It's really LeBron or nothing

[Clip34life]

I just don't see anyone else being a fit either due to position or money demanded. This is assuming we don't trade Kaman for a SF and then target a center. Even then, I would try and get a stop-gap at center and see how Jordan develops. Looking at the top FAs.

1. LeBron - Fills our gap in the starting lineup and makes us a perennial contender. I didn't believe this before, but I just feel as long as we have Donald Sterling we'll never get a high-profile star like LeBron. It would've helped TREMENDOUSLY if Blake Griffin played last year and showed that he was a high-level player so Bron would be confident he was the missing piece. As it stands, there are too many questions with this roster on top of our ownership for Bron to want to commit here. The only way this might work would be if the following four things happened aka "the perfect storm:"
1) Young players: Griffin plays in summer league and either equals or better yet surpasses his performance from last year. This is essential to prove to Bron Blake is recovered and ready to dominate. If we can get Jordan to play in summer league if he is eligible and he dominates that's a cherry on top. Same with Gordon. It would also help if our 1st round pick turned out to be a stud in summer league.
2) Flexible contract: Bron is amenable to a 3 year contract. I don't think LeBron would want to commit for 6 years given our history but may risk a 3 year contract to see how the team develops and how he likes management in addition to the development of his entertainment pursuits.
3) Incentives: We can get a coach LeBron really wants to play with i.e. Phil Jackson or we let LeBron choose the coach he wants to play with. We also should provide LeBron with an opportunity to acquire an ownership stake in the team ala the Kobe deal.
4) Baron. Baron needs to sell LeBron on this team and Baron's ability to take the leadership reins and pressure off of LeBron.

Wade- Not coming here over Miami/Chicago. Plays same position as Gordon

Bosh/Boozer/Lee- Griffin

Amare-Kaman.

Johnson- Would have to overpay to get him. He's a ball hog and would be small playing the SF spot

Allen-Food for thought. We already have Gordon though. We would have a very talented 6th man though but still a hole at the SF spot

Rudy Gay- Don't believe in this guy. Think he's Maggette 2.0. That may be a little harsh but ask yourself if you gave this guy tons of money does he get us to the Finals? WCF? Playoffs? I think we would be a perennial 6-8 seed at best with this guy unless Griffin and Gordon really take off along with Jordan.

[ClipperEric]

Of course LeBron's our first choice, but realistically? Come on, we're the clippers. I say he ends up in Chicago.

My 2nd choice is Amare. He's a borderline superstar and an absolute animal. We probably have to deal Kaman afterwards but that's not such a bad thing. He's our best trading asset right now.

Bosh? Maybe, he's had a bad year with injuries and I don't get to see him play much.

I don't really want any of the rest. Wade, yes, but again, no chance in hell.

[Sofia]

I don't see Amare if we have Griffin.

Griffin's style of play when he gets toward his ceiling is too similar to what Amare brings already.

[mkwest]

Summer League starts July 9th. Contracts can be signed on the 8th. LeBron (and most big name FAs) wouldn't be able to see the guys play in Summer League before making a decision.

[mkwest]

Bring LeBron to the L.A. Clippers

Also, Clipper Darrell is planning on organizing a parade as a statement of Clipper Nation's desire to have LeBron join the Clips.

[jflipclip]

I don't buy the argument that because they play the same position, we shouldn't sign them. This applies to Wade, Bosh, and Amare.

With Wade, what matters more importantly is his ballhandling ability. He could easily play offguard to Gordon.

I don't think Griffin will be that big of a contributor this upcoming season, thus it's still possible to give the majority of the minutes to Bosh or Amare. And if our next coach is smart, we'll be full throttle on a more uptempo type of system, so trading Kaman in expense for more playing time for both Griffin and either Bosh or Amare does seem likely.

At this point, I think we'd be overpaying Johnson moreso than Gay. Yes, Johnson's disappointing post season affects my opinion that much.

but yes... Lebron is our main priority, and a lot of other teams' priority too this offseason.

And with Baron... he doesn't need to sell Lebron, we need to sell Baron away to a suitor. Well, it greatly depend on our next coach, but I wanna see a new fresh PG running our team.

[donemilio21]

http://sports.espn.go.com/losangeles/nb ... id=5191869

"Clippers may be the place for LeBron
From a purely basketball perspective, L.A.'s other team makes a lot of sense for James"

[mkwest]

May 27th Clipper fans will rally at LA Live prior to what is to be game 5 of the Lakers/Suns series. Now if the Lakers get swept, then everything changes. It's a nice gesture and could either come off as a success or be a total bomb. It all depends on how many people show up. It will begin at 3 but will go on until around tip-off. Local media will be there and I'm sure Barkley and co. will speak on it.

I'm sure that there will be a lot of heckling Laker fans, so try not to let them get to you if anybody here goes. I doubt that I'd be able to make it due to the time, but I'll be there in spirit.

[panthermark]

How about Deng at SF? He can be had for free if Bron goes to Chicago....

[thanumba2clippersfan]

May 27th Clipper fans will rally at LA Live prior to what is to be game 5 of the Lakers/Suns series. Now if the Lakers get swept, then everything changes. It's a nice gesture and could either come off as a success or be a total bomb. It all depends on how many people show up. It will begin at 3 but will go on until around tip-off. Local media will be there and I'm sure Barkley and co. will speak on it.

I'm sure that there will be a lot of heckling Laker fans, so try not to let them get to you if anybody here goes. I doubt that I'd be able to make it due to the time, but I'll be there in spirit.

Too bad I won't be back in Cali by them, I also seems to miss the cool stuff that goes on for the Clippers

[madmaxmedia]

There are a few guys that obviously worth more than a max contract (Bron, Wade) so obviously anyone with such a slot available would be happy to sign them.

After that, you really have to be careful. No reason to get into a bidding war (not that I'm afraid Sterling is gonna do this) to pay Joe Johnson (who is a fine player) the same amount of money some other team is going to pay LeBron James.

I would love to basically trade Amare for Kaman. I am kinda rooting for him to re-sign in Phoenix though, as I like that team (love Nash!)

Of course LeBron's our first choice, but realistically? Come on, we're the clippers. I say he ends up in Chicago.

My 2nd choice is Amare. He's a borderline superstar and an absolute animal. We probably have to deal Kaman afterwards but that's not such a bad thing. He's our best trading asset right now.

Bosh? Maybe, he's had a bad year with injuries and I don't get to see him play much.

I don't really want any of the rest. Wade, yes, but again, no chance in hell.

[Sofia]

After watching the first 2 games of Suns V Lakers, I now have zero interest in Amare. I would rather Bosh. To say he is a bad defender is an insult to Jose Calderon. Amare was clueless tonight...

[loflin3hree5ive]

http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=190964&t=0

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James was spotted house searching in a nearby Chicago suburb, according to a report Tuesday by WGN.

The free agent was reportedly observed checking out a for-sale mansion in Highland Park, who is a short drive from the Chicago Bulls' practice facility, according to the report.

The report comes one day after the Chicago Tribune detailed that NBA teams interested in James may also have to take on Kentucky's John Calipari as his coach.

According to this report, NBA power broker William Wesley is close to obtaining certification as an agent for coaches and is using his broad base of contacts to package James and Calipari to teams with salary cap room and coaching vacancies. Those teams include the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

In case anybody doesn't know much about "World Wide" Wes: http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/200706/william-wesley-worldwide-wes-nba-basketball

Bring on Coach Cal!

[mkwest]

I thought I read on here that W3 hadn't even approached the Clippers about that package.

[loflin3hree5ive]

Also, I think we have LeBron to thank for the falling out of the Chris Kaman for Ben Wallace trade last June with Cleveland. This assumption comes as a result of reading this article:
[url]
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/ ... _GM_bucher[/url]

Two opposing GMs, without citing specific examples, said they know James has vetoed deals Ferry would have made over the past few years.

I can't find a link, but Stein(?) tweeted last summer that a Kaman to Cleveland deal went through, days before Shaq was dealt there.

[donemilio21]

The parade is tomorrow. Is anyone going? I can't make it because I live 2 hours away and my class schedule doesn't allow it.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm still in Pennsylvania

[mkwest]

Blake Griffin wants LeBron in LA

[mkwest]

Kevin Arnovitz shares some words on the parade. Includes a video of the parade and interviews with Clipper Darrell and a few other fans.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'm getting the feeling that we're not going to get any of the top free agents

I did enjoy watching that small video on the rally since I wasn't there, I'm still mad about that