CLIPPERS UPDATE: OFFERS ON THE TABLE BUT NO TAKERS CLIPPERS MAKE OFFERS FOR MILLER AND DAVIS, BUT BOTH ARE REJECTED.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer A whirlwind day of trade offers and phone calls ended with no takers for Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. and a head-scratching outcome. The Clippers made no trades on draft day and selected a pair of power forwards in Maryland's Chris Wilcox Chris Ray Wilcox (born September 3 1982 in Raleigh, North Carolina) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA. at No. 8 and Fresno State's Melvin Ely Melvin Anderson Ely (born May 2, 1978 in Harvey, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. A 6'10", 255 lbs, forward-center from Fresno State, Ely was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round (12th overall at No. 12. Barring a future deal, the two will try to play in a crowded frontcourt anchored by All-Star power forward Elton Brand Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York) is an American All-Star professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. . The Clippers' desire was to get someone to be their leader at point guard. But two deals fell apart within hours, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. sources. The first would have sent Odom and the Clippers' eighth pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a 1970 expansion team and won their first Eastern Conference Championship in 2007. for point guard Andre Miller Andre Lloyd Miller (born March 19, 1976 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA. College career Miller played collegiately at the University of Utah for four years. and the Cavs' sixth pick. That deal possibility came after the Cavaliers already turned down the same offer with Corey Maggette Corey Antoine Maggette (born November 12 1979, in Melrose Park, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player, positioned at small forward for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. as trade bait Trade bait refers to an athlete on a sports team who is used to try and get another team to make a trade. Occasionally it just refers to a player that is traded often or any player that is traded at all. . The Odom deal fell through at mid-morning Wednesday. ``We talked and it just didn't work out,'' said Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor. ``We tried to talk and we just couldn't come to an agreement about which players would be involved.'' After that, Baylor dialed up New Orleans in hopes of landing Baron Davis. In that deal, the Clippers would send Odom and their eighth and 12th picks to the Hornets for Davis. The Hornets deliberated for several hours before deciding not to deal. So the Clippers went ahead with the plan to pick the best two players available. Things became even more perplexing per·plex tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es 1. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make confusedly intricate; complicate. when Cleveland, after deciding to keep Miller, chose Dajuan Wagner with the sixth pick. Wagner is a point guard the Clippers would likely have taken, if a trade for Miller or Davis didn't happen. ``It would be great to have a great point guard,'' Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. ``But everything is not over. I still think that there is a possibility.'' The coach explained Keyon Dooling or Marko Jaric, a 2000 pick who is expected to sign with the Clippers this summer, are quality players who could perform well for his team at point guard. A deal for Miller is not dead, but Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling will have to change what he's offering. Reportedly, the Cavs nixed the deal because they felt Odom, who missed 53 games this season with injuries and a drug suspension, was too high-risk. Cleveland's hope was to get Darius Miles and both of the Clippers' picks. But Sterling made Miles and Quentin Richardson untouchable untouchable Former classification of various low-status persons and those outside the Hindu caste system in Indian society. The term Dalit is now used for such people (in preference to Mohandas K. . Baylor was vague in his comments about the failed trade and didn't talk specifics. If Baylor had full control, it is believed he definitely would have sent Miles to Cleveland for Miller. ``There will be more talk, I'm sure,'' Baylor said of dealing with the Cavaliers. ``And we're going to keep the lines open.'' Wilcox and Ely both spoke via telephone about coming to the Clippers. Many of the questions centered on whether each thought he would be in Los Angeles at the start of the season. Wilcox, 19, never even had a pre-draft workout with the Clippers. ``Yeah, I feel like I'm going to be there,'' Wilcox said. ``But if not, whatever happens happens.'' Ely, 24, was the first player selected in the draft who is a senior. Ely said he lives in Marina del Rey and was pleased to be taken 12th. ``I had the workout in L.A., and it was kind of so-so,'' Ely said. ``I didn't do bad, but I really thought I was going to Milwaukee or Indiana or Orlando, somewhere like that. When they picked me, I was playing with my son and I thought somebody was playing.' '' Right now, the Clippers have a logjam log·jam n. 1. An immovable mass of floating logs crowded together. 2. A deadlock, as in negotiations; an impasse. Noun 1. at both small forward and power forward. A trade might appear imminent, but that it is no certainty. Wilcox said, ``The NBA's kind of funny, so anything can happen.'' --Notes: With their second-round pick, the Clippers took little-known Croatian center Mario Kasun. The Clippers then dealt Kasun's rights to Orlando for future considerations. ... The Clippers are expected to sign Jaric this week, perhaps as early as today. ... In a formality, the Clippers tendered Michael Olowokandi and Tremaine Fowlkes qualifying offers. The two officially became restricted free agents and negotiations with them can begin July 1. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Fresno State's Melvin Ely, who lives in Marina del Rey, can smile after being drafted in the first round. Mark Lenihan/Associated Press |
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