Rockets Would Have Taken Baron, No. 1 Pick For Yao Ming

[LakersFan_33]

Seems like they are so desperate to rid themselves of the perennially injured Yao Ming. Good to see that the Clippers aren't THAT stupid, though. Although, I would admit, that if Yao could hypothetically get healthy, A Yao Ming/Blake Griffin combo would be interesting.

[Roy H.]

If that deal was on the table, they should have taken it.  I'd rather have cap relief than Mo Williams.

Having read Simmons' tweet, though, I'd like more details.  Is that a sourced story, or just random opinion / speculation?  Some of the things that Simmons has "reported" about the Celtics just haven't been true, and I don't necessarily trust his connections.

[LakersFan_33]

I just can't buy that Yao will be healthy...I can't. If you take him, you take him on at a MUCH reduced salary, because of his injury concerns. I think that you have to use common sense in situations like these.

[Roy H.]

I just can't buy that Yao will be healthy...I can't. If you take him, you take him on at a MUCH reduced salary, because of his injury concerns. I think that you have to use common sense in situations like these.

I don't think the Clippers would have had any intention of ever playing him.  He's an expiring contract, that is being paid mostly (if not completely) by insurance.  

The Clips would have saved a minimum of $26.5 million (plus their cash savings this year), and would have ended up with significant cap room this summer and in the future.

Instead, they saved around $9.5 million, and have Mo Williams and lesser cap space this summer and in the future.

[Greenbean]

I dont see how the Clippers dont do that deal. Wouldve saved them aboat load of money they could have used to build around Griffin.

[LakersFan_33]

I just can't buy that Yao will be healthy...I can't. If you take him, you take him on at a MUCH reduced salary, because of his injury concerns. I think that you have to use common sense in situations like these.

I don't think the Clippers would have had any intention of ever playing him.  He's an expiring contract, that is being paid mostly (if not completely) by insurance.  

The Clips would have saved a minimum of $26.5 million (plus their cash savings this year), and would have ended up with significant cap room this summer and in the future.

Instead, they saved around $9.5 million, and have Mo Williams and lesser cap future this summer and in the future.

That's a fair point, although if you're talking about clearing your payroll, hoping to sign a superstar, even with Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin, they can't assume that superstars will want to sign with them. IMO, they have a much better chance of acquiring an all-star/superstar via trade. They have been clearing cap space for their entire existence hoping that players would sign there, (Camby last year; BD this year) but it just never seems to happen.

In the meantime, Sterling is happy, because he keeps the payroll low, and makes money.

[Chris]

If that deal was on the table, they should have taken it.  I'd rather have cap relief than Mo Williams.

Having read Simmons' tweet, though, I'd like more details.  Is that a sourced story, or just random opinion / speculation?  Some of the things that Simmons has "reported" about the Celtics just haven't been true, and I don't necessarily trust his connections.

Understanding that it might be influenced a bit my last nights performance, I actually think Mo Williams was a nice pickup for them, and was more valuable than the extra cap space this summer.  

There are not a whole lot of good PGs on the market, and Williams is a quality starting PG who fits in well with their team (they needed shooting), and can help bridge the gap until Bledsoe is ready to take over.

I hated Williams on the Cavs, but he has always been a productive PG, and when he wasn't around Lebron James, he always seemed like a decent team guy.  

Given where the Clippers stand at the moment, I think having a guy like Williams there will help some of the young guys develop a little better, and will also help them win some games, which is crucial to the development.

Particularly given that they already have their talent core with Blake and Gordon set, and some other nice young (and veteran) players around them, I am not sure they would have put the extra cap space into much better use than Mo Williams gives them, particularly since his contract only has 2 years after this.  

[LakersFan_33]

Also, you can't forget that Kaman is currently earning a cool 10/11 million this and next year - You have to imagine that they are putting all their stock into DeAndre Jordan. Clippers also have the 2nd lowest payroll already at 52 million, even with Kaman, who will likely leave or get traded.

[Change]

Clippers didn't do their homework. I'm not surprised. The whole point trading Baron Davis was to get future financial flexibility. They sacrificed their 2011 lottery pick in that trade. Major Failure by their front office.  

[Chris]

Also, you can't forget that Kaman is currently earning a cool 10/11 million this and next year - You have to imagine that they are putting all their stock into DeAndre Jordan. Clippers also have the 2nd lowest payroll already at 52 million, even with Kaman, who will likely leave or get traded.

Yeah, I would imagine they will look hard to move Kaman this summer.  He will be an expiring contract, and a lot of teams would love a quality center on an expiring contract like that (the C's could even be one of them).  With the cap space they have, plus an expiring contract like that to move, they could be very active this summer to put a quality team out there.

[Roy H.]

If that deal was on the table, they should have taken it.  I'd rather have cap relief than Mo Williams.

Having read Simmons' tweet, though, I'd like more details.  Is that a sourced story, or just random opinion / speculation?  Some of the things that Simmons has "reported" about the Celtics just haven't been true, and I don't necessarily trust his connections.

Understanding that it might be influenced a bit my last nights performance, I actually think Mo Williams was a nice pickup for them, and was more valuable than the extra cap space this summer.  

There are not a whole lot of good PGs on the market, and Williams is a quality starting PG who fits in well with their team (they needed shooting), and can help bridge the gap until Bledsoe is ready to take over.

I hated Williams on the Cavs, but he has always been a productive PG, and when he wasn't around Lebron James, he always seemed like a decent team guy.  

Given where the Clippers stand at the moment, I think having a guy like Williams there will help some of the young guys develop a little better, and will also help them win some games, which is crucial to the development.

Particularly given that they already have their talent core with Blake and Gordon set, and some other nice young (and veteran) players around them, I am not sure they would have put the extra cap space into much better use than Mo Williams gives them, particularly since his contract only has 2 years after this.  

I understand your point, and I think that Mo may be more valuable than anybody the Clips could sign this off-season.  However, he's on their books in 2012, as well.  If the Clips had cleared Davis' contract without taking anybody else, it's conceivable that they could have signed both Dwight Howard *and* Deron Williams in 2012, to go along with Griffin and Gordon.  (This presumes that Gordon would quickly agree to sign for his QO that summer, but even if he pursued free agency, the Clips could have signed one or the other.  Heck, even if Gordon got $15 million in free agency they could have come close to signing both guys.)

[LakersFan_33]

Clippers didn't do their homework. I'm not surprised. The whole point trading Baron Davis was to get future financial flexibility. They sacrificed their 2011 lottery pick in that trade. Major Failure by their front office.  

I actually don't think so. Unless, by some freak luck, they get a low pick, then maybe, but they probably wouldn't have gotten a high draft pick this year, in a relatively weak pool.

[Celtics4ever]

I would not want Yao.   Sure he is good for item sales but he is very brittle as a player and always hurt.  Not quite Odenesque but still none too reliable as a player.  I agree the only you'd want him would have to be for his contract. 

[Chris]

If that deal was on the table, they should have taken it.  I'd rather have cap relief than Mo Williams.

Having read Simmons' tweet, though, I'd like more details.  Is that a sourced story, or just random opinion / speculation?  Some of the things that Simmons has "reported" about the Celtics just haven't been true, and I don't necessarily trust his connections.

Understanding that it might be influenced a bit my last nights performance, I actually think Mo Williams was a nice pickup for them, and was more valuable than the extra cap space this summer.  

There are not a whole lot of good PGs on the market, and Williams is a quality starting PG who fits in well with their team (they needed shooting), and can help bridge the gap until Bledsoe is ready to take over.

I hated Williams on the Cavs, but he has always been a productive PG, and when he wasn't around Lebron James, he always seemed like a decent team guy.  

Given where the Clippers stand at the moment, I think having a guy like Williams there will help some of the young guys develop a little better, and will also help them win some games, which is crucial to the development.

Particularly given that they already have their talent core with Blake and Gordon set, and some other nice young (and veteran) players around them, I am not sure they would have put the extra cap space into much better use than Mo Williams gives them, particularly since his contract only has 2 years after this.  

I understand your point, and I think that Mo may be more valuable than anybody the Clips could sign this off-season.  However, he's on their books in 2012, as well.  If the Clips had cleared Davis' contract without taking anybody else, it's conceivable that they could have signed both Dwight Howard *and* Deron Williams in 2012, to go along with Griffin and Gordon.  (This presumes that Gordon would quickly agree to sign for his QO that summer, but even if he pursued free agency, the Clips could have signed one or the other.  Heck, even if Gordon got $15 million in free agency they could have come close to signing both guys.)

After getting spurned by Kobe, and everyone last year, I have a feeling they are starting to realize that they are not a desirable destination, and that they shouldn't count on luring those guys.

They have a heck of a core already.  They should be trying to win, instead of hoping a couple guys will like them a couple years down the road.  

Heck, if Griffin (and Gordon) continues to develop at the pace he is going, and they make some smart moves over the next year or so, with the cap space and assets they have, they may be a contender in a year or two without having to hope some stars choose them.