CLIPPERS UPDATE: CLIPPERS SAY HELLO TO KITTLES; GOODBYE TO Q.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer The Clippers' dealings on Thursday had all the makings of typical moves from spend thrift owner Donald T. Sterling. The team renounced Quentin Richardson Quentin Richardson (born April 13 1980 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the National Basketball Association's New York Knicks. He is a swingman. , a 24-year-old who could have been signed to a six-year deal. Richardson officially became a member of the Phoenix Suns and is elated e·lat·ed adj. Exultantly proud and joyful. e·lat  ed·ly adv.e·lat . To replace Richardson at shooting guard The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. , the Clippers gave up their 2005 second-round pick to receive 30-year-old Kerry Kittles Kerry Kittles (born June 12 1974 in Dayton, Ohio) is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association in 2004-05. He was raised in New Orleans and attended St. Augustine High School. from the New Jersey Nets. Kittles is under contract for just one season. In the process, Sterling and the Clippers saved more than $33 million in guaranteed salary. It might appear that the Clippers are once again being directed by financial concerns, instead of basketball ones. But both general manager Elgin Baylor Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16, 1934 in Washington, D.C.) is a retired American basketball player who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers. Baylor was a gifted shooter, a strong rebounder, and an accomplished passer. and coach Mike Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy is the name of two notable persons in basketball, father and son:
``The entire staff wanted to do it,'' Baylor said. ``The owner has been very supportive, helping us in whatever we want to do. Donald T. has been terrific.'' On the surface, the move looks like a cost-cutter and highly risky. The Clippers could have matched Phoenix's offer sheet for Richardson and kept the guard with a six-year deal worth approximately $45 million. Richardson's deal is laden with incentives, and the Suns tried to write an offer sheet to make it hard for the Clippers to match. Next month, Richardson will be paid 70 percent of his first year's salary. With Kittles, the Clippers gave up a second-round pick in 2005. The Nets also gave the Clippers $1.5 million toward his $10.8 million salary. Not counting saving money, another possible motive for Thursday'smoves is that the contracts of Kittles and Marko Jaric expire after this season. If these players are off the Clippers' books, they would be able to sign a high-profile free agent for a maximum deal. But Baylor said, ``We're not looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. that. The trade wasn't for that. Kerry is a veteran player with lots of playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. experience. We've been looking for a veteran player. What he brings is a very talented player, who is versatile and can run the floor and shoot. And he fits in well with us.'' Baylor said the Clippers' plan for next summer is to re-sign Kittles, but the player hasn't agreed to that. ``It depends,'' Kittles said. ``The Clippers gave up a lot for me, letting Quentin Richardson go. That's pretty big. If everything works out, I fit in well and enjoy playing with the guys there, I will look into it and give it strong consideration.'' Joe Stevens, (562) 499-1338 joe.stevens(at)presstelegram.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion