It was much ado over nothing, but for a day, it garnered a lot of attention. Trade rumors involving Clippers center Chris Kaman began with a report in the New York Post and reached such a fever pitch that Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy was forced to address it. Dunleavy firmly denied that Kaman was on the trading block. It is believed that the rumor began in Charlotte, where first-year Bobcats coach Larry Brown is shopping forward Gerald Wallace. The way that Kaman's name got involved was that a three-way trade, involving the Clippers, Charlotte and the New York Knicks was the rumored deal being discussed.
The Clippers' prize in the proposed transaction supposedly would be New York forward/center Zach Randolph, who surprisingly has thrived thus far in first-year coach Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system. Dunleavy, who has added the title of general manager to his job duties this season, likened all trades to what occurs at a dance.
When the trade talks between teams are just casual and nothing serious is being proposed, Dunleavy described it as "freestyling". But if there comes a point where the talks gain steam and agents of players are contacted, Dunleavy said "all of a sudden, it's cheek-to-cheek."
Dunleavy insisted that he had not talked with anyone in the Knicks' organization nor had he spoken with Brown.
Kaman said he learned of the rumor from one of his house buddies, since Kaman said he doesn't watch TV or surf the Internet. While making it clear that he wanted to remain a Clipper, Kaman surprisingly was ambivalent about the situation.
"I don't care," Kaman said. "I play basketball. It's a business. If they want to trade you, they will. If they don't, they won't."
Kaman signed a contract extension in the fall of 2006 and including this season, has four years and $43 million remaining.
"I enjoy playing here and I hope I can stay here for awhile," Kaman said.
For all of his talent, however, Kaman remains an enigma. After having a promising year during the Clippers' 2005-2006 playoff season, Kaman's production took a dip the following season, the year he received the extension.
Then last season, he had a breakout year and before injuries took their toll in the second half of the season, Kaman was a leading candidate to receive the NBA's most improved player award. He started this season shooting very poorly from the field and having turnover problems but has played solid over the past several games. However, his play has not approached the level in which he played during the first three months of the 2007-2008 season.
That, however does not indicate that the Clippers -- specifically Dunleavy -- have any interest in trading Kaman. The answer to any question like that would be an emphatic no.
KINGS 103, CLIPPERS 98: The Clippers sank six three-pointers in the fourth quarter, yet their failure to keep Kings point guard Beno Udrih out of the lane resulted in the Clippers' seventh loss in eight games. The Clippers made a season-high 10 three-pointers, including four of five off the bench by Ricky Davis. But Udrih scored a career-high 30 points to thwart the Clippers.
