Andrew: Well, as long as they look him in the eye.
Brian: Side eye?
Andrew: What if Iverson's wearing sunglasses? Do they ask him to remove them?
Brian: Are they reflective, or the kind you can see through? That matters. Sometimes sunglasses are more a fashion choice. But those old-school cop glasses have got to go. Andrew: Does an eye patch throw a wrench into the work?
He has, assuming all the reports are correct, managed to execute what I might call a basketball miracle. Had he conjured the image of the Virgin Mary on a Spalding or somehow managed to make Steve Novak's jersey the league's best seller, I would have been no more shocked and impressed. I wish the Clippers played near a body of water, just so I could see the guy walk across it.
Yes, Mike Dunleavy moved Zach Randolph. To another team (Memphis, not that it really matters). In the NBA. One with uniforms, an arena, a paid GM and everything. I thought it impossible, one reason I called last season's deal that brought Randolph here one of the worst I'd ever seen. Not that they gave up anything of value (Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley) but in bringing Randolph to L.A., Dunleavy committed the Clips not only to the $14.67 owed Z-Bo for the '08-'09 season, but the $33.3 million he's scheduled to earn over the next two seasons. This for the single worst statistically productive player in the NBA, a living, breathing, occasionally running example of why fantasy sports aren't real sports.
Randolph gets his 20/10, which is commendable, but can't/won't pass, is (to say the least) an inattentive defender, shoots indiscriminately, and basically does none of the things that help basketball teams win outside of what Kevin Arnovitz, my friend over at ClipperBlog and ESPN.com's True Hoop, once referred to as Randolph's "fiefdom" of scoring and rebounding. Add in serious questions of attitude and character -- in his brief stint with the Clips he was twice suspended, once for punching Louis Amundson of the Phoenix Suns, then again after his arrest for suspicion of drunk driving (Note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly said Randolph was suspended for DUI.)-- and you really get a full picture of how lucky the Clippers are to be rid of him.
The Clippers announced today they extended a qualifying offer to forward Steve Novak, making him a restricted free agent. Novak averaged 6.9 points in 16.4 minutes last season; his season-high point total was 23 points and he scored 21 three times. Novak made just over $1 million last season.
Under league rules, the Clippers had until today to make an offer to Novak. Now, as a restricted free agent, he can sign an offer sheet with any team, but the Clippers have the right to match it.
In other moves, guard Ricky Davis ($2.4 million) has exercised his contract option for 2009-10, and forward Brian Skinner ($1.3 million) decided not to exercise his option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent. The team also decided not to exercise its team option on guard Alex Acker ($800,000).
-- Baxter Holmes
Photo: Steve Novak grabs a rebound over Marreese Speights on December 31, 2008. Photo credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Clippers rookie Blake Griffin was officially introduced to the media on Monday at the LAC training center in Playa Vista. The rookie from Oklahoma (the state and University) was the #1 overall choice in this season's draft, the consensus no-brainer after snagging the 2009 Naismith, Wooden, AP and National Player of the Year Awards. Basically, every honor except an Oscar (and the reasons he didn't even get nominated -- in my humble opinion -- were nothing short of political).
But is Griffin, who fell into the Clippers' lap after besting the 17.7% odds, capable of jump-starting this comically downtrodden franchise? That remains to be seen, but for what it's worth, fans can breathe easy knowing the kid smacks not even a hint of the last dude plucked at the same position eleven years ago. Beyond likely possessing more skill than Michael Olowokandi as we speak, Griffin is clearly more professional, hard working and motivated. The Kandi Man never seemed concerned about his performance unless it was a contract year. If Griffin washes out, I'd be stunned if apathy was the culprit. Take that for what it's worth as you watch the videos below
Mike Dunleavy doesn't exactly have a "player's coach" rep, instead known for being extraordinarily hands one and none too fond of latitude. That shouldn't be a problem for Griffin, since he's already survived a stint with one hombre of a coach, who also happens to double as his father. "I'm scared of my dad," smiled Griffin, who then praise the example set by both of his parents.
"Big basketball news: The Los Angeles Clippers had the No. 1 pick in today’s NBA draft -- and they selected last year’s college player of the year, Blake Griffin.
"Griffin says he's dreamed about playing professional basketball his entire life -- but he's also fine with playing for the Clippers.''
-- Andrew Malcolm
Photo: Conan O'Brien. Credit: Paul Drinkwater / Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The day started with (semi) carefully phrased talk about the Clipper on deck, Blake Griffin.
"Just have to speak in riddles," Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said Monday morning at the team's HQ in Playa Vista.
Said Assistant GM Neil Olshey: "There wasn't going to be any mystery involved. We jumped the gun with our excitement."
As chronicled by colleague Mark Heisler in Sunday's paper, the NBA was none too happy with Dunleavy's opting for candor when he told The Times in May, hours after the Clippers won the draft lottery, that, yes, they would be selecting Oklahoma power forward Griffin with the top pick.
(Hey, who among us hasn't flipped ahead in a mystery novel to read the ending?)
Thus, the phones and BlackBerries are only slightly less active for the Clippers than they normally would be in the days leading up to the NBA draft on Thursday.
Former Clippers first-round draft pick Shaun Livingston was spotted working out today at the Hawthrone Athletic Xchange as the NBA Development League held its pre-draft camp tryouts.
Livingston, whose career was derailed following a near-career-ending injury in 2007, was shooting around and going through light drills on the other half of the facility with Oklahoma City Thunder Coach Scott Brooks.
“I still got a little bit left” to be fully recovered, Livingston told The Times. “All my offensive stuff it seems like it’s getting there. It’s just endurance and explosion.”
Livingston returned this past season to play four games for the Miami Heat, who released him midway through the season in an apparent salary-cap move.
He then played 11 games for the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League, averaging 9.3 points and six assists.
“It was trials and tribulations,” Livingston said of this past season. “It was really humbling (playing in the D-League). But it was probably the best thing for me because it gave me my confidence back in my leg and showing me that I could play.”
Brooks said he plans to work out the next couple of weeks with Livingston, who still owns a home in Los Angeles.
-- Mario Aguirre
Photo: Shaun Livingston goes through a light workout at the Hanger Athletic Xchange in Hawthrone. Credit: Christina House / For The Times
It appears likely that longtime Clippers assistant coach Jim Eyen will join Paul Westphal's staff in Sacramento.
Westphal was hired earlier this month by the Kings.
The well-liked and highly respected Eyen has been an assistant on Coach Mike Dunleavy's staff not only with the Clippers but when they were with the Lakers and Bucks.
It could be the first of several off-season moves involving the Clippers coaching staff. An evaluation period is ongoing, as a whole host of contracts expire at the end of this month.
When you don't make the NBA playoffs, you have a lot of time on your hands.
Just ask Shaq, who spent all day Sunday on Twitter before Game 2 of the NBA Finals featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic. Now Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash -- and Shaq's teammate -- will cover Game 3 tonight for the Late Show with David Letterman. Nash's report will air on Thursday's show.
Maybe Nash will get a dig on Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who told reporters Sunday that he's turned down offers at one point to coach the U.S. and Canadian Olympic basketball teams.
"I was asked by the Canadians if I'd like to coach their Olympic team," Jackson said, without divulging exactly when that offer was made. "Steve Nash wasn't a mature enough player yet, so I had to turn that one down."
If Nash's appearance with Clippers guard Baron Davis in a video spoofing Step Brothers is of any indication, we should be in for a real treat on Thursday. For any who have missed out, enjoy the video below.
Given the excitement over the Lakers' Game 1 trashing of the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on Thursday night, you'd think they'd own the town right now. You'd be right. But good on the always spunky L.A. Clippers for trying to absorb any excess hoops energy circulating around town. Saturday afternoon they'll be bringing in presumptive No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin for a workout, one that will be fully open and available to the media.
You know, the hordes of hardwood writers that have descended upon the city to cover the NBA Finals. Best of all, the LAC are offering to pick the scribes up in El Segundo after the Lakers are done practicing, then deliver them back to the NBA media hotel in Hollywood when things are done.
Give them credit, it's a clever move. Savvy, even. Not something normally associated with the Clippers.
--Brian Kamenetzky
Photo: Future No. 1 pick Blake Griffin in action for Oklahoma. Credit: Associated Press
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