Los Angeles Clippers Prospectus for 2009-10

Rasual Butler, a new acquisition that cost a mere second round pick, has stated that the Clippers will make the playoffs this year, that last year's dismal record was a mere result of injury devastation. 

It's hard to argue with that and the Clippers have four young guns in Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, DeAndre Jordan, and, the crown of the king's scepter, Blake Griffin. 

These youngsters will form a great core moving into the future if the Clips can keep them all together, which is dubious, considering they seldom commit the money it requires to keep their talent. 

But that is a topic for another article, perhaps.

The Clips looked great on paper going into 2008 and they look even better in 2009. 

Baron Davis missed 18 games last season and never got into the groove to play like the B-Diddy we have been used to.  Chris Kaman missed 51 games and Marcus Camby, the oft-injured center possibly made of glass, missed 20 games (which is pretty standard for him, of course).

For all the hype about the acquisition of Blake Griffin, there should be an equal amount of excitement that they dumped Zach Randolph. 

Randolph is a black hole on offense and takes a ton of bad shots since he pretty much refuses to pass the ball under any circumstances. He reminds me a lot of Armen Gilliam, another black hole that played in the late-'80s and '90s.

Losing Randoph is equally as vital as gaining Griffin. They, of course, got rid of Randolph to clear the way for Griffin to start at power forward, but it will take a full season to show this addition by subtraction, and how it clearly affected their poor team chemistry last season.

Now on to the franchise corner piece. 

I watched a little of the pre-draft workouts and was spellbound by Blake Griffin. Not only does he have a 40-inch plus vertical, but he can move and dribble like a point guard. 

He was put through agility drills, dribbling through a series of cones using one hand through the legs while holding a second ball in his other hand. Many point guards would have trouble with the maneuvering he displayed, and coaches have commented on how well he handles the ball for a 6'10" power forward. 

A comparison that has been thrown around a little is Shawn Kemp (pre-crack and lard), but I think Griffin's potential is even higher. They both could rip a quarter off the top of the backboard, but Griffin also has a solid midrange jumper. 

It's hard to predict how quickly players will adjust to the NBA because each player tends to learn at a different pace, but I think Griffin has the talent to be an immediate impact player, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him average 18 points and 10 rebounds this season. 

If he does, he'll be the first No. 1 overall pick at power forward to do so since Derrick Coleman (who also was a first overall selection) did in the 1990-91 campaign.

Much like last season, I think the Clippers entire season hinges on their ability to stay healthy. 

If they can keep Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, and Blake Griffin healthy, they will have one of the best three-man big rotations in the league. Couple that with a great point guard in Baron Davis and two solid wingmen in Al Thornton and Eric Gordon, and the Clips can compete for a playoff spot like Rasual Butler said they will.

They're also pursuing Ramon Sessions, a third-year combo guard, who, despite going undrafted, is the most sought-after free agent that is still on the market. He would solidify the backcourt rotation and provide great relief if Baron's health falters.

Their depth chart should look something like this:

PG- Baron Davis, Ramon Sessions (?), Sebastian Telfair, Mardy Collins

SG- Eric Gordon, Ricky Davis

SF- Al Thornton, Craig Smith,  Steve Novak (FA)

PF- Blake Griffin, Marcus Camby

C- Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan, Brian Skinner

Looking at that roster, it's hard to argue with Rasual Butler. 

The Clippers have a real shot at making the playoffs...provided everyone stays healthy.