Blake Griffin
Clippers forward Blake Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, is on the long road back from a knee injury. He had surgery in January and is still a rookie.
But coach Vinny Del Negro said he is not planning to give Griffin the rookie treatment — in fact, Del Negro told Sporting News on Wednesday that he already has Griffin penciled into the starting lineup
Asked if Griffin is his starting power forward as things stand, Del Negro did not hesitate. “Yes,” he said. “That???s what I am anticipating. Blake is a mature guy, and he has been around the team and the NBA for a year. I think he is ready.”
FanNation
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Donald Sterling
In attendance as the Clippers introduced new uniforms instead of new players, owner Donald Sterling addressed the issues facing his team.
A couple of months ago this was going to be the summer of all summers for the Clippers, a fresh start, a chance to hire a new coach, $17 million in cap space to go after LeBron or other big names like him and make a huge splash.
And so they signed Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes. Or, as Sterling put it, “If I really called the shots we wouldn’t have signed Gomes and what’s the other guy’s name? You know, they told me if we built a new practice facility we’d attract all the top players in the game,” Sterling adds. “I guess I should have doubled the size of this place.”
FanNation
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Craig Smith
The Los Angeles Clippers and free agent Craig Smith today reached an agreement that will enable the power forward to return to the team for 2010-11.
Smith, who averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes in 75 games played with Los Angeles last season, also connected on 57 percent of his field goals on the year.
He was originally acquired by the Clippers, along with Sebastian Telfair and Mark Madsen from Minnesota, on July 20, 2009 in exchange for Quentin Richardson.
HoopsWorld
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Larry Coon details just how much salary-cap space each of the teams have entering the free-agent market which officially opens at midnight on Thursday.
The following are best-case scenarios for each of the teams with the most projected cap room:
The Knicks could hold 2.06 max contracts.
The Nets could hold 2.00 max contracts.
The Bulls could hold 1.76 max contracts.
The Heat could hold 1.67 max contracts, even after the team signs its own free agent, Dwyane Wade, to a max contract.
The Clippers could hold 1.02 max contracts.
Real GM
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Blake Griffin
Clippers forward Blake Griffin, who missed all of his rookie season with a stress fracture in his left kneecap, has been fully cleared for all basketball activities.
“Right now Blake is working out with no restrictions, at full speed, 100 percent,” Clippers general manager Neil Olshey said.
Los Angeles drafted Griffin with the first overall pick last June.
“He’s working out in May like we were ready to tip off in October. The only guy I feel bad for is the first one of his teammates that shows up and wants to play one-on-one with him,” Olshey added.
Real GM
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Calipari, James
Very recent speculation suggests quite a power tandem may be forming in the NBA.
League sources said Sunday that noted NBA power broker William Wesley continues to work back channels to sell John Calipari and James as a package deal to franchises such as the Bulls, Nets and Clippers with coaching vacancies and salary cap room.
Another league source confirmed that an unknown Calipari connection contacted Bulls management over the weekend.
FanNation
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Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson has decided to decline an opportunity to interview for the 76ers’ coaching job.
“It’s just not the right situation for him at this time,’’ was all that was offered by Steve Kauffman, Jackson’s agent.
He is expected to interview for the New Orleans Hornets job, and is hopeful of being contacted by the Los Angeles Clippers and possibly the New Jersey Nets.
Real GM
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Byron Scott
Other names are starting to circulate as likely coaching candidates for the Clippers.
Three options that the Clippers are strongly evaluating, according to NBA coaching sources: Byron Scott and Mark Jackson from ESPN’s TV roster and Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey.
Although it is widely presumed in Los Angeles that Scott is a prospective down-the-road replacement for Phil Jackson and would rather wait to see if he has any shot at coaching the marquee tenant at Staples Center within the next couple of seasons.
HoopsWorld
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Steve Blake
It is hard to imagine anybody coveting any player on the 25-39 Los Angeles Clippers right now, but the Orlando Magic is apparently thinking that it would like to add Clippers point guard Steve Blake this summer.
Blake stepped into the starting lineup last night to replace the hurting Baron Davis and ended up with 11 points, two rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
Nine of those points came through three three-pointers.
Yahoo Sports
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Mike Dunleavey
The Los Angeles Clippers and GM Mike Dunleavy today have severed ties.
Dunleavy previously also served as the team’s head coach from 2003-04 until February 4, 2010.
The organization has determined that the goal of building a winning team is best served by making this decision at this time.
The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure.
Inside Hoops
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