Clippers: Paul Davis Guaranteed for the Season
The Los Angeles Clippers guaranteed the contract of second-year center Paul Davis for the upcoming 2007/8 season.
After a quiet rookie year in which he averaged just 1.6 ppg in 31 appearances (5.8 mpg), Davis put up solid numbers on the Los Angeles Clippers' Las Vegas Summer League squad.
Playing 25.2 mpg, Davis averaged 12.6 ppg and 8.0 rpg. Though his field goal percentage was a little low for a big man (44.0%), he showed the Los Angeles Clippers enough to earn his contract.
Then again, keeping him was a pretty easy decision based almost entirely on the finances. Even if the Los Angeles Clippers had decided to cut Davis, he would have earned $200,000 if waived before July 16th.
A replacement at the minimum rookie salary would have cost the Los Angeles Clippers $427,163.
Since his total salary is now locked in at $687,456, cutting Davis would have saved the Los Angeles Clippers a paltry $60,293.
Had he shown no signs of improvement, hard work or potential . . . perhaps the team might have gone in a different direction. Instead Davis impressed, even if summer play does not quite translate to NBA level.
At 6'11" and 270 pounds, Davis has the opportunity to provide the Los Angeles Clippers will valuable minutes behind Chris Kaman and Elton Brand.
Look for Davis to play a bigger role this season, assuming he can carry over some of the progress he made over the summer.
Rookie Al Thornton led the Los Angeles Clippers with 17.6 ppg and was named a Summer League All-Star. While he didn't shoot particularly well he showed a knack for getting to the free throw line. He'll need to work on his decision making but he makes up for any shortcomings with a consistent effort and aggression.
In other words, he's the second coming of Corey Maggette.
In the battle of the point guards, Jared Jordan led the team with 4.8 apg while Will Conroy contributed 3.6 apg.
Guillermo Diaz played a lot of minutes at shooting guard and averaged 10.2 ppg but just 1.4 apg. He also shot only30.8% from the field. Jordan put in 4.2 ppg at 40.0% and Conroy 3.0 ppg at 33.3%.
Chris Kaman played in three of the games and averaged 16.7 ppg on 50.0% shooting. Coming off of a disappointing season, Chris Kaman took advantage of the opportunity this summer to work on his game and stay in shape.
The Los Angeles Clippers won just two of the five games but the final scores are unimportant. LA got a good look at Thornton, Davis, Diaz, Conroy and Jordan. Forward Mohamed Abukar also played well.
In the meantime the Los Angeles Clippers await Steve Francis' decision. Teams like the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets are interested in the scoring point guard as well.
If he does join Clipper Nation, the team would probably be set for the summer. If not, they may look to add a veteran guard.
Would the return of Earl Boykins be an option? (Just an idea . . .)
KEY NEWSLINES
New York Newsday: "But Artest also wondered aloud whether a small market such as Sacramento "is not really for a guy like me sometimes ... I'm totally capable of playing in any major city -- L.A., Miami, Houston, New York City -- and at the same time, I'm happy to be a Sacramento King." After saying in a recently published report that he wants to retire as a King and probably won't exercise his opt-out next summer, Artest offered a different take from his tent in Nairobi. "It depends on what happens or what offers are made," he said. "I'm not saying I'm not going to look at the offers. But I'm not really chasing the money like that." It was classic Artest when moments later, he said he's underpaid at $7.8 million next season with a player's option for $8.45 million in 2008-09. "I'm on the same level as any of the top players in the league just because I'm a lockdown defender and there's no one that could stop me," Artest said. "I can score when I want ... I know the Knicks got some money. I know Mr. Dolan's got some money over there, but we'll see what happens."
South Florida Sun Sentinel: "The Heat and Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, had discussions on Monday. Francis, 30, was a 20-point scorer as recently as 2005 but was limited to 44 games with New York last season due to injuries and averaged career-lows in points (11.3) and assists (3.9). Francis recently received a buyout from Portland after the team acquired him in a trade last month. Published reports said Francis would receive about $30 million of the $33.6 million he was due over the final two years of the contract."
South Florida Sun Sentinel: "A representative for free-agent point guard Brevin Knight said the Heat hasn't offered a contract to Knight. Charlotte bought out Knight's contract last week."
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