The best trade scenario...

NONE!!! They worked hard to set up this team, build it through youth and around solid players who play hard and have the talent. Why throw it all away when we're very close? This year is the ultimate test. If it works out, we try and keep as much of the pieces that are Already here and continue to compete. We also need to keep young, talented guys around to replace our aging vets. They've got it figured out, just let it happen.

I say "F*** the trades". Give the elusive chemistry thing another year instead of breaking it up and starting over.

I second the thought- for now I think we're in good shape- just need another PG through free agency, whether it be Francis or Hart or Knight. We don't want to be trading away any of our top core talent.

I agree with jlemmen regarding no trades. Right on. Other GMs are shrewd and therefore there are no killer deals.

I think one of you guys said it well on another post: a few players still have some improvement ahead of them. Development of their potential and good execution and this roster should be good enough.

With the signing of a PG (Knight, Francis), they'll have a strong bench and prevent 4th quarter meltdowns (as long as Coach puts together a good rotation plan). This roster would be a strong 9 or 10 deep.

Ok, I love Thornton at 14. But, Milwaukee's got a problem. How about Thornton for Yi Jianlian straight up (ok, + some cash /or a second-round pick?)? Brand can move to SF. They're not that far from one another in terms of potential, although Jianlian did get picked earlier in the draft, suggesting folks see more upside in Jianlian. But, again, Milwaukee's got a problem - although they are trying to bluff ("We will not trade him."). That said, could this work? Is it worth it? I think he'd give more of a different look (& create more match-up problems) than Thornton vs. Maggette. OR, more trade value off one of them for a high-end point guard.

Seems like a risky project - like Korelev a couple years back. Thorton is ready to play. With Clips expiring contracts, this is the year. Need 1 more player - not a rookie.

I dont agree that Brand can play the 3 position. He's agile for his size, but SF is stretching it. He's best at PF, let him flourish there.

TD is right, the Clippers are in a situation where they have to win now this year. If you look at the contract situation, realistically this is their only chance. Next year Brand, Cassell, Maggette, and even Livingston could all be gone.

jlemmen43 is correct, EB is not a SF. And no thank you to Jilian....... There is one problem. Al Thorton and Corey Maggette are very similar players, I hope the coach doenst do anything stupid to piss off Maggette.... AGAIN. Thorton, nice pick is expendable, but then again can sub for Maggette... he gives us depth, should also challenge Maggette to go higher... it might be good.

I agree that he'll push Maggette. I sure hope so! Also, Thornton brings an outside shooting game that Corey lacks. Both have many similar qualities; they are both gonna drive to the hoop. Corey will be able to use his strength inside, while Al will be able to use his shooting touch outside. Q-Ross is more of a perimiter defender and a SG if you ask me. Yeah he's big enough to play the 3, but I like him better as Mobley's backup.

Agree with Q at 2. I'd like to see the Clips play a 9-10 man rotation - although I haven't seen Dunleavy go for that. Here's a 9 man example:

Cassell / Fransis

Mobley / Q Ross

Maggette / Thorton

Brand

Kamen / Thomas

Bench (for injury or foul trouble only): P Davis, Williams, J Jordan, Diaz

Starters get ~ 30 minutes, Backups get ~ 22 minutes.

It's hard not to see Yi develop into a very good player, but it'd also be difficult to pry him from the Bucks. If they do change their "we won't trade him" stance it'd probably cost a lot to get him. They certainly are spreading the praises all over the place after the good summer league game he had yesterday (23 points).

And yeah I agree- Thorton and Maggette should push each other- both play hard and works hard. And yup a 9-10 man rotation could be a real possibility if there's no injury- the team is pretty stacked at this point once a solid PG is added.

Getting Yi for Thorton would be a real coup. I had my doubts, but it looks like Yi can really play. He can start contributing as much as any rookie not named Oden or Durant. Yi and Thorton play the same position so there wouldn't be much of a drop off, and the potential is huge. Remember, Thorton is tradable. The Clippers simply picked Thorton because he was the best talent available. And the marketing publicity would be huge against our in-town rivals.

Jellymen43 please explain the secret of "Chemistry." Is it 15 guys buying in to the same philosophy, everyone passing Brand the ball, is it going team bowling after practice? I want to know how "chemistry" equals wins and why clipper team chemistry is better than the Suns and Steve Nash chemistry or the Champion Spurs chemistry or the Nelson's Warriors chemistry. Please explain.

I'm not saying the Clippers chemistry is better than the other teams in the West. Chemisty is players on the same page...knowing when someone's gonna be open, knowing when a player's strengths will help create points...it's nothing definite...it's the "on-the-court" team awareness they play with. It takes time to gain chemistry...but the Spurs have a lot of it...the Suns do to...that's why they've been winning a lot in the last few years. They've had a lot of the same players consistently on the roster.

Chemistry is elusive...but essentially it's how well the "Team" plays as a team. I never thought I'd have to explain "Chemistry"...I always thought people knew what it was.

The Clippers have good chemistry going I think...this will be the third year for most of the current team, so it should be pretty well developed this year.

I don't know what the original topic was but since we're on chemistry, I'd thought I can provide at least a perspective from engineering/management. Actually, I wrote my term paper case study on the Clippers and what it means to be an effective team. Part of that analysis was on team chemistry and cohesion. As far as I know, the team does have good chemistry among each other. However, we don't know how much of the idea of having SL be the starter and Cassell be the back-up affected Sam. How about the whole speculation of trading Cassell, Mobley, Maggette, etc. for AI? Sure it's the nature of the business but to be viewed as expendable even though you helped the Clippers to their best season in franchise history probably didn't bold too well for Cassell and even Mobley. That might've bruised their ego and may have affected team chemistry. Off the courts, I'm sure these guys are pretty "tight" with one another. The thing that they can improve is trusting one another, which is crucial for any team to be successful and meet their common goal (of making it to the Playoffs and eventually winning a ring). If Cassell fails to stay in front of his guy, does Kaman and Brand have his back and will step up to defend the paint? If Ross gets hammered by some illegal screen, is one of his buddy going to go over and send a message to that dude on the other end of the court? What about all the questionable coaching decisions that we've been harping on? That affects chemistry and trust among not just players but with the coach. The coach harping instructions on every single play...yanking players in and out of the game...perhaps micromanaging a bit too much...what kind of message does that send to the plaeyrs?

I think the Clippers have the talent to be competitive and even an elite team, but their level of trust among one anothe can be improved.

This is very true - game management has been very bad for the Clips. I think at least 1/2 of the teams ahead of the Clips are there on coaching alone, and game management is the greatest part. It seems the guys are prepared, but not in sync during the game do to irratic substititution ideas.

lol eb sf? no way. his position is ok right now pf. he can move up to c sumtimes to once kamans out he can move up to center and thomas can be pf

Well, with Brand out the entire year, the best moves look like trading Cassell, trading Mobley for any avaible young talent that is still avaible.

THE SEASON IS OVER!

The only thing we can look forward to is the lottery.

We need to make a trade with a borderline playoff team in the East or West. In the East, the Celts, Cavs and Heat would love Cassell and possibly Mobley. In the West the Warriors, Spurs, Nuggets, Jazz and Lakers would love Cassell. In a trade the only viable players seem to be Pavlovic or Varejao, Dorell Wright and vets, Pietrus, POB and Sarunas, Giricek and Brewer, and Farmar and vets from the Lakers.

Well, at least my wish comes true and we get a top 3 lottery pick.