By Craig Kwasniewski
Out here in LA, local sportstalk radio isn't the only benefactor from all the Kobe Bryant talk. That other team just down the hall at Staples Center is secretly hoping all the Kobe saga continues on through for the rest of the year. This keeps all the LA Clipper blunders (redundant?) in the past year off the minds of the local media. (Though I might remind you, outside of the annual Mark Heisler open letter to Donald T. Sterling, the only time the Clippers were front page news was the 2006 playoff run and the 2001-02 squad, still one of the most exciting teams in LA hoops history.)
Anyway, here's some of the blunders that Kobe has helped Clipper Nation forget:
1. The Tim Thomas signing: I ripped the front office as soon as they signed Tim Thomas to a 4-year $24 million contract. Jack McCallum from his book ":07 Seconds or Less" describes how Phoenix "motivated" Thomas in the playoffs:
A few weeks before the end of the regular season, D'Antoni said that he was going to have a conversation with Thomas, urge him to give everything he had the rest of the way so he could "fool somebody and get another big contract. It just won't be from us."
But it WILL be from the Clippers.
2. Blowing the A.I. trade: As I wrote back in December, "All they have to do is give up Corey Magette and Shaun Livingston and they get one of the most dynamic shooting guards in the history of the NBA."
With Iverson and Elton Brand the Clippers would have been a top four team in the west for at least three years. Mix in the Lakers mired in the Mitch Kupchak/Jim Buss era and the Clippers had a chance at becoming the toast of Los Angeles for a long time. (Something they also had a chance at back in 1993, but Sterling let Larry Brown go and the rest is history... repeated.) It took balls to make such a move... something that Elgin Baylor lost back in 1972. So instead of instant credibility, the Clippers held firm with Shaun Livingston's upside and Magette's "brains" and then... SNAAAAAAP!!!! We all know how that one ended.
3. Raising Season Ticket Prices: So the Clippers finish a sub-par season packed with injuries (Cassell and Livinsgton) bad contracts (Thomas and Kaman) and no postseason appearance. So how does the front office reward their loyal fanbase? By raising season ticket prices across the board of course. Talk about shrewd moves! Not only does the front office give a firm middle finger to Clipper Nation, but they also lost some good publicity as Sports Guy jumped ship after the price hike.
So while Kobe's roaming the streets of Newport Beach, looking for anyone whose willing to hear his trade requests (and sounding more and more like a crazy homeless person every day), Clippers are sitting back and smiling.
Hey, maybe Elgin Baylor is a secret member of the KVG.
No need to lash out. That's bush league. Look within. Examine why you ever supported a bad person like Kobe in the first place. You may have a lot to learn about yourself and some growing up to do. And that's ok. But there is no reason to spit venom around just because one house is in shambles.
Why are you focusing on TT, when clearly Vlade has been SO much worse? Is it that you didn't predict that? Has Denver really gotten that much better even though they had to give up less than the Clippers would have? (I blame the Tar Hell Mafia). Are the season ticket prices so unreasonable? I would bet there may be some people wishing they never got out after this season. I mean, my two lower bowl tickets cost LESS that one Laker season ticket in the same spot, and yet its seriously doubtful the Lakers will win more than twice as many games.
Posted by: John R. | June 25, 2007 at 10:32 AM
But with A.I. the Clippers would have OWNED LA for the next 3 years. Brand, the consumate professional who's a willing number 2 would have been the best fit for A.I. It's just very frustrating seeing the Clippers blow such an easy call. It's like watching your little brother become an alcoholic.
Don't get me wrong, if Kobe's traded away like Shaq (for 50 cents on the dollar), I just may join Clipper Nation and get a Big Game Pack.
Posted by: Craig | June 25, 2007 at 11:42 AM