2009-2010 Finish: 42-40

What went well

GM Lee finally made the Clippers legit, however LA fans watched with horror as 09-10 would be the last season for both the inspirational GM and the team’s star player. However, more on that later. Before anyone is going anywhere, the Clippers still need to find a way to pad out a roster to start the season that basically consisted only of Lebron James and Antawn Jamison. While small potatoes Dahntay Jones and Luther Head decided to leave for greener pastures, big man Charlie Villanueva decided to re-up for a four year deal. But Villanueva was immediately dealt to the Wizards along with Fabricio Oberto for Tony Battie, Jared Dudley and Rodrigue Beaubois. Battie would be waived, Dudley started most of the season and Beaubois could soon be the next starting point guard.

The biggest preseason news when Lee moved newly acquired Rashard Lewis to the Oklahoma City for Brad Miller and Chris Duhon. Another bright trade because Lewis was redundant with LBJ and Jamison on the roster and Miller and Duhon filled out the starting five. Time to fine tune. In came free agents Shaun Livingston, Jarron Collins, Johan Petro and Drew Gooden, making the Clippers completely unrecognizable. Another big signing coup was unknown guard Wesley Matthews, who would soon earn a starting spot. Before the season started, Collins, Livingston and Battie would be cut and Roko Ukic and Alando Tucker would be sent to Memphis for Josh Boone. LBJ and his merry band were ready to go.

It would be a lie if I said anyone cared about the Clippers this season. What everyone wanted to know was whether or not Lebron James would be returning to LA or bolt for greener pastures. The Clippers would start hot, but the LBJ show would rip them apart to the point that the team barely made the playoffs.


What went bad

First, GM Lee quits in the early part of the season, sending shockwaves throughout the league. The Clippers played on, briefly hiring and firing the obnoxious TJ, before making the playoffs, clinging to the 7th seed. However, the team would be knocked out 4 to 2 by the Jazz in the first round, effectively ending the reign of King James in Clipperville.

Stars

- Lebron James, F-

Lebron’s last season in Los Angeles wasn’t his best one, but he is still one of the best players in the game. Can you argue with a stats line that includes 27.6 ppg on 56% shooting? While his production did drop a little playoffs, Lebron was dominant until the end. Sad the same can’t be said about the Clippers.


- Antawn Jamison, PF –

He may be long in the tooth, but there is no stopping Jamison. In his first season with the Clippers, Jamison scored 20 points per game at the 4 and brought in 9.9 boards. Jamison was also able to stay healthy for most of the season, appearing in 74 games. Nice pickup .


Goats

- GM TJ, G –

If you didn’t mouth off and act the fool, you would still be running the Clippers now!


Looking to the future

The Clippers will be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the offseason because they will begin the 2010-11 with an entirely different cast. Everyone knows by now that Lebron will demand a trade before the season begins, but the biggest news is veteran GM Dert will shift from almost a decade in Detroit to pilot the next incarnation of the Clippers.

Where will James go is the biggest question on many NLL minds. Rumors swirl from Kobe to Melo joining the Clippers, but GM Dert has always been mysterious with his moves. Wherever James lands, it will be a big surprise for sure. Dert will also get out the broom (um, dirt, get it?) and probably get rid of most the old Clippers. It is likely Jamison will be traded, Gooden, Duhon and Miller will likely declare for free agency and Matthews is going to want some serious cash. There is no speculating here. The Clippers will simply be an entirely different team. Bring on Luke Jackson and Alexander Johnson!

The draft may or may not yield some answers. The Clippers selected Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe in the first round. The combo guard is very, very quick and athletic, but will need to learn how to hold onto the ball before Dert can trust him to start. Also picked was Mississippi PF Jarvis Varnado who is long, athletic defensive threat but cannot shoot and power forward Latavious Williams who is raw. It is unsure either will make the team. It is unsure ANY of the current Clippers will make the team. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the place, Dert.