Clippers aquire Alien Boy

[Clipps]

http://www.nba.com/clippers/news/cassell_050812.html

Wow, Another great move by the Clippers. I'm impressed on how the Clippers are getting things done this off-season. First signing Cuttino Mobley and then traded Jaric and Chalmers for Cassel and a 2006 first round draft pick. Prior to this off-season, the Clippers would have just Clipped out and just let Simmons go for nothing and let Jaric go for nothing. Can you imagine if the Clippers S&T players in the past like Kandi, Odom, Miller and all the other players they let go for nothing? All the Clippers need is someone like Aaron Mckie to play backup SG and SF and their off-season will be near perfect.

C- Chris Kaman - Zeljko ReBraca
F- Elton Brand - Mikki Moore - Chris Wilcox
F- Corey Maggette - Korolev
G- Cuttino Mobley - Quinton Ross
G- Sam Cassel - Shaun Livingston - Daniel Ewing

If the Clippers don't win more than 50 games with this roster, It will be a complete seasonal failure.

[doublee]

It would not surprise me to see McKie retire now that he has been released. His body seems to be giving up on him.

This move could also blow up on the Clippers if Cassell decides he still needs a new contract and starts pouting over it again and causing problems in the lockerroom.

I guess this also means the Wolves are entering a rebuilding phase now.

[davematthews3]

I think that if Cassell does decide to pout and not play hard the clippers will be ok. Shaun Livingston is going to bust lose he almost did near the end of last year. So if Cassell flakes oukt the clippers should be fine. It looks like they may make the playoffs this year.

[190 Octane]

The Clippers are looking like a legit playoff team. That backcourt of Mobley and Cassell should be nice, so long as Cassell has his head on straight like doublee and davematthews mentioned.

Something that should help their case is the state of the Pacific Division. The Lakers are fringe. Golden State looks nice, but is still awfully young and lacks depth. The Kings look shakier by the day. The Suns are imploding and will be nowhere near the 62-win squad of this past season.

[doublee]

Well, the Kings did pick up Abdur Rahim who should, at the very least, give them some of the scoring punch they lacked from the PF slot after Webber was dealt.

[190 Octane]

Adding 'Reef will give them some much-needed firepower, no doubt. The thing I wonder about with Sacto is if they can cope with the losses of Bobby Jackson and Cuttino Mobley.

Bonzi Wells has the talent to fill in for Mobley, but I just can't see him getting control of his attitude enough to do so. And Bobby Jackson is tough to replace. He's one of those guys who brings an intangible spark off the bench. He'll never impress with his numbers, but he brings so much when he gets in the game.

Plus, Bonzi is coming into Peja's team. If Peja wasn't willing to play nice with an All-Star like Chris Webber, no way he'll click with a mediocre headcase like Wells.

[doublee]

I'd say this is Bibby's team moreso than it is Peja's team. The keep wanting it to be Peja's team, but it seems as though Bibby is always the guy baling them out of trouble.

Bonzi is a bit of a step down for the Kings from the perimeter. He does not shoot nearly as well as Mobley nor does he have the same range. But, Bonzi is probably a step up defensively. He plays pretty good defense when he wants to.

The Kings picked up Jason Hart to take Jackson's place. He proved to be a more than capable backup PG last year with the Bobcats averaging 9 ppg and 5 apg. He is a better assist man than Jackson and shoots just as well. Hart is a pass first shoot second type of PG whereas Jackson has more of a scorers mentality.

[190 Octane]

Ah, hadn't read where the Kings picked up Jason Hart. That's a nice acquisition for them. I guess they can still be a low-seeded playoff team.

Nevertheless, I really think the Clippers should be the second best team in that division....never thought I'd be saying that.

[doublee]

Yeah, I had not realized it either until I checked there roster out of sheer curiosity to see if they did have a veteran to backup Bibby and saw a little blurb about them getting him off of Charlotte for a draft pick. I cannot understand why Charlotte would give him up since Felton is the only true PG on the roster as of right now.

As it stands right now the Pacific has a lot of potential to be very wide open next season. One has to think Phoenix will come back to the pack after losing both Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson while adding only Kurt Thomas and Boris Diaw in return. Golden State finished the season strong and the Lakers and Clippers should be somewhat better than last season.