Clippers News

"Elton Brand and Corey Maggette of the Los Angeles Clippers could have expiring contracts going into next season and therefore be trade-deadline bargains. The same could be true for Sacramento forward Ron Artest and Washington guard Gilbert Arenas. And New Orleans guard Jannero Pargo, Philadelphia guard Andre Miller and swingman Andre Iguodala, Portland sharpshooter James Jones, and Toronto guard Carlos Delfino, to name a few."

"It's somewhat of a tradition. But this year, the bounce of the ping-pong balls and all the hope and anxiety that bob with them will be felt twice by the Clippers. Because the Clippers ended the season 23-59, tied with the New York Knicks for the league's fifth-worst record, today NBA executive Stu Jackson is scheduled to pull a ping-pong ball that will determine which club has a higher percentage chance of landing the top draft pick. "

"It took 82 games and 55 wins. It took the adjustment from a coaching change and the injury to Yao Ming. It took everything from the disheartening slump to 15-17 to a 22-game winning streak. But after all the Rockets have been through, they finished the season with what they wanted most, a do-over. After finishing the regular season with a feel-good, 93-75 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, the Rockets returned to the playoffs just where they were when last season ended, hosting the Utah Jazz."

"The Clippers put up a fight for a half Tuesday night before the New Orleans Hornets decisively clinched the No. 2 seeding in the Western Conference playoffs with a 114-92 victory."

"David West scored 32 and Chris Paul had 12 during a decisive run in the quarter as the Hornets clinched the Southwest Division by beating the Clippers 114-92."

"It came after the Hornets registered their sixth consecutive sellout and their 12th in the past 17 games as 17,388 fans saw the Hornets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-92 to win the franchise's first division title, secure at least the No. 2 seed in the upcoming playoffs and push their average attendance to 14,738 since Dec. 1."

"Does Elton Brand opt out of the last year of his contract? Does Corey Maggette do the same? Who is the team's starting point guard? How does Shaun Livingston fit into plans? What about their lottery pick?"

"Speaking about his future for the first time, Marion confirmed our earlier report that he ''definitely'' would like a contract extension and will have agent Dan Fegan ask the Heat for one this summer -- even though Miami's seemingly in no position to do that because it wants big salary-cap space in 2009... The Heat might not get a chance in '09 to lure Elton Brand, who hasn't decided whether to opt out this summer instead. "

"Bowling-ball-type point guard Baron Davis bowled them Saturday. Tonight, most-valuable-player candidate Chris Paul looks to dart and dodge his way through the line. With two games remaining, the Clippers have seen their share of opposing point guards go past, through and by them. It figures to be a position they need to upgrade this summer -- be it through the draft, trade or free agency."

"But they can file a claim that should protect them from paying the entire $15.344 million salary guaranteed to Brand, their leading scorer and rebounder who missed most of the miserable season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon. For the team that so often seems to be without a plan, the Clippers have taken out one that could save them more than $6 million."

"Clipper forwards Elton Brand and Corey Maggette have played together for the past seven seasons. That bond could end this summer because both Brand and Maggette can opt out of their contracts July 1."

"After a long pause, Al Thornton finally answers the question lingering in the air. "I'd have to say a C," he said. "It's pretty low. I can't grade myself any higher. Consistency is the main thing for me. I've been up and down.""

"Now, they wait. Everything broke in the Warriors' favor Saturday with Golden State holding off the Clippers 122-116 and the Nuggets getting hammered in Utah. "

" That "one thing" is all that stands between the Warriors and a chance at new life in their ever-twisting playoff quest. Rebounding from the crushing disappointment of Thursday's head-to-head loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Warriors held off the Los Angeles Clippers 122-116 in a wire-to-wire victory that felt anything but safely in hand for much of the evening."

"In their latest loss, Thursday's manhandling by the Lakers, Elton Brand and Al Thornton combined to make 19 shots. The rest of the team converted only 11 of 46 shots."

"Chalk it up as some mandated spring cleaning. The Lakers swept aside their hallway brethren, the finale of the season's four-game series capped with a 106-78 victory over the Clippers on Thursday night at Staples Center."

"Trying to figure out exactly how good the Lakers are couldn't be gleaned from their meeting with the Clippers. Perhaps everyone will find out that gauge tonight. The Lakers blasted the Clippers with a 106-78 blowout victory Thursday night at Staples Center. But the Lakers quickly turned their sights to tonight's meeting with the top team in the Western Conference - the New Orleans Hornets."

"The Lakers, playing for the top spot in the Western Conference and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, brushed past the Clippers on Thursday night, completing a season sweep with a 106-78 win. Now bring on the big boys, in a weekend at Staples Center that could determine the Lakers' playoff position."

"It was the Clippers' designated home game Thursday night at Staples Center. It just didn't sound like it. With most of a sellout crowd of 20,084 cheering on the Lakers, and MVP chants for Kobe Bryant reverberating through the building, it definitely was a non-court advantage night for the Clippers. As for the game itself, there was not much difference from the three previous meetings between Los Angeles' two NBA teams this season. It was the Lakers' show, as they won, 106-78."

"Like many NBA analysts, Coach Mike Dunleavy said the obvious choices in the top two slots would be Memphis point guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley. Both are freshmen and although neither has declared for the draft, both are expected to. "I don't care who's picking," Dunleavy said. "Those guys are going one and two. I don't know what you need, don't care what you need. Those two guys are going one-two.""

"Michael Beasley, Kansas State's freshman All-American forward, attended Thursday night's Lakers-Clippers game at Staples Center and was not short on confidence... Beasley, who sat behind the Clippers' bench Thursday next to actress Penny Marshall, had a quick response when informed of Dunleavy's assessment. "Hmm, I wouldn't say Rose," said the 6-foot-10 Beasley, who also was asked if watching NBA players such as Kobe Bryant in person gave him any doubts about whether he could play at that level. "No, I can play with anybody.""

"A win tonight wouldn't be the be-all and end-all cure for the Clippers. There are too many losses piled on top of one another for that. Still, the Clippers could take some solace away by winning their final home game against the Lakers tonight and making life a bit more difficult for their hallway counterparts... The Clippers may have the services of forward Corey Maggette, their leading scorer. He missed Tuesday's loss to the Denver Nuggets with a strained right hamstring, but his status was updated to probable. He did not practice Wednesday, instead doing some light shooting."

"The roles were reversed Tuesday with Brand taking the court in reduced roulette and Maggette (hamstring) and Kaman (ankle) sidelined. Things were not easier on the other side, as the Clippers lost, 117-99, to the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. "

"Like a college kid who overslept during an exam, the Nuggets woke up Tuesday, realizing the disaster they dozed through. As if to make up for two shameful losses to draft lottery-bound teams, Denver destroyed the Los Angeles Clippers 117-99 on Tuesday night.' "

"The Nuggets and the Warriors both took care of business Tuesday night. They meet Thursday in Golden State, with the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff berth likely on the line. The Nuggets beat the Clippers 117-99 at the Staples Center. The Warriors, meanwhile, defeated Sacramento 140-132 at home."

"Clippers center Chris Kaman is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a sprained ankle, but the status of Corey Maggette is not as certain. Maggette has a strained right hamstring, and, like Kaman, missed Tuesday night's game against Denver."

"They were sometimes side by side, other times crisscrossing from trainer's table to physical therapy and back again. One is playing. One is still rehabbing. But now Shaun Livingston is looking to Elton Brand's healthy return from a ruptured Achilles' tendon for motivation. "

"In a wisp, the Clippers were again short-handed. And again steamrollered, 105-79, by the Houston Rockets, who clinched a Western Conference playoff spot at Staples Center before 17,932."

"Even with Brand's return, though, the outcome was similar to many of the Clippers' other defeats this season as they lost to the Houston Rockets 105-79 Sunday night."

"Theirs was a more businesslike grab of a playoff spot, so the Rockets handled the Los Angeles Clippers with a business-as-usual 105-79 win."

"The highs and lows -- the joys and frustrations -- have already rippled through Elton Brand."

"In some aspects, this has been the most boring year of Shaun Livingston's life. The Clippers' 22-year-old guard has been with the team on nearly every trip this season and has been on the bench for nearly every game."

"Elton Brand returning on the road when he did was a surprise. There will be no such surprise when he makes his home debut Sunday against the Houston Rockets. It is the last stretch of games for the Clippers -- three at home and three on the road -- wrapping up an injury-riddled and ultimately disappointing season."

"How spur of the moment was Elton Brand's season debut Wednesday against the Seattle SuperSonics? His mother and wife missed it. Instead, they were en route to Sacramento, where Brand was expected to play in his first game back from a ruptured Achilles' tendon in Thursday's 110-98 loss to the Kings. Reporters who had planned to go to Brand's first game were left stranded. Television crews rushed to cobble together a video highlight package to go with his return when they realized they no longer had another day."

"Martin scored 26 points with relative ease Thursday night at Arco Arena, where the Kings pulled out a moral victory and an actual one against a Clippers team that had pestered them all season. Their 110-98 win was the first in four tries against the Clippers, who spent most of these past few months among the dregs of the Western Conference only to look nothing short of elite when it came to the Kings."

"His choice, his destiny, his future -- Corey Maggette, finally and firmly, controls them all. Maggette, 28, a hardscrabble small forward capable of getting to the rim and the foul line frequently, is the longest-tenured player on the Clippers. But the signs are that he will opt out of the final season of his six-year, $42-million contract after this season, to test the free agent market. So, is Maggette coming or going? "

"Elton Brand is back, just in time to potentially make life tough for some Western Conference teams fighting for playoff position. The Clippers forward made his season debut Wednesday night against the lowly Seattle SuperSonics. Brand had missed the entire season while recovering from a surgically repaired left Achilles' tendon... Brand finished with 19 points and played almost 26 minutes. The Clippers beat the SuperSonics, 102-84."

"There were only four text messages on Elton Brand's phone when he got back into the locker room. Obviously, word hadn't spread that the Clippers' All-Star forward was back. Brand made his long-awaited season debut on Wednesday night, scoring 19 points and leading the Clippers past the Seattle SuperSonics, 102-84."

"And while it has been a delight to watch Durant turn into a proven scorer during his first season, the Sonics have suffered in the process because he receives no help. Jeff Green scored six points in the second half. Nick Collison tallied five and Johan Petro two. So the 102-84 loss at KeyArena shouldn't have come as any surprise because it is the latest in a disturbing trend. Durant scored a game-high 30 points, attempting to bring the Sonics from a 13-point deficit single-handedly, while his teammates missed shot after shot."

"The schedule now turns nightmarish for the Sonics, 102-84 losers to the Los Angeles Clippers at home Wednesday. They finish the season against playoff-contending teams in each of their final seven games. Starting Friday, they face Houston, Denver, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Golden State."

"There was a sense of satisfaction in Marcus Williams, but not contentment. He made it to KeyArena as a professional and gathered 27 tickets for family and friends. Several other close friends purchased tickets the moment the Clippers signed the former Roosevelt High standout for the rest of the season. It's been a difficult nine months for Williams, tabbed as a can't-miss first-round pick who dropped to 33rd in the draft last June, and then was released because the San Antonio Spurs opted for former washout Darius Washington."

"Head to head: The Clippers are 3-0 against the Kings this season with tonight marking the final game of the series. As Brad Miller puts it: "They've kicked our butts." The Clippers won the first two easily – 97-87 at Arco on Dec. 7 and 111-85 at Staples Center on Jan. 23. In the last meeting, however, the Clippers needed two overtimes to defeat the Kings 116-109 at Staples Center on March 5."

"Clippers center Chris Kaman will probably sit out the team's remaining eight games after spraining his right ankle in Monday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks."

"The tattoos are a good place to start. They run down Marcus Williams' stringy arms. They are armor. They are an invitation. They are defiant. They are a record of his insecurities. They don't say it all. They say enough."

"A season of waiting, healing and hypothesizing for Brand was finally narrowed down before the Clippers lost a spirited game at Staples Center on Monday, 93-86, to the Dallas Mavericks, who are still in a three-way playoff tango."

"Not that there is any reward for coming close, but for the first time in a long time, the Clippers finally gave a team in the playoff race a scare. And although they came up short, there were some inspiring moments during their 93-86 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at Staples Center."

" At this point, the opponent is inconsequential, which accurately describes the Los Angeles Clippers. But the Mavericks needed a win and hung tough enough down the stretch to beat the Clippers for the second time in a week, notching a 93-86 victory."

"Josh Howard had eight of his 12 fourth-quarter points in the last two minutes of the game and the Mavericks escaped with a 93-86 victory. "

"Clippers forward Elton Brand is slated to make his season debut shortly, with a possible date being Thursday's visit to Sacramento against the Kings, the team said today."

"Al Thornton's production has been erratic throughout his rookie season. While a lot of that can be attributed to the way a rookie develops, another reason has surfaced that could explain why. "

"Al Thornton seemingly has it out for certain teams. Mainly those that passed him over in last summer's draft. "

"A rookie wall seemingly closing in on Al Thornton? Not quite. He exploded for a career-high 39 points, vaulting the Clippers to a 110-97 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in a late-season meeting of the meek."

"Rookie Al Thornton had another spectacular night, tying a franchise rookie record with 39 points as the Clippers beat the Grizzlies 110-97 at Staples Center, the same locale where the Grizzlies defeated the Lakers a night earlier."

"The Los Angeles Clippers are easily the worst of the basketball tenants occupying Staples Center. For that matter, the Grizzlies weren't nearly as good as the night before when they shocked the Lakers, and ended a three-day stay in Hollywood with a 110-97 loss to the hapless Clippers."

"One idea about Brand's return is that it is connected to his decision to use his player option to stay with the Clippers next season or opt out of his contract. All signs point to him staying with the Clippers. If he opts out, it likely would be to negotiate a new contract with the team."

"Carlos Boozer scored 34 points and Deron Williams had 32 to overcome the loss of the three other Utah starters and lead the Jazz past the reeling Clippers, 121-101, on Friday night."

"If there was any question about what Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are capable of delivering in their playoff encore - now just three weeks away - the Jazz could consider it answered after Friday night's 121-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. "

" By the time injured small forward Andrei Kirilenko bowed out at halftime due to muscle spasms in his right calf, the Jazz were missing more than 35 points from their starting lineup. But point guard Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer made up much of the difference Friday night, combining for 66 points in the Jazz's 121-101 victory over the lowly Los Angeles Clippers."

"The Clippers waived seldom-used forward Aaron Williams, 36, on Friday and signed small forward Marcus Williams for the remainder of the season."

"Utah has won five of the last six meetings, but the Clippers took the last one 114-104 in Staples Center on Feb. 22, thanks to a 37-23 third quarter and 46-33 advantage in bench points. ... Corey Maggette and Al Thornton each scored 27, while Deron Williams had 26 points and 10 assists. ... Andrei Kirilenko was severely limited by foul trouble, playing only 10 minutes in that game."

"For a while, the script was in place for a relaxing Wednesday night at the AT&T Center. The downward-spiraling Los Angeles Clippers were in town, and the streaking Spurs were prepared to sit back and watch another season go down in flames for Tinseltown's stepchildren. The Clippers indeed went down again, for the ninth consecutive game, but not nearly as easily as expected. Tim Duncan had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Manu Ginobili salvaged his night with a clutch finish to help the Spurs overcome a fourth-quarter fright for a 97-88 victory that the Clippers made them earn. "

" As cure-alls go, the Clips were better than a slug of penicillin in the backside for the Dallas Mavericks. They didn't have to look pretty or play particularly sharp to come away with a vitally important 103-90 victory to snap a three-game losing streak in their first outing since Nowitzki's injury."

"Forcing the action at the rim, Howard, under criticism recently for an offensive downturn, lived at the free-throw line in the third, scoring 12 of his 18 points there in the decisive quarter. He lifted the Dallas Mavericks in their first game without injured star Dirk Nowitzki to a 103-90 victory at American Airlines Center."

"A rare incident took place at American Airlines Center on Tuesday. A rookie Dallas Mavericks second-round draft pick got into the game in the first quarter. He was playing for the Clippers. "

"Elton Brand took part in a full-fledged scrimmage for the first time since rupturing his Achilles' tendon last summer. He joined center Chris Kaman, laboring through an injury-plagued second half. Coach Mike Dunleavy gave a target date for Brand's return for the first time, pinning down the last five or six games of the season. "

"There is for some on the Clippers' skeleton-crew roster incentive to play out the string with purpose. Only six -- Chris Kaman, Al Thornton, Josh Powell, Brevin Knight, Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley -- have guaranteed contracts next season. "

"Although the Bulls believe they need an upgrade over Kirk Hinrich, the belief is they'd go for Beasley if they got first pick and Rose if they got the second... This Bulls team needs to be more like the Celtics of last season: package the pick with one or two players and perhaps pick up a veteran point guard like Andre Miller. I could also see them pursuing a star player in perhaps a sign-and-trade with Washington for Gilbert Arenas, sort of a go-for-broke summer. Perhaps Elton Brand tells the Clippers he won't re-sign and the Clippers cash in for a package that includes Hinrich, Andres Nocioni and the Bulls' first pick. And if Nene gets healthy, the Nuggets have to move someone."