Seems like a year ago, James Singleton was a cupcake in the Clippers' batch of future goodness. But things didn't quite work out for Singleton in the NBA (blame Mike Dunleavy Sr.'s rotation), and he ended up signing with Tau Ceramica this summer. But he won't play in Spain for a while... because he tore his ACL in the Spanish league preseason tournament.This might not be notable had David Berri, bearer of basketball's statistical lightning rod, not just this week named Singleton as one of NBA's 'distant future stars' based on his L.A. performance. (Also, on the list: Sean May [indeed], Amir Johnson [sure!], Justin Williams [erm...] and Shavlik Randolph [ha ha ha].) Shoals took exception to the idea at Free Darko, arguing if no NBA team saw fit to value Singleton's offerings, then his offerings are by definition not of value to the NBA. It's a highly valid point.
Either way, it extends proof how little of an idea the Clippers have with regards to what they are doing. They had some level of young, solid player in Singleton, and let him leave (after Elton Brand went down, I might add). If Singleton had any value in the NBA (and I think he does), it'd be with short-staffed, capped-out, familiar Los Angeles. They draft Yaroslav Korolev in the lottery and decide two years later he's not worth even a pittance on the rookie scale. They use up their whole cap a summer after they overachieved to lock up players who most understood would not maintain their performance. (That'd be Tim Thomas and Chris Kaman. And hell, throw Dunleavy and Sam Cassell into that category as well.) At least Indiana has blown itself into oblivion with some wacko trades... the Clippers went to Hades by way of boredom.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-13-2007 @ 11:52PM
Brett said...
Too bad to see Singleton go down, as I personally know what a great guy he is.
http://theassociation.blogs.com/the_association/2007/05/james_singleton.html
As for Kaman not maintaining his performance, it's really a testament to Sam Cassell's on-the-court coaching skills. Two seasons ago during the Clippers' memorable playoff run, Cassell spent most of the time barking instructions at Kaman on both ends of the floor, and the goofy big man responded big time. What happened last year when Cassell was sidelined by injuries most of the season? Kaman had a sub-par year, and many questioned that big contract he received.
Kaman is solid, but needs a foot in his ass now and then. If Cassell is healthy this season, it wouldn't surprise me to see Kaman bounce back and have a big year.
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10-23-2007 @ 12:24PM
Cyrus said...
I am a Clippers fan, and I can't tell you how many games I have been at where I was yelling at Dunleavy to put Singelton in. Every time he was in, even if only for a few minutes, he excited the crowed, but even moreso, demonstrated his versatility. The firs time I saw him I was sitting in the upper deck during a shootaround at half time. I saw this guy nail three threes in a row, then grab the ball and nail a ridiculous 360 dunk. I had know idea who on the team could do that, and unfortunately, Dunleavy didn't seem to know either.
I have been searching for news on James since I found out the Clipps dropped him, and now that he's injured I can only hope he has a speedy recovery. I had actually planned to drive up from Barcelona this January when I will be visiting to see a TAU game. I don't think I'll be heading up now, which is a shame. Hopefully he'll make it back stateside soon and show everyone what he can do.
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