Clippers are right back where they started
Two years after nearly reaching the conference finals, they are again in last place in the Pacific Division. And next year, Brand and Maggette could be playing somewhere else.
Only two years ago, Sam Cassell hugged Elton Brand. Staples Center swayed to a tune of blue and red. The Clippers celebrated a playoff series win and got within a victory of reaching the Western Conference finals.
The Clippers were in uncharted territory with a seemingly bright future. Meanwhile, the Lakers, their Staples co-tenants, had already been ousted from the playoffs.
Now the Lakers are back among the NBA's elite -- and the Clippers are back on the bottom.
Cassell is gone. Brand is finally close to returning from a ruptured Achilles' tendon that has sidelined him since August. The Clippers are 20-39, stuck at the bottom of the Pacific Division, and their season-ticket holders complain of being grossly outnumbered by opposing fans at home games.
As the Clippers prepare to play the Lakers tonight for the third time this season, they may again face the arduous task of rebuilding.
Although the Clippers and owner Donald T. Sterling are intent on keeping Brand and their leading scorer, Corey Maggette, both players can opt out of the final year of their contracts in the off-season.
Point guard Shaun Livingston, 22, is still recuperating from multiple knee injuries he suffered more than a year ago. And, although all signs point to him progressing, he may not return to the court until the summer league and there are some doubts about his recovery because of the seriousness of his injuries.
A doomsday scenario -- one the Clippers' management doesn't foresee happening -- could leave the team next season without Brand and Maggette, with only center Chris Kaman, forward Al Thornton and a high draft pick this summer as the building blocks to construct the team.
"It's a possibility for sure," Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said. "I don't think it's likely, but anything is possible."
If Brand and Maggette depart, it would create about $23.4 million in salary cap space for next season. The Clippers' payroll of returning players with a core of Kaman, Thornton, guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas would add up to $29.5 million.
"If it does [happen], we have a lot of cap space to spend money on [other] players," Dunleavy said. "All of a sudden we become the players with the money in the market."
The Clippers would be able to go after an unrestricted free agent such as Antawn Jamison. Other players, including Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas and Shawn Marion, can also become free agents this summer.
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