updated 10/23/02
UBA TIME 11/01
Clippers Remodeling
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Clippers have had a busy offseason. First they dealt leading scorer Antawn Jamison to the Toronto Raptors for a future first round pick and guard Michael Dickerson. Later they traded center-forward Christian Laettner to Minnesota for a future first round and second round selection. During free agency, the Clippers have added veteran Hall of Fame centers Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing. Both vowed to join forces as their knees are unable to withstand the pounding of 82 games. The Clippers also added former UCLA center Jelani McCoy. The Clippers hope that McCoy can pick up some stuff from the veterans this season. With a slew of picks and cap room, the Clippers have helped their present and future.updated 12/10/01 UBA TIME 12/25/00
LOS ANGELES - With attendance lagging, a losing streak to mediocrity, the Los Angeles Clippers have acquired explosive scoring power forward Antawn Jamison from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Clippers gave up shooting guard Eddie Jones, center Keon Clark and guard David Vanterpool. In return, the Clippers got Jamison, swingman Scott Burrell and rookie point guard Mateen Cleavs. "Mateen made the deal go," commented GM Elgin Baylor, "Mateen has a huge upside, look at what he did at Michigan St." At 12-16 the Clippers were looking at not making the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. "We needed to move, add a scorer to Rahim. We loved Eddie, he worked great defensively with Jason (Kidd), but in this league to get some- thing, you gotta give up something," commented head coach Todd Bozeman, "he's starting at the four and we'll go as long as he wants to go." The acquisition moves Abdur-Rahim back to his more natural position of small forward. This move almost likely moves Lamond Murray either to the bench or as the starter at the 2 guard position. It'll be difficult for him to matchup with the quicker guards. It's a good trade, Jamison helps them get younger. Cleaves is like draft pick that they had lost in next season's draft. He won't play a major role, but will learn some under the tutelage of Kidd. As for minutes, look for Jamison to go 48 a game here on out. That leaves very few minutes if any in the frontcourt. Starting small forward Lamond Murray will move to the backcourt, it is unknown if he will start or backup Rider and Wesley Person.
updated 9/14/00
UBA OFFSEASON, Clippers get Delk, Avery signs deal
LOS ANGELES - William Avery, the 25th pick in this year's UBA Draft has signed a three year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are excited to have Avery aboard. "He will give Jason some bench time," commented Head Coach Todd Bozeman. Avery left Duke after his soph- more season. The Clippers also announced a trade during the draft. They got veteran guard Tony Delk and a number 1 pick next year from Miami for Devean George, Vonteego Cummings and the 40th pick. "We wanted some experience and versatility in the backcourt, Tony can play both," commented Bozeman. "The pick helps our future a bit," added Bozeman. It was rumored that the Clippers were interested in high school star Jonathan Bender. That fized out as the Nets selected him with the 10th pick. Contract talk with Cal Bowdler, the 29th pick in the draft has stalled. It is reported that he wants a multi year deal, the Clippers are unwilling to meet this requirement. The Clippers are shopping him around to see if they can get a 2nd round pick.
updated 8/28/00
UBA OFFSEASON, DRAFT NEWS
LOS ANGELES - The Clippers have had a busy offseason thus far. They have traded all star power forward to the Cleveland Cavaliers a long with Erick Dampier for Bryon Russell, the 21st pick in the first round and a first round pick next year. "Tony was unhappy, so we dealt him a long with Erick for an athletic small forward and future considerations," new general manager Tom Chambers. Later, in another deal with the Cavaliers, the Clippers picked up high paid Bobby Jackson and the 20th pick for little used forward Chris Crawford. In yet another move with the Cavaliers, the Clippers traded back Bryon Russell to acquire athletic big man Keon Clark. The Clippers then dumped point guard Randy Livingston for the 24th pick. Finally they traded their 21st pick to the Wizards for the 29th pick and the 40 pick overall. "All these deals were made to improve our future, we knew Jason Kidd and Shareef will be our present and future, but we needed to surround them with quality players around them. We feel we have done that and also adding a #1 helps next year.
updated 1/7/99
UBA time 1/17/98
LOS ANGELES-The Los Angeles Clippers have placed three players on the 1999 UBA
Western Conference All Star team. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antonio McDyess and Jason
Kidd have been voted to the elite squad. Kidd will start at guard. Kidd will be joined by
fellow Olympian Ray Allen of Phoenix. In the frontcourt the west will start Scottie Pippen
of Portland, Chris Webber of Vancouver and Shaquille O'Neal from Houston. To
complete the roster, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Alonzo Mourning, Nick Van Exel,
and Eddie Jones will join Abdur-Rahim and McDyess on the bench. The coach will be
named at a future date.
This will be Kidd's third all star selection, having played in the 1996, and 1998
midseason classics. It will be Kidd's second consecutive start. Kidd took MVP honors
in last year's game as he recorded a triple double in leading the west to victory. This will
be Abdur-Rahim's second selection having played in last year's game. This will be
McDyess's first all star game. "I am definitely looking forward to it," commented
McDyess following yesterday's practice, "you're one of the 24 best players in the UBA.
It's something to tell the grandkids."
NOTES:With the week off in UBA action, due to a computer glitch(that's the word we
get from the head offices in Sacramento), the Clippers have run some spirited scrimmages
this week. "Yea coach (Todd Bozeman) got in some action at point guard with the red
team," said Kidd, "with J-Mac(Jeff McInnis) and Randy (Livingston) down, I needed an
opponent." When asked how Bozeman did, Kidd chuckled, "that's why he's coaching."
CLIPPERS STREAKING TO 5TH WIN IN A ROW
The Los Angeles Clippers won their second straight road game and fifth overall as they pushed their record to 22-9 good for fourth place in the rugged Pacific Division. Star Point Guard Jason Kidd nearly got a triple double, but was 1 assist short of the feat. "We go the W that's all that matter," commented Kidd, "we got about 50 more games left this year. This was just one game." The Clippers routed the 76ers 98-78. Kidd and the Sixers Rod Strickland, the top two assist men in the UBA duel to a 9-9 tie, with Kidd gaining the victory. Antonio McDyess led all scorers with 24 points as he is leading the team in scoring and rebounding. "I feel good and comfortable after having 1 training camp with these guys, I think we're all signed long term," commented McDyess. The Clippers were down to 9 healthy players. They left 4 in Los Angeles. Only Greg Foster is with the team. He will be available Friday in Atlanta. Point guard Jeff McInnis will be gone for five more days with a strain, Randy Livingston will be out another 30-45 days with a torn ACL. Charles O'Bannon is out for 2 weeks with a separated shouder, and Ed Gray will be back in about a week. Gray is having blurry vision problems.UBA time 11/8/98 UNBELIEVABLE CLIPPERS SCORE 52 POINTS IN LOSS
In a game where the Clippers struggled in every aspect possible, the Clippers have a glitter of hope....there's 78 games left to do something. The Clippers opened the season 0-2 and was playing before a home opening crowd at the new Staples Center when the Grizzlies just came in and slaughtered the Clippers. No Clippers scored in double digits. The Clippers shot below 30%, not a big achievement since they had shot just a little better than 30% in the 2 previous games. The Clippers will venture in to Vancouver tonight to hopefully erase any memory of this game tonight. "Horrible, poor start led to poor effort throughout," commented Head Coach Todd Bozeman, "it backfired, Yogi(Michael Stewart) and Mute(Lamond Murray) will go back to the bench and we'll start Damp(Erick Dampier) and Isaiah(Rider)." The Clippers bench players did not fare very well against the Grizzlies.4/14/98 CLIPPERS HOT WON 11 STRAIGHT
The Clippers have battled their way into the fifth position of the Western Conference. If the season ended today they would take on the San Antonio Spurs. The 49 wins so far this year with 3 games remaning exceeds the Clipper win total of the last 2 seasons COMBINED. The Clippers won 15 games in the 95-96 season, they won 24 in the 96-97 season. Do the math, that's 39. "We have come a long way, the last 2 years were horror stories," commented Head Coach Todd Bozeman. The Clippers finish he season with 3 Pacific Division rivals. They play Golden St. tonight, Portlant tomorrow and finish the season with Sacramento Saturday night. The Kings have won 10 straight. Hopefully both teams maintain their streak going into Saturday's matchup. "We can't look forward to that yet, we got the Warriors tonight, then we got to Portland. We got games to win before we think about the Kings, commented team captain Jason Kidd. Notes:Kidd leads the UBA in assists at 10.7 per game. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is fourth in scoring at 24.9 per game. The Clippers have come a long way. Early on the Clippers were rated as low as 25th offensively and 18 defensively. Currently the Clippers are rated 11th in scoring and 5th defensively. The Clippers are rated #4 in this week's Power Ratings. Playoff tickets will go on sale Sunday Morning at 10am at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Arrowhead Pond Ticket Office. Clippers Officials have encouraged fans to camp out at the Arrowhead Pond to wait for tickets. A fanfest celebration will begin at 8am at the Pond. The fanfest will include players signing autographs, the Clipper Girls, Clipper the shark, 3 on 3 tournaments, a live band. This will be the Clippers first ever appearance in the UBA playoffs. CLIPPERS OFF TO SLOW STARTOff to a 4-9 start has disappointed everyone involved. With the talent on this team, the Clippers were to at least compete for a playoff spot. Rumors have been tossed around that Head Coach Todd Bozeman will be fired. Bozeman has been criticized for his use of players in late gaem situations. Currently he is one of the youngest coaches in the UBA, another drawback when outsiders look in. The Clippers have a good blend of young talent and hard working veterans. The Clippers leading scorer is forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim at 23 points per game. Abdur-Rahim is coming off a sensational rookie season that was capped with the Rookie of the Year award. He has not disappointed this year. The Clippers trade of Steve Nash to Chicago for starting center Erick Dampier looks bad. Dampier was to clog the middle. He is shooting 35% from the floor. He averages more than four fouls per game. "Erick is trying to hard, this is his first opportunity at starting. He is not playing his game," commented Bozeman. The undefeated Sacramento Kings will visit the Pond tonight with a 7:30pm tip. No tickets are available. The Kings have done it with defense. Pressure defense has caused turnovers and easy, early offense for the Kings. To handle the extra pressure the Clippers will start Lamond Murray at small forward and move Dampier to the bench. Abdur-Rahim will move to power forward and Antonio McDyess will move to center to start the game.back to Clippers front page
