Ominous words from Clippers’ management, given history of repeated failure
Read the following quote from this article, concerning the supposed “new” status of the LA Clippers …
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Chris Paul’s arrival signals new future for Clips
“The hardest thing we said in this whole process was, ‘We’re good. We have a chance to be good, and do we really break this up for the home run?’ ” Olshey said. “We told Mr. Sterling we had two really good directions: We could continue to build – we’re going to be better this year than we were last year. We have this draft pick. The players are going to keep developing.
“Or we have a chance to completely change the culture of the organization and make us a contender right away.”
The Clippers opted for the latter, surrendering Gordon, the draft pick, Chris Kaman and forward Al-Farouq Aminu for Paul and two future second-round picks. When the deal was done, Roeser and Olshey celebrated with champagne at the practice facility.
“I’ve enjoyed times of hope and times of agony,” Roeser said. “And I’ve never been more excited for a team at the beginning of the season.”
While the Clippers look good on paper, they will begin the season with the unlikely burden of playoff expectations. They also know they have to win to keep Paul, whose contract runs through the 2012-13 season and Griffin, who could become an unrestricted free agent in 2014 if he doesn’t sign a contract extension. Paul and Griffin also have had knee injuries in recent years that will continue to be a concern.
But instead of worrying about any of that, Paul and his Clippers are focused on the present. For a day or two, at least, the Clippers have become the talk of the town.
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and, then, remember them verbatim, 3 years from today.
When you sacrifice the “near future” for what you believe to be the “present” … and, your team’s current roster still has major holes in it, at multiple positions:
PROJECTED STARTERS
PG/Chris Paul + PG/Chauncey Billups + SF/Ryan Gomes + PF/Blake Griffin + C/Deandre Jordan
PROJECTED KEY SUBS
PG/Mo Williams + OG/Randy Foye + SF/Caron Butler + PF/Trey Thompkins + PF-C/Brian Cook
PROJECTED RESERVES
G/Willie Warren + PF/Adam Koch
PROJECTED EXTRAS/OUTS
PG/Eric Bledsoe [inj.] + PG/Blake Ahearn + G/Travis Leslie + F/Renaldo Major
HEAD COACH
Vinnie Del Negro
rather than being an authentic moment of well-deserved celebration, what it actually is, is a truly sad day, in the inglorious history of your pro sports franchise.
Tags: Al-Farouq Aminu, Andy Roeser, Blake Griffin, Chris Kaman, Chris Paul, Donald Sterling, LA Clippers, Neil Olshey, ric Gordon, Vinnie Del Negro