7/14 ESPN Insider - The exodus from the Clippers

[OutletPass]

Ford: The Great Clippers Exodus
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, July 14
Updated: July 14
10:06 AM ET


Two weeks ago, we wrote that Clippers owner Donald Sterling would be the real power broker this summer. With five prominent free agents up for bid, four of them restricted, the rest of the league huddled in war rooms wondering the same things -- will the Clips match?


For the past two weeks, the Clippers have told every NBA team flirting with Elton Brand, Corey Maggette or Lamar Odom that they will, indeed, match any offer. They've also been beating the war drums of late that they'll hold onto Andre Miller, even with young point guards Marko Jaric and Keyon Dooling in place. And as for Michael Olowokandi, the team's only unrestricted free agent, they may hold the cards to his future as well -- via sign-and-trade.

Now, with the signing period just two days away, several owners are ready to call Sterling's bluff.

Corey Maggette
Guard-Forward
Los Angeles Clippers
Profile


2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
64 16.8 5.0 1.9 .444 .802



Over the weekend, Miller and Maggette both received offers from both the Nuggets and Jazz. But in a bizarre twist, Miller is set to sign a six-year, $55 million offer sheet with Denver, and Maggette is ready to sign a six-year deal with the Jazz for something above the $42 million the Nuggets offered him on Friday.

Huh? Wasn't Utah the No. 1 team on Miller's list? And didn't Maggette claim the Nuggets were his top choice?

Here's how things went down this weekend:

On Friday, the Nuggets put a six-year, $42 million offer on the table for Maggette, two league sources told Insider. Both sources, who were familiar with Maggette's thinking, expected his to agree to Denver's offer sheet for three big reasons: 1) The Nuggets were offering more money than any other team; 2) Maggette preferred playing for Denver over the Jazz; and 3) he told them he would.

Andre Miller
Point Guard
Los Angeles Clippers
Profile


2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
80 13.6 4.0 6.7 .406 .795



Visits to both teams had gone well, but Maggette felt more comfortable with his role on the team and the talent that would surround him in Denver -- there was a clear opening at shooting guard, and he'd get to play with Carmelo Anthony and either Miller or Gilbert Arenas.

However, things began to change on Saturday, after Miller decided to commit to the Nuggets, as well.

The writing was on the wall on Friday, one source within the Jazz told Insider. During a meeting with Jazz owner Larry Miller on Thursday, Andre Miller's agent, Lon Babby, repeatedly voiced concerns about his client having to fill the shoes of John Stockton. Babby was afraid that, with Stockton and Karl Malone both gone, the Jazz would inevitably lose a step or two this season. After the nightmare season Andre Miller endured in L.A., Babby didn't want his client to take the brunt of the criticism if the Jazz missed the playoffs for the first time in two decades.

The money between the two clubs was the same, and ultimately the point guard felt Denver might be a better situation for him. When he reportedly committed to the Nuggets on Saturday, the Jazz were stunned. Owner Miller, along with many in the organization, felt ultimately the Clippers' guard would choose Utah over Denver.

When he didn't, according to several sources, the Jazz went into damage-control mode, offering Maggette a deal on Saturday that trumped the money in the Nuggets' offer. Maggette's agent, Rob Pelinka, told the Rocky Mountain News on Sunday evening that Maggette would accept the Jazz's offer.

Maggette, however, still seemed on the fence. He also spoke with the Rocky Mountain News on Sunday and confirmed Insider's report on Friday that he had, indeed, received an offer from the Nuggets. As to which one he'll actually sign, he wouldn't commit.

"I'll know that probably Wednesday," Maggette said. "As of now, nothing is finalized. ... Denver is a really nice place, and I'd love to play there, but I'm keeping my options open until Wednesday."

However, as of Sunday night, it appeared unlikely the Nuggets would be able to match Utah's offer. Denver had thought it would be able to sign Maggette, a point guard such as Miller or Gilbert Arenas, and Olowokandi, who is scheduled to meet with Nuggets owner Stan Kronke today. Olowokandi is expecting an offer.

"I would think there would be an offer if I'm meeting with the owner," said Olowokandi, who has indicated the Nuggets are at the top of his list. "I would be surprised if there isn't an offer."

Their thinking was that if they paid Miller a starting salary of $7 million a season and Maggette a starting salary of $5.5 a season, they would have had been able to offer Olowokandi a deal starting at $6 million a season (assuming a $42 million salary cap). However, with the Jazz upping the ante for Maggette, the Nuggets likely will have to choose whether to remain in the bidding for him or give up and focus only on Olowokandi.

If the Nuggets don't come through, the Grizzlies reportedly are ready to work out a sign-and-trade that would bring Olowokandi to Memphis in return for Wesley Person (in the last year of his deal) and a future first-round pick.

And let's not forget about Brand. The Jazz have told him they'll give him a six-year max deal if he wants it. But the Spurs spent a big chunk of the weekend negotiating with Brand's agent, David Falk, about a deal that would bring Brand to San Antonio.

All of the weekend wrangling will leave Sterling & Co. with some tough decisions. Miller, Maggette and Brand can't sign until Wednesday, at which point Clippers will have 15 days to match.

No one knows what they'll do. But because of minimum payroll requirements, they have to spend at least $31.5 million on players' salaries (assuming that the salary cap is set at $42 million). Right now, L.A. has only six players under contract and $11.7 million in committed salaries. They're going to have to make up the additional $20 million somehow. Even if the team paid Brand's maximum salary, it would still have roughly $10 million in cap space to fill.

That's why many believe that, ultimately, the team will match any offer Brand, Maggette or Odom. Under the rules, they have to pay someone.

Odom, who appears unlikely to get an offer worth signing, likely will accept the Clippers' $4.7 million one-year qualifying offer rather than risk the team matching a longer-term offer sheet from another club.

It also explains why Maggette had to stiff-arm his first choice, the Nuggets, for his second choice, the Jazz. There was a strong likelihood that the Clippers would've matched a Maggette offer that started at $5.5 million a season. Maggette is hoping the extra money the Jazz are offering will be enough to scare L.A. away. Even at the bigger number, though, the Clips still might match.

The mandatory minimum payroll also why a sign-and-trade with the Grizzlies makes some sense. If they have to spend money anyway, shipping Olowokandi to the Grizzlies and taking back a one-year deal worth $7.7 million (Wesley Person) helps them get to the minimum salary without making a long-term commitment.

But let's not get too carried away. If Brand, Miller, Maggette are all matched, Sterling would be committing $180 million in guaranteed money to three players. Regardless of minimum payrolls and lots of chest thumping out in L.A., we'll believe that when we see it.

Around the league

Sources inside the Jazz, Heat and Nuggets all feel that restricted free agent Gilbert Arenas is returning to the Warriors. His agent, Dan Fegan, hasn't moved off of his $9 million a year demands. All three teams still have interest, but not at that price.

Gilbert Arenas
Point Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile


2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
82 18.3 4.7 6.3 .431 .791



However, there may be one dark-horse out there worth watching. Arenas really wants to play in L.A. His first choice was the Lakers. But now that they've locked up Gary Payton, he actually wouldn't mind playing for the Clippers -- especially if they lock up one or two of their free agents. And, according to sources, he might be willing to come off his exorbitant contract demands to do it.

Would the Clippers bite?

The Spurs are still stuck in limbo waiting on another high-profile free agent. The team has spent hours trying to figure out how to lure Elton Brand to San Antonio without the Clippers matching, but it won't be easy.

Elton Brand
Power Forward
Los Angeles Clippers
Profile


2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
62 18.5 11.3 2.5 .502 .685



Several sources inside the Spurs feel strongly that the Clippers will match any offer. They've played with creative contracts that would discourage L.A. from matching -- but right now nothing seems to have clicked.

The Spurs ultimately may just have to take a pass on Brand. They've already been burned once this summer. While the team flirted with Jason Kidd, it lost out on the chance to sign P.J. Brown. After Kidd told the Spurs he was staying in New Jersey, they quickly tried to piece together a deal for Brown. But by the time they got it to him on Friday, it was too late. Brown had spent several days talking with the Hornets and had basically agreed to re-sign with them by the time the Spurs came up with their offer.

The Spurs also risk losing Rasho Nesterovic. As Insider first reported last week, the team is high on him, and Nesterovic would prefer to play in San Antonio, all things being equal. The T-Wolves have already made him a big-time offer, and he probably would be unwilling to wait the 15 days it would take to see if the Clips matched the offer for Brand.

Right now it doesn't appear the Spurs will take that risk. Nesterovic's agent, Bill Duffy, said that his client likely will make his decision on Tuesday.

Juwan Howard's decision to sign a five-year, $28 million deal with the Magic will leave the Pistons and the T-Wolves scrambling.

The T-Wolves are in the worst shape. There's a good chance they could lose Nesterovic to the Spurs. Without Howard, the team could actually be worse off than it was last season -- that can't be what vice president Kevin McHale envisioned when he said the team was going to be aggressive this summer.

With all of the top players off the board, their best shot at a tough, low-post player may be free agent Tyrone Hill.

The Pistons didn't really need Howard, but he was a nice saftey blanket. Don't be shocked if, with the Pistons' three favorite guys off the board -- Howard, Alonzo Mourning and Brown -- if Joe Dumars pursues a couple of Larry Brown favorites -- Speedy Claxton and/or Derrick Coleman.

[MavsFanFinley]

Sources inside the Jazz, Heat and Nuggets all feel that restricted free agent Gilbert Arenas is returning to the Warriors. His agent, Dan Fegan, hasn't moved off of his $9 million a year demands. All three teams still have interest, but not at that price.

I love Arenas, I do. But, he needs to come off his high horse and bring that price tag down that he's demanding.

As for the Spurs and whether to go with Brand or Rasho? Obviously, you'd go after Brand, but that seems to be the one guy that the Clippers will match any offer. And I figure Brand doesn't want to be stuck in LA for another 5 years. He'll sign the one year deal and become a free agent next season.

The Spurs would be smarter to get Rasho. I think he'll sign with them now that Howard has committed to Orlando.

[Big Boy Laroux]

man, that offer sheet stuff really sucks. Here they are, trying to get out of clipper-land, and they just reel them back in. but hey, that's the way the contracts go... but man, someone wants to sign wih another team, and they want a longer deal... but then the clips could match, and then you're stuck with them for that long deal... geez.