The trade deadline came and went without the Clippers getting rid of one of their three starter-type post players -- Chris Kaman, Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby.
Rumors have been swirling that the big-man-in-need Cleveland Cavaliers were in serious trade talks with the Clippers regarding Camby. But when asked about the situation a day before the Feb. 19 cutoff date for trades, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said, "We're not looking to move Marcus. We're going to listen to any (proposed) deal but there hasn't been anything written that has been of any substance." What that means is that Dunleavy, the general manager, has not received any offers that would benefit the team that Dunleavy, the coach, puts on the floor.
Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling dearly would love to jettison Kaman, but as talented as Kaman is, there is no one knocking down the door for a center that has missed 66 out of a possible 137 games over the past year and a half. In addition, Kaman is being paid $9.5 million this year, $10.4 million next year, $11.3 million the year after and $12.2 million in 2010-11.
Dunleavy has said that he wanted to make a concise evaluation of all three of his post players, and he said it is possible to keep all three and create a rotation that would guarantee each of them 30 minutes a game.
Kaman is set to return soon from his foot injury. Randolph will be back soon from his league suspension and Camby should be recovered from his ear infection. Let the assessment period begin.
SUNS 142, CLIPPERS 119: In two nights, the Clippers allowed 282 points to the Suns and were routed by 40 points and 23 points, respectively. The Suns got a big night from Amare Stoudemire to blunt an offensive scoring night by the Clippers' Al Thornton. Stoudemire erupted for 42 points to lessen the damage of Thornton's 33-point outing.
