as high on his potential anymore, hence the small offer.

It's not surprising to me that Shaun would want more than a 1-year offer at the minimum. But it's not surprising to me that the Clippers wouldn't offer more either.

[loflin3hree5ive]

I don't believe Shaun and the Lakers are a good fit for one another. I predict Shaun signs with either Golden State or Cleveland.

[dockingsched]

looks like gsw just became a much more attractive team for shaun to prove himself. monta ellis out til january.

[dockingsched]

from today's chris mullin conference regarding ellis' injury

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2 ... -tomorrow/

-Q: Are you interested in Shaun Livingston?

-MULLIN: Going to watch him work out Thursday, as a matter of fact…

-Q: With Monta out, would it be a problem for you to add another point guard who might not be ready right away, also?

-MULLIN: I think Marcus will be ready and C.J. will be ready. I’m just speaking of today, roster-wise. We use Stephen as a playmaker. Anthony, obviously we experimented with him during the summer. There will be some different ways we’ll look at things.

-Q: So Livingston’s status is…

-MULLIN: What Shaun’s status is… His status is what it is. We’re going to watch him work out tomorrow.

-Q: In Chicago?

-MULLIN: Yes.

-Q: Generally, do you like Livingston’s game?

-MULLIN: Yeah, I do.

-Q: Were you scheduled to watch Livingston before Monta’s injury?

-MULLN: Way before.

[loflin3hree5ive]

I hear Livingston's workout tomorrow is public. I'm curious to know if the Clippers will attend. Right now, Golden State sounds like the logical destination for Shaun. The Warriors should be grateful to have the opportunity to get Livingston. Talk about low risk/high reward. I still hold out hope the Clippers can sign Shaun, but if he goes to Golden State, I can't say I'd hold it against Shaun or the Warriors.

[ClipperDomination]

Agreed loflin, Golden State looks like the logical destination for Livingston. What a huge blow for Golden State though, gotta feel bad for them.