The Clippers are saddled with bad contracts and a losing attitude, but they have the No. 1 overall pick in this years draft. Luckily for them, this is not a Kwame Brown year. Let's take a look at the key contracts on the team...Bad contracts:
-Zach Randolph (2 years left: $16M, $17.3M)
-Chris Kaman (3 years left: $10.4M, $11.3M, $12.2M)
-Baron Davis (4 years left: $12.2M, $13.1M, $14.0M, $14.9M)
Good contracts:
-Eric Gordon (4 years left: $2.8M, $3.0M-to, $3.8M-to, $5.1M-qo)
-Al Thornton (3 years left: $1.9M, $2.8M, $3.9M)
-Marcus Camby (1 year left: $7.7M)
-Mike Taylor ( 2 years left at under $1M each)
-DeAndre Jordan (2 years left at under $1M each)
It looks like they are going to take Blake Griffin No.1 overall, so the Clippers will desperately try to trade Zach Randolph. At $16M, I am not sure they will be able to unload him until 2 years from now, when he is an expiring contract. My guess would be that nobody would seriously be interested this offseason. Randolph is talented, but he is a knucklehead.
Potential Starting Lineup:
PG: Baron Davis
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Al Thornton
PF: Zach Randolph
C: Chris Kaman
6th Man: Blake Griffin
7th Man: Mike Taylor
8th Man: DeAndre Jordan
Eventually Griffin will be a starter next year, but he may start off coming off the pine.
If they can stay healthy, this is a talented team. If they could get rid of Randolph's contract and inspire Baron Davis to lay off the donuts, they could be a borderline playoff team.
But we all know the Clippers deal. So aim low Clipperland, you are bound to end up in the cellar.
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