The Los Angeles Clippers: Will They Sink or Float in 2008-09?

"Yes no... maybe. I don't know. Can you repeat the question?"

Ahem, sure, I was just asking how lil' Frankie Muniz is doing as owner of the LA Clippers. I remember hearing Malcolm was a diehard Clips fan dead set on owning his favorite team.

What's that? He... didn't make enough money to buy the team?

No, that can't be right. Not Mr. Cody Banks, not the star of Miracle in Lane 2! He boasted affirmatively on MTV's Diary that he was going to buy the Clippers when he grew up.

No, he really didn't, huh? Well that explains everything! Malcolm would've tricked Elton Brand into staying and hilarity would've ensued.

Despite Brand bolting, though, and Muniz betraying the people of Los Angeles, the Clippers will be a lot better this season than people are anticipating. And they are set up well for the future.

In 2007-08, the Clippers averaged 93.8 points per game, shot 43.8% from the field, and shot 32.4% from three-point range, each second-worst in the NBA, on their way to a vintage Clippers 23-59 record. Their record with Brand: 1-7.

Still, their quick coup of Baron Davis at the start of free agency seemed to bode well. Teaming B Diddy up with stud rookie Eric Gordon, elite rebounding big man Chris Kaman, playmaking youngster Al Thornton and Brand made the Clips look like a dark horse NBA Championship contender.

Then Brand went all Carlos Boozer on LA, Corey Maggette filled the void left by Davis at Golden State, and all the positivity built up by the Davis signing went for naught.

What's left, position-by-position, and how does the team look compared to in 2007-08?

PG: The horrid quartet of Sam Cassell, Brevin Knight, Smush Parker, Dan Dickau has been dismantled in favor of 35+ minutes of Baron Davis, with Jason Williams getting the rest of the PT. Huge Upgrade

SG: Cuttino Mobley and Quinton Ross completed what may have been the worst backcourt in the NBA EVER. Adding the explosive Eric Gordon to the mix will ideally relegate Mobley to the bench where he's belonged the last five years. Ricky Davis basically sucks, but even he is an improvement over Ross off the bench. Upgrade, Potentially Huge Depending on Gordon

SF: Al Thornton and Corey Maggette each played big minutes last season, and both operate best at small forward. Maggette's leaving hurts a bit, but, if Thornton improves as expected, there shouldn't be much of a drop-off. Tim Thomas will be a solid rotation guy in support of Thornton. Slight Drop-off

PF: What should have been a position of strength was a huge hole last season with Elton Brand out. Chris Kaman will likely slide to power forward as a result of the acquisition of Marcus Camby. He'll need to play big minutes, because there is little behind him at the position (Steve Novak, Paul Davis, Brian Skinner...). Definite Improvement

C: A guy who will certainly be counted on to improve the Clippers defensive percentages, how well Camby meshes with Kaman offensively will determine whether the Clippers can improve. The selection of DeAndre Jordan in the second round of the NBA Draft could pay huge dividends down the road and shouldn't be ignored. Improvement

When examining the Clippers roster compared to what was on the floor last season, they've essentially lost one palpable asset in Maggette and replaced him with three potential All-Star types in Davis, Gordon, and Camby.

This is being overlooked and could be enough to turn the Clippers into playoff contenders this season.

Looking down the road, the contracts of Camby, Mobley, and Thomas will all have expired in time for the 2010 offseason freeing up more than $25 million for the free agent frenzy.

By that time, the Clippers core of Davis, Gordon, Thornton, and Kaman could potentially rise up and surprise the league. The addition of stud, young free agent power forward Carl Landry for the mid-level exception in the meantime would ensure that LA is an attractive landing spot in that free agent window.

No matter what, this writer believes the Clippers will be the surprise team of the NBA this year and make the playoffs... and I can envision B Diddy running up to Muniz in the stands after advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2011 and shouting, "You're not the boss of me now."

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