|
The LA Clippers have come off their best season during the 22 years they have been located in Los Angeles. Although their 2005-06 season finished in disappointing fashion, the organization feels better about their upcoming season. Starting with the offseason, the team drafted center Paul Davis from Michigan State University in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, as the 34th overall pick. The pick was acquired by the Clippers by way of a 2004 trade with the Charlotte Bobcats for center/forward Melvin Ely. The team also drafted guard Guillermo Diaz from the University of Miami as the 52nd overall pick. As of this writing, Davis signed with the team in July, while Diaz is yet to be signed. Mostly because of the depth at the point guard position with Cassell, Shaun Livingston, and Ewing, Diaz may not be signed to the Clippers roster and could be assigned to the team's new NBA Development League affiliate, the Anaheim Arsenal. The Clippers did not have a pick in the 2006 Draft's first round.
Meanwhile in free agency, on July 13, 2006, the Clippers scored a major coup, by signing forward Tim Thomas away from divisional rival Phoenix, in a four-year, $24 million deal. That was to counter the deflection of forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the crosstown Lakers in a somewhat similar deal to what Thomas got from the Clippers, except Radmanovic signed for an extra year, but both players would make the same amount of money annually, which would be $6 million.
Also on July 13th, guard Sam Cassell (whom many say was the biggest reason for the Clippers' recent sucess) signed a two-year deal for $13 million dollars. Cassell stated in recent interviews that once he retires, which would be likely after this contract runs out, he would like to join the Clippers coaching staff under Mike Dunleavy, Sr. Also, on August 1st, the team signed veteran forward/center Aaron Williams (previously with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets) to an undisclosed deal. Williams played for Dunleavy with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1994-95 season.
To further their television commitment to their local fans, on August 11th, the Clippers and KTLA-TV announced a three-year contract extension, which would increase KTLA's annual 25-game committment to 30 games a year, plus selected playoff games not airing exclusively on ABC or TNT. Just like during the last two seasons, KTLA will air all of its Staples Center-based Clippers telecasts in high definition. They are the only local team to currently air its over-the-air broadcasts in HDTV. Also included in the KTLA-Clippers transaction, fifteen of the 30 annual telecasts will air on KSWB-TV in San Diego, KTLA's sister station; although KTLA is already available on cable in the San Diego market.
The increased demand for Clippers games has also led to the scheduling of tweleve true nationally-televised Clippers games on TNT and ESPN, as well as their first-ever appearance on ABC (April 15, 2007 vs. the Sacramento Kings). The team will also have eight additional games on NBA TV; NBA TV normally uses the home team telecast's video feed and announcers, while using its own on-screen score and graphics, therefore, their presentations are not considered true, self-produced national broadcasts, such as the case with ESPN, TNT, and ABC. This brings the total of nationally-televised games to 20, the most ever in franchise history.
Learn more about Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman
•2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Los Angeles Clippers
•Look at the Los Angeles Clippers 2006 - 2007 Season
•LA Clippers 103, Mavericks 85 11/08/06
•LA Clippers 102, TrailBlazers 89 11/06/06
•LA Clippers 114, Phoenix 108 11/04/06
Clippers vs Lakers News:
Clippers 118 Lakers 110 04/12/07
Clippers vs Lakers Preview 04/12/07
Los Angeles Lakers 105 - LA Clippers 101 11/22/06
Los Angeles Lakers 97 - LA Clippers 88 12/02/06
Lakers Vs Clippers Preview 11/17/06.
Preseason - Clippers 91, Lakers 90.
Clippers Websites
SAM CASSELL
SHAUN LIVINGSTON
ELTON BRAND
COREY MAGGETTE
CHRIS KAMANO
| 
