You can call it a duck for all I care. They're in their prime. So you were wrong to call them "old" right now. And we were speaking about this upcoming season and how well we will do, not the long term. Milos and Beverley are not even signed to the long term.
Neither of those guys are taking us anywhere. They are place holders.
That's right. They are not signed long term because they don't figure into our long-term plans because THEY ARE OLD.
And it is in our long-term best interest NOT to make the playoffs this year, or we will lose our first round draft pick.
No because they WILL BE old, not because they are old right now. The post I was responding to was purely about this year. Quit pretending the topic was, "Should we sign these guys long term" or "how will we look in 3 years" or something like that. That's a strawman argument. We were talking about how we will do this upcoming year, and it's not a knock on any of those guys that they will not do well this year because they are currently old when none of them are old right now.
I disagree. It's in our long term interest ot make the playoffs and prove to potential free agents we're a team worth joining, and then get two max guys next year because of that. That result is way better than a single draft pick.
The topic of this thread is "Don't Call It A Rebuild." Do you really want to get into a discussion about semantics? They are old vs. they will be old? The fact of the matter is, at 30 most players enter the final third of their careers and for most it includes a dramatic drop-off in production, though I know there are many instances of players going out very gracefully with several more productive years.
As to your second point about the advantage of making the playoffs vs. not, you make a valid point that I disagree with. I would much rather have that pick than a quick out in the playoffs.The fact of the matter is that we have so many expiring contracts, any free agent who is considering this place is going to know that many of these guys won't be back. It will not be the same team and the new season will be entirely new. They are projecting what the team WILL BE, not what it was. Thus, I believe a good showing from Shai and Robinson and a high pick would indicate growth and be more exciting to them than saying, "Wow, I'll be joining Patrick Beverly and Milos Theodosic on a team that won 44 games last year" and probably won't have either player back.
If I'm a free agent I am asking, who is coming back? What players are on the way up? Who is coming in with me? What is our potential? Does this team look like it's on the way up or down? I wouldn't consider it very exciting that they squeaked into the playoffs the previous year and got ousted quickly. This is a valuable franchise, in a great city, with a rich owner. A veteran free agent will understand what we are trying to do.
Curry is 30 but I don’t think anyone would ever call him old or say he’s in the end of his prime. I think the term you were looking for was “not that good” despite being in their prime.
Again, we were talking about next year. You already agreed none of those players are "old" this next year. Now you're disagreeing with yourself? Stop trying to make my reply into something it was not. I was talking about next year, you were talking about next year, we were all talking about next year with that sub-thread of this larger thread, so cut the crap.
If I'm a free agent I am asking, who is coming back? What players are on the way up? Who is
coming in with me? What is our potential? Does this team look like it's on the way up or
down? I wouldn't consider it very exciting that they squeaked into the playoffs the
previous year and got ousted quickly. This is a valuable franchise, in a great city,
with a rich owner. A veteran free agent will understand what we are trying to do. 
But that's not really how free agents tend to make their decisions, and frankly that's not usually how this league functions either. Teams don't usually go from winning 15 games to winning 50 games, and free agents know that. They also know when a coaching staff, training staff, ownership, management, and overall organization is perceived to be a "winning" organization and 15 win teams typically are not perceived to be that. Particularly when your name is the Clippers and you have a history of being the most losing team in the league when winning 15 games that isn't that old and remains fresh in the memories of not just the players but everyone advising those players.
Free agents want to go to teams perceived to be winners today. Even if they have a complete change in their roster, the perception of the organization carries over. Nobody thinks of the Spurs as losers when they go out in the second round every year. Everyone knows that's a top organization. On the other hand, most people think of the Sacramento Kings as losers, even if they get some great young players.
The best way to build our reputation as winners is to win. Even if we're losing most of our players next year, winning this year sends a much bigger message to potential free agents than yet another pick.
Well, Lebron has twice gone to teams that were lousy before his arrival, Cleveland and now Los Angeles.
What you are saying is certainly true of some, like Durant, but others go for the money first and foremost. Gilbert Arenas took big money to go to a previously lousy Wizards team when he was a giant of a free agent. Others, like Horford, are attracted by the coach in Brad Stephens.
We have Doc. That's attractive. We have LA. That's hugely attractive as many NBA players already have homes here. We have the richest owner in the NBA. That's attractive. We have been a very successful team in five of the last next years and even in a down year, last year, we had a winning record. The Clipper negativity was buried with Sterling, though I know he's still alive.
Bottom line, I don't think winning 45 or 35 games is going to be a key element in most player's decision to join or not to join. They will look at the package, the direction, the coach, the city, etc. and make a decision based on many, many factors, some of which may be more important to some than others.
Moving forward without Austin is only going to force him to find another bright spot on the roster (another reason for a lot of people to gag.) It opens up some minutes, hopefully for younger players, or healthier veterans.
Let's see how this reset turns out... I see an increased level of competition and expect us
to dip in the standings, but that does not necessarily mean we will be playing bad
basketball. I think we will be more competitive than we have any business being - not
sure if the results will be as good as last year though.
Doc never coached Dwight Howard if that’s what you were saying about him coaching in orlando. They were pretty good of talent outside of T Mac in those days (Hill barely played with injuries). Doc coached decent for the first couple years in Boston. Still think he is overrated as a coach but at least now we can he see him without Austin
Lol, it took the “old guy” to talk sense into us about the old guy cobversation
Yeah, now I don't have to go into a game thinking Doc's priority is to keep his son on the floor. While I also think he's overrated, or dare I say,. riding his coattail of his successful past , I am going to wish him luck Time for him to win me back.
Hmm, must've missed each other... I remember him doing rather well with the Magic - just surprised it happened without Howard. Agree with you that it will be interesting to see what he does with this roster without Austin.
Yeah the last year he was there was when they fired him after the 0-10 start and that horrible season was how they got the #1 pick
Maybe he starts horribly this season... 
Happy to revisit this thread... the team has been down but never out. Resilient does not begin to cover the strength and resolve of this ream. Even after roster changes we never hit a reset button... I am very impressed.
I have an eye open on the pieces we let go - they are balling as well - but obviously it was a correct decision from our FO (win-win?)
It is evident he have a strong foundation to move forward.
Also funny to see some of our comments as the changes were occurring or having just occurred and where we ended up now (in the near future). This team has been a such a joy to follow - and continues to be!
Let's push this series to 7! Finish off the Warriors and the Oracle Arena as the final victors!
