Hooped Up

The Grizzlies have a nonbinding agreement in place with the Los Angeles Clippers for a trade that would swap recently acquired guard Quentin Richardson for forward Zach Randolph, NBA sources confirmed late Wednesday night.

The deal cannot become official until next week due to rules under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Also at play is the unpredictable nature of Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who nixed a draft-night trade the Grizzlies proposed in an attempt to acquire Randolph.

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Taking Blake Griffin with the No. 1 selection in the NBA draft was the incredibly simple move for the Clippers, the painfully easy open jumper, if you will. Now comes the hard part. ”It’s definitely going to take time, and it’s not all about me,” said Griffin on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

He was speaking minutes after the Clippers took him at No. 1, just the way General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said they would do so back on the night of the draft lottery in May.
LA Times

The LA Clippers select first overall in the 2009 draft and who they’re taking isn’t a secret — or is it? Listen to who  Fantasy Sports Girl Maranie thinks the Clippers are picking and then check out her selections vitals, strengths, 08-09 stats and draft demo reel after the jump.

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The Clippers have won the draft lottery for the third time in their franchises history and they have already decided they want Blake Griffin. All I ask is that they do not make Blake Griffin a mediocre talent and they include progress as an option for once.

The Clippers have twice had the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, and will get it again for a third time, having won the league’s draft lottery Tuesday night at Secaucus, N.J. ”Clearly, we’re taking Blake Griffin,” Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said in a telephone interview from Barcelona, Spain.

“This guy is the No. 1 pick. We’re extremely excited. He’s the guy.”

There wasn’t much of a question the Clippers would do anything other than take the dynamic, explosive forward from Oklahoma. Dunleavy, though, wasn’t about to be coy in the wee morning hours in Spain and erased any shred of doubt about the team’s intention in the draft June 25 in New York.

Even with so much promise of receiving the first pick in the NBA draft, based on their track record it’s sad to know that it went to the Clipppers. If Blake Griffin becomes a part of the change that’s needed with a team playing in one of the three biggest media markets in North America, then hats off to the Clippers organization.

But some how, I’m convinced they will spoil this opportunity too. I just hope I’m wrong for young and talented Blake Griffin’s sake.

Via LA Times

Early this morning Zach Randolph was thrown in jail after he was booked for DUI. 

“Hours after the Clip Squad went down to the Lakers last night, Clipper power forward Zach Randolph was pulled over by California Highway Patrol officers on the 405 Freeway when they spotted Randolph’s white Rolls Royce weaving in and out of his lane at around 2:25 AM.

Cops say when they approached the car, they “noticed an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from within the vehicle” and proceeded to perform some field tests on the 6′9,” 255 pound 27-year-old. Randolph failed those and was arrested for DUI.”

According to TMZ, he has now been released from jail.

Via TMZ

Okay, so the move to LA from Golden State hasn’t worked out exactly as planned yet, but that doesn’t mean Baron Davis has not been productive with his time in southern California. 

After being met with a positive response in various film festivals last year. The documentary film Baron Davis helped produce Crips & Bloods: Made in America is now available for purchase and I’m itching to get a copy. The film is directed by Stacy Peralta, narrated by Forest Whitaker and tells the story of the Crips and Bloods, South Los Angeles’ most infamous gangs.

Davis who grew up in South Central LA, got involved in this film because he wanted to make his neighbourhood better for the kids growing up their now by demystifying gang culture and discussing solutions to end the violence.

Good lookin’ out Mr. Davis!

LA Clipper highlights are rare like evil unicorns, so when they happen I gotta post them. After Steve Novak sinks the buzzer beater three for the game last night, he goes soccer goal celebration and given the relegation worthy season the Clips have had, I don’t blame the dude! 

Professional grump and hater in general of all happiness Don Cherry would not like this I tells ya!

Sure the Clippers stink, but are they lazy too? Well according to a scout that spoke with ESPN’s Marc Stein, they’re the laziest team he has ever seen.

“I think a lot of people would say Toronto. Not me. The Clippers are the laziest team I’ve ever seen. I know they’ve had a lot of injuries, but they just don’t play hard. Their good players don’t play hard.

“They have enough talent to be relevant. But it looks to me like they’re trying to become the Oakland Raiders, going out and getting all the guys who are on their last chance. So don’t be surprised if they go after Iverson in the summer. If there’s one place where [signing Iverson as a free agent] can sell tickets, it’s there.”

Two organizational pimp slaps for the price of one, now that’s efficiency! I really couldn’t tell you who’s the laziest team in the league, but I can tell you who’s the laziest owner in the league. I’ll give you a hint.

It rhymes with Monald Gerling. 

Via ESPN

Earlier this week, I watched the Clippers versus Spurs game and Mike Taylor flushed an alley-oop from a Fred Jones pass. It was nice, but I had no idea Mike Taylor had it like this! Dude has silly hops!

Thanks to some sleuthing by J.E. Skeets, check out the dunk Taylor did in warm ups. It’s even better!

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