ESPN talked about teams that will be improved

[Calinks]

That's the sad thing. I really can't complain. Especially if we are going to lose one of our current core guys. I think we may be in for another long season next year. I remember when we all thought last year was bad.

[Worm Guts]

Losing one of our core players won't make us worse. You'd have to hope a better fitting piece of similar caliber would be coming back.

[moss_is_1]

I still don't really agree with having Sac on there...Evans is good, but their 4/5 rotation is flawed because no one plays defense or is much of a threat.Hawes sucks, Thompson has regressed and Landry seems best as an energy sort of guy. Then they don't have capspace correct? Outside of Evans sacremento isn't really appealing...

[TheProdigy]

Rubio isn't coming over until the 2011/12 season, so we won't get any respect from the media until then.

[shrink]

1. MIN has better, and more, quality youth that will develop.

2. MIN's got three picks, one that is most likely Top 3, and Pekovic, who ESPN's Hollinger listed as the #3 pick a couple years ago -- that's a tremendous addition of talent.

3. The chance that LAC gets a quality free agent is just as bad as MIN's.

[Krapinsky]

Nice try.

1. MIN has better, and more, quality youth that will develop.

Which comes at the expense of cap space. Regardless, most free agents aren't looking for quality youth but a team that is ready to win now. Even so - our quality youth has lost 15 + games in a row. The Kings, Warriors, and Nets are basically all youth and they're is winning some games here and there. Objectively, it's hard to say our youth is better right now.

2. MIN's got three picks, one that is most likely Top 3, and Pekovic, who ESPN's Hollinger listed as the #3 pick a couple years ago -- that's a tremendous addition of talent.

"Most likely" equals what, 60%?
Hollinger? We continually bash him, but now we're relying on him for a scouting evaluation of a player he's probably never even seen in person? Pekovic also comes at the expense of our cap space.

3. The chance that LAC gets a quality free agent is just as bad as MIN's.

Not true. The Clippers have max $ and we don't. That alone gives them a higher chance. Not to mention Los Angeles is one of the more desirable markets and a lot of NBA players are from California/Los Angeles.

[moss_is_1]

Nice try.

1. MIN has better, and more, quality youth that will develop.

Which comes at the expense of cap space. Regardless, most free agents aren't looking for quality youth but a team that is ready to win now. Even so - our quality youth has lost 15 + games in a row. The Kings, Warriors, and Nets are basically all youth and they're is winning some games here and there. Objectively, it's hard to say our youth is better right now.

2. MIN's got three picks, one that is most likely Top 3, and Pekovic, who ESPN's Hollinger listed as the #3 pick a couple years ago -- that's a tremendous addition of talent.

"Most likely" equals what, 60%?
Hollinger? We continually bash him, but now we're relying on him for a scouting evaluation of a player he's probably never even seen in person? Pekovic also comes at the expense of our cap space.

3. The chance that LAC gets a quality free agent is just as bad as MIN's.

Not true. The Clippers have max $ and we don't. That alone gives them a higher chance. Not to mention Los Angeles is one of the more desirable markets and a lot of NBA players are from California/Los Angeles.

Its still the Clippers. They are cursed, everything they touch turns to broken knees.

[Narf]

How exactly are the Clippers going to improve next year? Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, and Deandre Jordan = 33.6 mil. Add in their draft pick and the empty roster spots and they're over 38 mil. So that "core" + 16 mil to fill out the roster = a good team?

[Esohny]

Shrug. The Clippers are dysfunctional, but if they hire a real coach and add Blake Griffin, the #10 pick (say Monroe, Davis, or Henry) and a quality free agent (like Rudy Gay) to Kaman, Gordon, Jordan, and Baron...that's a team that should do a hell of a lot better than 27 wins.

[The J Rocka]

Anybody really surprised by this? I mean we never get credit/or mentioned for anything (positive).

[Narf]

Shrug. The Clippers are dysfunctional, but if they hire a real coach and add Blake Griffin, the #10 pick (say Monroe, Davis, or Henry) and a quality free agent (like Rudy Gay) to Kaman, Gordon, Jordan, and Baron...that's a team that should do a hell of a lot better than 27 wins.

If Baron Davis goes down, they have no one to keep the ship afloat. And a rookie and almost rookie (Blake) in their 8 man rotation. I'm not saying they can't get better, clearly they can. But it's not exactly something I'd bet on. I don't care that we're off the list I just don't get the Clippers. The last time management had money they gave it to....Baron Davis. Color me skeptical.

[john2jer]

I wouldn't exactly call Baron Davis a strong point of the Clippers. He's finishing up his 2nd year in LALA, and making a promise for the 3rd year in a row that next year he'll give it everything he's got.

Either he's a liar, or he ain't got shiz. It's possible that "both" is the answer to that statement.

[shrink]

Nice try.

1. MIN has better, and more, quality youth that will develop.

Which comes at the expense of cap space. Regardless, most free agents aren't looking for quality youth but a team that is ready to win now. Even so - our quality youth has lost 15 + games in a row. The Kings, Warriors, and Nets are basically all youth and they're is winning some games here and there. Objectively, it's hard to say our youth is better right now.

OK, first, NJN has lost more games than MIN, and its hard to be impressed with the wins on any team. Second, our current youth doesn't come at the expense of cap space. We don't have to pay any of them big new contracts, since we moved Foye. I'm not addressing free agency here. And third, the other teams aren't all youth. Having an experienced PG like Baron Davis or Devin Harris should lead to more wins.

Gotta run. I'll address the rest later

[Breakdown777]

I think we are going to improve as well, but the Clips and Nets have the abiltiy to make the playoffs next year. They make more sense for bragging rights next season. SAC has me confused, but sports fans sure do love rookie of the year. Remember how Derrick Rose was supposed to make the Bulls like a 3 seed?

I'm really just awaiting the offseason, because hopefully some crazy stuff goes down and the entire dynamic of the league shifts.
Hopefully something like this come playoffs next year:
WEST
1. OKC
2. POR
3. LAL
4. DAL
5. DEN
6. MEM
7. UTA
8. LAC

EAST
1. MIA
2. ORL
3. CHI
4. NY
5. NJ
6. MIL
7. ATL
8. PHI

[Narf]

I don't think the Clips can make the lotto next year. Maybe NJ in the east...but certainly not the Clippers. Not even close. San Antonio is the #8 seed in the west, a half game behind Portland. They're going to beat those teams out?