Los Angeles Clippers: Constructing the Franchise All-Offensive Team

Looking back on the history of the Clippers franchise, not too many players stand out in memorable fashion.

What else would you expect from a franchise that has been tabbed by many to be the worst in professional sports? You don't become perennial cellar dwellers by stocking your roster with top-shelf talent.

One folly that has plagued the Clippers franchise through the years has been its inability to hold on to elite players. Many big names have donned a Clippers uniform, but are heralded more frequently for their contributions to other franchises. Do you recall Moses Malone or Tom Chambers suiting up for the Clips? What about Adrian Dantley, World B. Free or Bill Walton? Not many people remember, yet the Clippers once had control of them all.

Even through the comings and goings of the elite, some stayed long enough in Clipperland to leave their mark. Here are 11 of the best who called themselves Clippers for a meaningful period of time.

We begin with six reserves, followed by the starting lineup of the franchise All-Offensive team.

Guard : Randy Smith

Smith was a 6'3" guard that the Clippers drafted way back in 1971 when they were still located in Buffalo and called the Braves. He was a hometown kid, drafted in the seventh round out of Buffalo State College.

He stuck around with the Braves/Clippers for eight seasons, moving on after playing in the Clippers' inaugural season in San Diego. The Braves never expected much out of their seventh-round pick, but Smith impressed, making the All-Star team twice (he was named MVP of the 1978 All Star Game) and making the All-NBA Second Team in 1978. He missed a total of six games in his eight seasons with the franchise, playing a full 82-game slate seven consecutive times.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 24.6

Rebounds - 3.8

Assists - 5.6

Steals - 2.1

Free-Throw Percentage - 80.0

PER - 19.1

Forward: Charles Smith

Charles Smith, the second Smith on the team, was a 6'10" forward from the University of Pittsburgh. Drafted third overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1988 draft, Smith was shipped to the Clippers on draft night for Hersey Hawkins and a future first rounder.

Smith played four seasons for the Clippers, the most he played with any one franchise, and made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1989.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 21.1

Rebounds - 6.7

Steals - 1.1

Blocks - 1.5

Field Goal Percentage - 52.0

PER - 19.5

Forward: Danny Manning

The Los Angeles Clippers made Danny Manning, a 6'10" forward from the University of Kansas, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1988 draft.

Manning  came off of a fantastic year in college, winning National Player of the Year and first team All-American honors while being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Alas, injury cut his rookie season short, and though Manning represented the Clippers in the All-Star game twice, he was traded for Dominique Wilkins after a five-and-a-half year stint with the Clips.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 22.8

Rebounds - 6.6

Steals - 1.4

Blocks - 1.3

Field Goal Percentage - 50.9

PER - 19.6

Forward: Blake Griffin

The 6'9" forward out of the University of Oklahoma whom the Clippers selected first overall in 2009 has only played one season as a pro, but the brilliance that Blake Superior has displayed already warrants him making the franchise all-offensive squad.

Griffin was named Rookie of the Year unanimously, also receiving recognition as an All-Star in his first campaign. He delighted the hometown crowd at All-Star Weekend, winning the Slam Dunk Contest in memorable fashion.

Griffin was fourth in the NBA in rebounding, second in double-doubles and even recorded two triple-doubles. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team as well.

Best (and only) Season Stats:

Points - 22.5

Rebounds - 12.1

Assists - 3.8

Steals - 0.8

Field Goal Percentage - 50.6

PER - 21.9

Center: Swen Nater

Nater was the 16th overall pick in the 1973 draft, opting to go play in the ABA after coming out of UCLA. The 6'11" center came to the Buffalo Braves in 1977 and spent six seasons with the Braves/Clippers before being traded to the Lakers for his final NBA season.

Nater won more accolades in the ABA than the NBA, but he was still a highly effective player for the Clippers, leading the NBA in rebounding in the 1980 season.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 15.6

Rebounds - 12.4

Assists - 2.4

Field Goal Percentage - 55.3

Free Throw Percentage - 79.5

PER - 18.2

Center: Chris Kaman

Kaman was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2003 draft. The 7'0" center out of Central Michigan University has played all eight of his NBA seasons with the Clippers.

Kaman has been the the focal point of the Clippers offense at times and has placed in the Top 10 in the league in both rebounding and shot-blocking. He was also named an All-Star in 2010.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 15.7

Rebounds - 12.7

Assists - 1.9

Blocks - 2.8

Free Throw Percentage - 76.2

PER - 17.5

Point Guard: Norm Nixon

Nixon came over to the Clippers from the Lakers in 1983 as part of the aforementioned Swen Nater trade. The 6'2" guard out of Duquesne University, who was the 22nd overall pick in the 1977 draft, played four seasons with the Clippers, but missed two more due to injury.

Nixon had more assists than any other player in the NBA in his first season with the Clips, and was named an All-Star in 1985.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 17.0

Rebounds - 2.5

Assists - 11.1

Steals - 1.1

Free Throw Percentage - 76.0 

PER - 16.9

Shooting Guard: Eric Gordon

The Clippers selected Gordon, a 6'3" guard from Indiana University, seventh overall in the 2008 draft. Though Gordon has played only three years as a Clipper, his steady climb towards the league's elite and his long-term potential merit him the best choice as the franchise's top offensive two-guard.

Gordon was one of the leading scorers in the NBA in 2011, was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in January of 2009 and made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2009.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 22.3

Rebounds - 2.9

Assists - 4.4

Steals - 1.3

Free-Throw Percentage - 82.5

PER - 18.5

Small Forward: Corey Maggette

Here's a name you might not have thought would end up on this list, but the 6'6" forward out of Duke University was a very efficient scorer for the Clippers.

After being included as a throw-in to a trade from Orlando to L.A., Maggette spent eight seasons in a Clippers uniform. He developed into a reliable scorer and was among the best in the NBA at getting to the free-throw line year after year.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 22.2

Rebounds - 6.0

Assists - 3.4

Steals - 1.1

Free-Throw Percentage - 85.7

PER - 19.9

Power Forward: Elton Brand

The 6'8" Brand was the first overall selection in the 1999 NBA draft when he came out of Duke University. After winning Rookie of the Year honors with the Bulls, Brand was sent to the Clippers in 2001 as part of a draft-day deal.

It was the best move the Clippers ever made.

Brand spent the next seven seasons as the face of the franchise, putting up monster numbers and making two All-Star teams. He was consistently among the leaders in the NBA in points, rebounds, blocks and double-doubles, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2006.

The title of "Greatest Clipper of All Time" currently belongs to Mr. Brand.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 24.7

Rebounds - 10.0

Steals - 1.0

Blocks - 2.5

Field Goal Percentage - 52.7

PER - 26.5

Center: Bob McAdoo

The Buffalo Braves selected 6'11" University of North Carolina product Bob McAdoo second overall in the 1972 draft. McAdoo went on to star for the Braves during the first four-and-a-half seasons of his illustrious NBA career.

McAdoo was a three time All-Star with the Braves and was named league MVP in 1975. He won Rookie of the Year in 1973, made the All-NBA Second Team once, and the All-NBA First Team twice as a member of the Braves.

McAdoo was traded during the 1977 season after leading the league in scoring for three straight years. When he left, he took pretty much all of the franchise's success with him.

The Clippers have won just one playoff series in the 35 years since his departure.

Best Season Stats:

Points - 34.5

Rebounds - 14.1

Steals - 1.1

Blocks - 2.1

Field Goal Percentage - 51.2

PER - 25.8