So, Baron Davis has agreed to a deal with the Clippers. If LA can close the deal by re-signing Elton Brand, does anybody else feel they have a great chance to break into the playoffs again next year? Davis and Brand will be a scary inside-out combination, and though they’re likely to lose talented scorer Corey Maggette and the comebacking point guard Shaun Livingston, the Clips will have one of the more solid bigs in the league in Chris Kaman, savvy vet Cuttino Mobley and first round pick Eric Gordon. I think if they want to win with Davis, they’re going to have to do it soon, before the injuries catch up with Baron’s feels-like-its-older-than-29-year-old body. That might mean they should cash in on second round pick DeAndre Jordan – a projected lottery pick that dropped to them as a steal in the second – whom experts don’t really expect to contribute for the next couple of years. Maybe send Jordan to a young team than can afford to wait for him to develop, like Chicago, Portland, or Minnesota.
Maggette might be the guy who holds the future of the league in his hands. Though the talented wing can command more than that, he’s being offered the mid-level exception by both the San Antonio Spurs and the recently-crowned Boston Celtics. If he does take it, I don’t see how a Duncan-Parker-Ginobili-Maggette or a Garnett-Pierce-Allen-Maggette led squad won’t be an instant favorite to win the championship next season. Of course, there’s Andrew Bynum and the Lakers, but I’m sure the rest of the league is following this decision intently.
LBJ in New York by 2010? In the race between the New York Knicks and the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets, I’m liking the Nets if I’m LeBron. Quality teammates in Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez, Sean and Marcus Williams, Nenad Krstic (if he’s staying) and whomever else they getting in return when they rid themselves of Vince Carter. That’s a good young team that’ll be continue to get better past 2010. New Yorkers better hope Danny Ferry in Cleveland can’t get the King a running mate, but with the talent level they have there, I’m not really sure how they can land an all-star to pair off with James.
And speaking of the Knicks, the signing of Chris Duhon will probably indicate the end of troubled star Stephon Marbury’s stay in the Big Apple. If he’s bought out, he might be a decent pickup for a talent-starved team that could use a former all-star. Or the risk of bringing in a guy with his character could scare off a good number of teams in the league. Is it the NBA or Italy (he professed an interest of relocating there at the end of his career) for Starbury? And does anybody really care?
Tags: Baron Davis, Clippers, Elton Brand, free agency, Knicks, LeBron James, NBA, Nets
July 5, 2008 at 7:23 pm
[...] Original post here [...]
July 10, 2008 at 2:26 pm
My personal views towards Davis is disappointed based on the fact that they didn’t keep Brand in the picture. It’s as if Davis has started back to square one.. with a worse team! Hopefully, the departure of Corey can lead to a better free agent signing.. if anyone is available! I say his future is with Boston replacing James “I won 2 championships in 3 years” aka “Horry 2.0″ Posey. Which is also a ludacris move releaving themselves of the man I believe who changed the tides for Boston’s Championship run.
As for LBJ! New York needs him badly. NBA needs New York to need him badly. But it’d be dope if Lebron was on a more young talented team owned by a personal friend, like Brooklyn Nets (The name sounds soo sick) Marbury just needs to get his act together. He’s not elite but is still talented. If there’s no room in the NBA.. I’d recommend him to just chill out.. wait his options till playoff time. I care Marbury!
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July 12, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Brand signing with Philly was a shocker Baron probably didn’t expect. Definitely a bad move by Baron cause I agree the Clips without Brand and Maggette is much worse than the Dubs.
Corey to the Warriors, i’m not sure about that. If i were him, I’d chase the championship right now. Him with Golden State minus Baron – i’m not even sure that’s a playoff team in the wild wild west (Portland’s footsteps are getting louder and louder… a 41-win team that gets Oden AND jerryd bayless? if im in the west, i’d start to worry).
would be funny to watch the LBJ sweepstakes in 2010. cause you know he can only pick one of the three teams (Nets, Knicks, Cavs) so can you imagine what the other two franchises will be like after they miss out on king james? saaaaad.