Clips Get Butler

The Los Angeles Clippers traded for Rasual Butler from New Orleans, and in exchange the Hornets will receive a conditional second-round pick in 2016. The transaction comes as the Clippers try to start a rebuilding process built around Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon. New Orleans' reasons for trading Butler, who enjoyed a career-season with an average of 11.2 points a game, for just a draft pick in the distant future was to lower payroll.

NBA Schedule Puts Clips and Lakers at Beginning and End

The NBA released it's 2009-10 season schedule today, and the Lakers will start the season on October 27 against the Clippers. The two teams will also battle in the last game of the season. The marquis game though will be the Christmas Day spectacular, as Kobe and the Lakers take on LeBron, Shaq, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Staples Center. The Clippers will also have their own Christmas game as they take on the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers' ring ceremony will be held on Opening Night.

Clips Trade Richardson

Just a few days after finalizing a trade that sent Zach Randolph to Memphis in exchange for Quentin Richardson, the Clippers sent Richardson to Minnesota for guard Sebastian Telfair and forwards Mark Madsen and Craig Smith. This is the third trade this off-season that has dealt Richardson; he was previously traded to the Grizzlies from New York. Madsen previously played for the Lakers for the first three years of his career.

Clips' Deal Randolph

The Los Angeles Clippers finalized their trade for Quentin Richardson from Memphis in exchange for Zach Randolph. The deal was struck early in the off-season, but the two teams made the transaction official today.

Clippers in "Serious" Talks with Iverson

The Los Angeles Clippers are negotiating with Allen Iverson, according to the LA Times. Iverson has been one of the best players of this generation, reaching the Finals once in 2001 with Philadelphia, the same year he won the MVP. He then was traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2006, and just last season was traded to Detroit. His stint with the Pistons was the worst in his career, as his refusal to move to the bench led Detroit to deactivate him for the rest of the season.

Clippers Sign Griffin

The Los Angeles Clippers signed Blake Griffin to a three-year contract with a team-option for the fourth year, though the figures of the deal were not revealed. The Clippers will also be able to make a qualifying offer after the contract expires.

The team has not yet finalized the trade of Zach Randolph with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

The Clippers have made a qualifying offer to Steve Novak.

Clips Trade Randolph for Richardson

The Los Angeles Clippers traded Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies, receiving in exchange Quentin Richardson (above). Randolph, who was acquired midseason from New York, became expendable after the team drafted Blake Griffin. Richardson played four seasons with the Clippers, after which he signed with Phoenix who then went on to trade him to New York. The Knicks then traded him to Memphis just last week on Draft Day for Darko Milicic. The deal also frees the Clippers of Randolph's $33 million contract. The trade cannot be finalized until next week.

Editor's Note: Can Griffin be Clips' Savior?

Yes, he can. Blake Griffin is an incredibly talented power-foward, and will most likely be a positive influence on the team's morale itself. It's not like he has no supporting cast. Eric Gordon had a standout rookie year, and Baron Davis is always an advantage. Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby are solid big-men; Randolph can score and Camby can rebound. The team looks more solid than it ever has in the past. While playoffs are not in the near future, the Clippers are sure to make this a memorable season.

2009 NBA Draft: Nothing Unexpected

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers used their first overall pick to select PF Blake Griffin from Oklahoma. Griffin is 6-foot-10, and was the College Player of the Year last season. His selection though creates a problem for the Clippers, who have four power-forwards/centers already in their lineup. Los Angeles is expected to trade either Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby or Zach Randolph. The Lakers had no first-round pick for the second straight year, this time selling it to New York for $3 million.

The first round went as follows:

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma
2. Memphis: Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut
3. Oklahoma City: James Harden, SG, Arizona State
4. Sacramento: Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis
5. Minnesota (from Washington): Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain
6. Minnesota: Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse
7. Golden State: Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson
8. New York: Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona
9. Toronto: DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC
10. Milwaukee: Brandon Jennings, PG, Compton/Italy
11. New Jersey: Terrence Williams, SG, Louisville
12. Charlotte: Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke
13. Indiana: Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina
14. Phoenix: Earl Clark, SF, Louisville
15. Detroit: Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga
16. Chicago: James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest
17. Philadelphia: Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA
18. Minnesota (from Miami): Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina (traded to Denver for future first-round pick)
19. Atlanta: Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest
20. Utah: Eric Maynor, PG, VCU
21. New Orleans: Darren Collison, PG, UCLA
22. Portland (from Dallas): Victor Claver, PF, Spain
23. Sacramento (from Houston): Omri Casspi, SF, Israel
24. Dallas (from Portland): B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State (traded to OKC for Beaubois)
25. Oklahoma City (from San Antonio): Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, France (traded to Dallas for Mullens and future second-round pick)
26. Chicago (from Denver via OKC): Taj Gibson, PF, USC
27. Memphis (from Orlando): DeMarre Carroll, PF, Missouri
28. Minnesota (from Boston): Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina
29. Los Angeles Lakers: Toney Douglas, SG, Florida State (traded to New York for 2011 second-round pick and $3 million)
30. Cleveland: Christian Eyenga, SG, Congo

Despite trading the first-round pick, the Lakers had two second-round picks, one from a trade with Charlotte for Kareem Rush back in 2004. With the 42nd overall pick, the Purple and Gold selected Patrick Beverley, who played most recently in the Ukraine in addition to Arkansas. The Lakers then sold his contract to Miami for $1.5 million and a future second-round pick. With the 59th overall pick, the Lakers chose Chinemelu Elonu, a center of Texas A&M.

The main talk of the draft was who be chosen by Memphis at number two. Many believed it would be highly-touted Spanish guard Ricky Rubio, while others thought Hasheem Thabeet would be chosen. Not only was Thabeet the number-two pick, Rubio fell to #5. Minnesota had an astonishing four different picks in the draft, and what's even more shocking was that they used each one to draft a guard. Conventional wisdom says a trade is in the works...

Editor's Note: The Path to the Draft

With the 2009 NBA Draft set to go today, many questions remain for both the Lakers and the Clippers. Will the Clippers trade away their number-one pick due to a plethora of big-men? Do they instead try to find a suitor for Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph, or Marcus Camby? What do the Lakers do with their pick? Do they try to pursue a legitimate player who could have a shot at making the club? Do they pick a foreigner to keep salary-cap space clear? Or do they simply trade the pick like what GM Mitch Kupchak suggested? While there's no doubt Blake Griffin will go to the team with the first pick, the Clippers must decide if they want to be that team. And the Lakers must decide if they can handle three draft picks while still unsure what to do with Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. The path to the draft splits apart into different tangents, but ultimately one path will be chosen.

UPDATE: The Lakers sold their 29th overall pick to the New York Knicks for $3 million. The money is intended to help resign Odom and Ariza.

Editor's Note: Too Many Options for Clips

Along with the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Clippers have a lot to think about regarding their front-court. The Clips will almost certainly pick Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, but that won't stop their wheeling-and-dealing. Griffin's arrival creates an over-abundance of big-men, with Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman, and Zach Randolph. The most obvious option for LA is to trade, but who they trade is up for grabs. Camby is on the last year of his contract, which expires at the end of the 2010 season. Chris Kaman is young, and could yield a lot of interest from teams in the market for a center. And Zach Randolph had a standout year, but a hefty contract might prove to be immovable. The best bet would have to be trading Camby. He came to LA very angry after being blindsided by Denver trading him. He never truly embraced being a Clipper, and with the end of his contract coming, he could be traded to a team like Detroit or Chicago that lacks a standout power-forward or center in exchange for a solid guard and a few draft picks in the future. While Griffin's fate is already sealed, three other Clippers find their future up in the air.

Editor's Note: Best Damn Sports Day Period

It's a good time to be an LA sports fan. The Lakers are smack-dab in the middle of the playoffs, and have a 1-0 lead over Denver in the Western Conference Finals. The Dodgers have the best record in baseball and are steamrolling through the eastern division. The Clippers received the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and look to select Blake Griffin, the college player of the year. Everywhere you look in LA, people are excited. It's great to be in Los Angeles today.

BINGO! Clippers Win Draft Lottery

The Los Angeles Clippers won the #1 pick in the 2009 NBA Finals after being chosen in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Clippers had a 17.7% chance of receiving the first-overall pick, behind the Washington Wizards and the Sacramento Kings. The Clips will be expected to select Blake Griffin of Oklahoma. Memphis will pick second, followed by Oklahoma City, then Sacramento and Washington.

Clippers' Finale Sums Up Season

The Los Angeles Clippers ended a dreary season with a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder that seemed to sum up the entire season in one game. The Clips fell 126-85, their 63rd and final loss of the season. The Clips end with 19 wins. OKC shot .539 from the field, and collected 17 steals. LA turned the ball over 22 times, and were out-rebounded 49-32, out-assisted 36-16, and went to the charity stripe just 14 times, compared to the Thunders' 32 opportunities. Eric Gordon scored 22 points to lead the Clippers, and Mike Taylor added 15 points off the bench. Chris Kaman scored 13 points, and no other Clipper scored in double-figures. Kevin Durant led OKC with 26 points, Jeff Green scored 19 and UCLA-product Russell Westbrook added 13. Three players off the Thunder bench scored in double-digits.

Clips Go Cold during Quest for 20 Wins

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Utah Jazz 106-85, dropping their record to 19-62. The Clips could not out-score Utah in each quarter, and were out-rebounded 50-36. Utah took 39 free-throws as they forced 26 Clipper fouls. Marcus Camby led LA with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 16 points. DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 20 points, and Paul Millsap scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Deron Williams added 17 points and 9 assists.

Clips Can't Reach 20-Win Plateau

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 87-72, dropping their record to 19-61. The Clips shot just 38% from the field, and 2-for-15 from three-point range. Portland took 27 free-throws, compared to 11 for LA. Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 18 points, and Zach Randolph returned from his suspension to score 13. Baron Davis had 12, and no other Clippers scored in double-figures. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 21 points, and Brandon Roy added 15.

Clips Are Kings for a Day

The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 109-78, snapping a six-game losing streak. LA could not be stopped after finishing the first quarter leading 35-13. The Clippers shot 56% from the field while Sacramento shot .326. The Clips also out-assisted the Kings 26-14 and blocked 9 of their shots. Brain Skinner led LA with 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Eric Gordon had 20 points, and Chris Kaman had a double-double off the bench with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Baron Davis added 16 points. Beno Udrih led the Kings with 18 points.

Clippers Lose To Fourth-Quarter Doldrums

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 87-77, their 60th loss of the season. The Clips shot just .358 from the field, taking 31 3-point tries while only hitting 9 of them. LA had only 6 turnovers, and Minnesota out-rebounded the Clippers 62-34. Entering the fourth quarter trailing only by 11 points, the Clippers scored just 15 points while the Wolves had 14. Eric Gordon led the Clips with 28 points, and Brian Skinner had 16 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Ryan Gomes led the way for the T-Wolves with 24 points and 13 rebounds, and former Bruin Kevin Love added 13 points and 15 rebounds. LA was without Mardy Collins, Marcus Camby, Ricky Davis, and Al Thornton due to health issues, and Zach Randolph due to his suspension.

Randolph is Arrested

Clipper center Zach Randolph was arrested yesterday on suspicion of DUI. The Clippers suspended him for their next two games. Randolph was pulled over in the Culver City area early Monday morning after the team's loss to the Lakers. Officers smelled alcohol on Randolph and arrested him after he failed a field sobriety test. Randolph has been arrested twice before, once for a DWI involving marijuana and another for street racing.

Lakers Edge Out Clips

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated their cross-arena rival Los Angeles Clippers 89-85, their 61st victory of the season, and the 59th loss for the Clippers. The Lakers scored just 33 points in the second-half, allowing the Clips to re-enter the game late in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers scored just 29 points in the first and third quarters combined. The Clippers out-rebounded the Lakers 46-38, and out-assisted them 21-15. However, the Clips committed 15 turnovers as opposed to the Lakers' 10. Eric Gordon led all scorers with 24 points for the Clippers, and Zach Randolph had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant added 18 points as well.