What if Clippers players were granted free agency?

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Give me DeAndre Jordan then.

I've been impressed with him with the way he protects the rim. He's still haas a long ways to go as a one on one interior defender, but golly it seems like every shot the opponents take, his hands are there to bother it.

And to add to that, he rebounds like crazy.

Doesn't make sense.  Players are still going to sign with the Clippers.  That is 13-15 jobs right there. 




This only give the stars a chance to move. 




And let's be honest, Sterling doesn't seem to mind have a terrible cheap team. 

But this may actually lead to a Clippers team that no one wants to see. And when no one goes to games, he doesnt make money, and in turn maybe able to force sale the team.

I think the NBA wants him gone, and this is one way they can do it without breaking (i think) the bylaws of the league.

[D.o.s.]

Give me DeAndre Jordan then.

I've been impressed with him with the way he protects the rim. He's still haas a long ways to go as a one on one interior defender, but golly it seems like every shot the opponents take, his hands are there to bother it.

And to add to that, he rebounds like crazy.

Doesn't make sense.  Players are still going to sign with the Clippers.  That is 13-15 jobs right there. 




This only give the stars a chance to move. 




And let's be honest, Sterling doesn't seem to mind have a terrible cheap team. 

But this may actually lead to a Clippers team that no one wants to see. And when no one goes to games, he doesnt make money, and in turn maybe able to force sale the team.

I think the NBA wants him gone, and this is one way they can do it without breaking (i think) the bylaws of the league.

Again, do people not remember that the Clippers teams that no one wanted to see still made Sterling money?

It doesn't matter what the Clippers team looks like -- if LeBron's coming to LA, people will pay to see him destroy the Clippers, especially if their tickets are 1/10th the price.

[LooseCannon]

They aren't going to allow these players or Doc to become free agents. They have a legal binding contract to play and coach for the Clippers. There is no language in the Standard Player's Contract that stipulates that if the owner of the team makes stupid comments that the player can void his contract and sign elsewhere. I doubt if the same doesn't hold true for Doc's contract.

You can probably do it if you can get Sterling to agree to it as part of his punishment.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Give me DeAndre Jordan then.

I've been impressed with him with the way he protects the rim. He's still haas a long ways to go as a one on one interior defender, but golly it seems like every shot the opponents take, his hands are there to bother it.

And to add to that, he rebounds like crazy.

Doesn't make sense.  Players are still going to sign with the Clippers.  That is 13-15 jobs right there. 




This only give the stars a chance to move. 




And let's be honest, Sterling doesn't seem to mind have a terrible cheap team. 

But this may actually lead to a Clippers team that no one wants to see. And when no one goes to games, he doesnt make money, and in turn maybe able to force sale the team.

I think the NBA wants him gone, and this is one way they can do it without breaking (i think) the bylaws of the league.

Again, do people not remember that the Clippers teams that no one wanted to see still made Sterling money?

It doesn't matter what the Clippers team looks like -- if LeBron's coming to LA, people will pay to see him destroy the Clippers, especially if their tickets are 1/10th the price.

But that before the racial slurs.

With a team being owned by a racist owner and a squad that is not even close to contending a for a championship, not to mention the ultra negative backlash, that might swing the tables.

[Smokeeye123]

As a celtics fan i guess you could hope for sterling to be stubborn so that blake, paul, jordan, etc all sign elsewhere this offseason so we get another high lottery pick...although wouldnt it be crazy if they just all signed with the lakers? LOL

[Neurotic Guy]

I believe a more likely scenario is some penalty like banning DS from appearing in games and perhaps a covert push to encourage him to sell.   In the meantime, Doc will have a decision to make and if he decides to abandon the team he'll leave an opening that I believe few coaches would want to fill. That will be interesting.

In addition, there may be a player or two who will 'demand' a trade -- which of course doesn't mean a trade will happen, especially since leverage would be all with the other team.  The demand would have to be accompanied by a commitment to sit out the season. Only Deandre Jordan and Jared Dudley have contracts ending in 2014-15 (Dudley has a player option for 2015-16) meaning they would be impacted for only one year.  Given his history, I doubt Sterling would mind all that much if players decided to to sit out -- less money he has to shell out in contracts.  I suppose it's possible that DS would agree to a buyout if terms were team-favorable -- but I don't really see why that would happen from either side's perspective.

[Roy H.]

So, random guess:  1 year suspension (including this year and next year's playoffs), $1 million fine

[Moranis]

So, random guess:  1 year suspension (including this year and next year's playoffs), $1 million fine

banned for life and 2.5 million fine.

[kozlodoev]

So, random guess:  1 year suspension (including this year and next year's playoffs), $1 million fine

banned for life and 2.5 million fine.

Almost close, I guess?