Is the season already over for the Clippers?

Leave it to the Clippers to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Wasn't it just a few days ago that eyebrows were raised and hopes were lifted upon hearing the news that all-star point guard Baron Davis was going to leave Golden State and star in the Clip Show? Quicker than one could say "a pair of season tickets, please" came the just-as-shocking news that two of the best Clippers were setting sail elsewhere: Elton Brand to the 76ers and Corey Maggette to the Warriors.

How could this happen so quickly? Will Davis live up to his commitment to come to L.A.? Did Brand and Maggette make the right moves by leaving a Clipper team that, if they had stayed, would have been truly competitive with young center Chris Kaman? But the real question is, is it already over for the Clippers before it even started? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

-- Tony Pierce
   
Photo of Corey Maggette and Elton Brand by Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[dilly]

thats what you get clipper fan

[Warrior]

seems like money is making the nba go round along with the world. no more, commitments, moral values or even business ettiquette!

its done and over the devil not only ruined the world he freakn ruined my NBA!

[David]

Well it appears that the Clippers and the 76ers offered equivalent money (80 million), and the Warriors offered Brand 90 million, so it really has nothing to do with the money.

[Ryan]

Its not over yet. The clippers need to do what ever they can to sign Josh Smith. His stats from this year are just as good as Brands, if not they are better. Plus, he would be a fantastic player to complement Davis. Give everything to get Smith and if they cant, go for okafor.

[toad]

This franchise has been completely lost since they screwed Buffalo all those years ago.

Proof positive there is such a thing as karma.

[Randeezy]

Seems like the Clip show can't catch a break. I wonder why Elton left the Clippers to join the Sixers for the same amount of money. Didn't Golden State offer him over 100 mil?

The Sixers will be fun to watch nonetheless. They're already on a come up and adding Brand moves them up to at least a 5th seed in the east.

[eclipse]

Corey Maggette is a Richard Jefferson type (although his perimeter shooting developed late) and aside from his FT he's not that special. I'm kinda glad he's gone, he wasn't a type of a player who could place the team on top. Al Thorton should fill the 15-17 ppg void left by Maggette's absence with consistent playing time.

The Clips finally have a point guard (no more second tier options like B-Knight or Cassell), how about improving on scoring and 3 point shooting?

[jack n]

why play for clippers?...terrible owner and lousy gnl manager(elgin baylor)I think hes still the one??.get what they deserve.

[Will]

It's over for the Clipper and forget commitment its all about money. We see players getting large contracts but in reality how much money do they donate to their communities? I feel very Betrayed as a Clipper fan I guess I might jump the van wagan and become a LAKER fan.

[Dan]

I'm a huge clippers fan. Really, a sucker for this team. But the reality of this news is that the Clippers Front Office is as inept as it was 20 years ago. The same cast of characters are still running the organization: Andy Roeser, a bean counter who was promoted to run the team at age 26. Elgin Baylor, a failed coach for the New Orleans Jazz, who was managing chicken restaurants at the time he was hired as GM. Carl Lahr, the SVP of Sales/Marketing - another 20+ year employee - who was a sales rep for 10 years prior to his current role.

I ask the question: How could the front offivr screw this up? Agreeement from a premier point guard, a deal worth 80 million - and he's still leaving? It sends a huge message about the ineptness of the organization.

[mike]

I think season for Clippers is absolutely over if Baron Davis will be going to be the only star there. Why? because it is pretty sure he (Davis) won't matchup well with his new coach.

[Mike]

Clippers management should be blamed for failure. Why weren't they willing to offer Brand more money? Then why didn't they give Magette a chance just in case Brand was to go elsewhere? At least with Baron Davis and Magette, there would have been a solid enough team to be playoff bound. Now, the Clippers are once again rebuilding around young players like Al Thornton, and Baron Davis and Chris Kaman (a solid nucleaus). While I say that the Clippers are at least one and perhaps two good players away from contention, they really blew a huge opportunity to elevate position in a very tough Western Conference. With teams like Portland, New Orleans, even Golden State with Magette, not to mention all of the other Western conference playoff teams, the Clippers will be in trouble for a while.

[Greg]

Clippers should sign Turiaf to take Brand place

[Jon K.]

Urgh.

I still can't believe the Brand left. What the hell.

[MichaelCage!]

Its a sad day for the Clippers organization, and even a sadder day for Elton Brand. EB had always carefully cultivated his stand-up public persona and presented himself as an all around nice guy; hard working, dedicated, loyal to his teammates, and a quiet leader. In one move, he torched that persona and destroyed whatever integrity he had, not only as a basketball player, but as a man.

He could have been honest with the Clippers and made his intentions clear; that he wanted out, that he preferred to play in the East, etc and the Clips could have acted accordingly. But he strung the orgnization along, demanding that we get someone like Baron Davis (we did), all the while using the Clippers to drive up the bidding for his services.

This is worse than what Boozer had done to Cleveland. Perhaps Duke University fails to properly instruct its young athletes on the principles of integrity, honesty, and character.

Norman Mailer once wrote that in the Latin world, a man is not defined by who he is every day, but is defined by his best days and his worst. Because it is only in those brightest or darkest moments that he reveals his true self and shows the world who he was truly meant to be.

Elton has not only betrayed his public persona and code of honor, he has betrayed himself. He has betrayed the trust that the Clippers organization and the fans have invested in him--in the belief that he was a stand-up guy, someone with integrity who was true to his word and commitment. He proved himself to be less than Gilbert Arenas, and maybe even Baron Davis in terms of character. In short, he has revealed himself to be nothing more than another greedy NBA player; carefully crafting his public persona for endorsement contracts and looking out for himself above all. I suppose you can't blame a man for that in this day and age. But the hypocrisy that he represents is disturbing. Rarely has an athlete's public persona and true self been so divergent. Rarely has an athlete been able to deceive so many people for so long in our cynical time.

I usually wish former Clippers well on their next team and cheer them from afar. I will not be doing that for Elton.

[C Thomas]

Yes, who wants to win in Clip-ville and still be in Kobe's shadow? Philly is a good fit with lots of young talent.

[terry swann]

They're the Clippers. What did you expect?

[J-rock]

shame on you Elton -- you and your agent Falk are both LIARS -- good riddance and have fun Sixers fans when Elton blows out his ACL next season

[Clip Fan]

The 2:19pm post by Michael Cage says it all. Brand has ruined his reputation and worse, the hope that good, honest, and decent athletes exist in pro sports.

Elton is going to be a father this fall, and as a father, he might want to begin thinking about the consequences his actions will have on his children. Lying, being deceptive, and untrustworthy is not being much of a role model, or a man, if you ask me.

[chris]

So tell me how what Brand did is so different from what BD did? BD said that he would come back the whole season, only to say that he's opting out of his contract. People in the Bay Area don't go about flaming him and saying that he is "no longer a man." BD did what was best for him and we're all happy for him. You LA fans never have any heart or even understanding. It's a down right shame. Love your team for what they're worth and just because a player leaves doesn't mean you should go about and talk smack about him. Be proud that he was once on your team and leave it at that.

And yes, the Clippers' management sucks. Real bad. Maggette could of left, but Brand? How can they not give an arm and a leg to keep a man who's supposed to be their leader, albeit quiet? Clippers would have had a great squad if the management had just acted quicker and more accordingly. But for now, Clipper's are screwed.

[Jose Parra]

I think that BRAND took the easy way out he knows the EAST is weak and it would be easier for him to make it farther in the playoffs. As for the clippers there is still a good Squad...

PG Davis
SG Mobley/Eric Gordon
SF Thornton
PFJosh Smith/Josh Powell if they can get him from the hawks!
C Kaman

Not bad!! and now that they dont have to pay EB and Maggete that much money, they have more money to improve!

[Jason Shaffer]

Who cares! This is a Lakers town, always has been and always will be.

[AW]

Well it just shows that nobody really wants to play for the Clippers. From the Merry Go Round coaches, to the lousy lottery picks, to the losing free agents. They should have locked up Brand way before he even had an option to leave if they were serious.

The NBA players must feel that the Clippers is just a place to get a pay check, until they can go to a team that they really want to play for. Have they ever been able to keep a player for at least 8-10 years.

Clippers are a joke and will continue to be viewed as a 2nd rate franchise.

[Clipper fan for life!!]

Sad to see Brand go, but life goes on. That's his decision to make, Philly in the east becomes and instant contender. Clips need to push hard for J.Smith or Okeafor, The upside is there and they proved they can hang with any 4 in the league!!

[Javier Solis]

Brand should have stayed in LA. Maybe he could have gone to that other Purple and Gold Team across the hallway. This is nothing short of betrayal. DOWN WITH THE PHILADELPHIA! DOWN WITH DETROIT! DOWN WITH BOSTON!