A panel of experts has predicted that Clippers forward Blake Griffin will win Rookie of the Year this coming season.

ESPN polled 53 experts, with 43 tabbing Griffin as the frontrunner to take home the award after the 2009-10 season.

James Harden and Jonny Flynn tied for second place with three votes each, while Stephen Curry, Hasheem Thabeet and Tyreke Evans received the remaining four votes.

ESPN pointed out that only two of the past 10 No. 1 picks have won Rookie of the Year, and that a member of the Clippers has never taken home the honor.

The Clippers and Bucks recently engaged in sign-and-trade discussions involving Ramon Sessions, according to a source.

The Clippers, however, realized a sign-and-trade is unnecessary since the Bucks aren't in a financial position to match nearly any offer sheet Sessions signs.

Alan Hahn writes that the Knicks do not have a standing offer to Ramon Sessions and that the team would only make a long-term commitment to the restricted free-agent if Donnie Walsh is able to move the contract of either Jared Jeffries or Eddy Curry.

Hahn therefore concludes that the Knicks' chances of landing Sessions this summer are remote.

A source with "intimate knowledge of the situation" told Alan Hahn that the Knicks remain interested in Ramon Sessions and that signing the restricted free-agent to an offer sheet is still one of Donnie Walsh's highest priorities.  

The Knick offer is believed to be around $4 million per season.  Hahn does not believe the Clippers are serious suitors to acquire Sessions and that Walsh is unwilling to bid against himself.

The Bucks stand only about $1.6 million from this season's luxury tax threshold.

Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reports that the Knicks and Clippers know the Bucks will not match an offer sheet to Sessions but both clubs prefer to work a sign-and-trade with Milwaukee.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote recently that a number of teams are set up more favorably than the Knicks heading into the famed summer of 2010.

"Ask any NBA executive outside New York and he'll probably tell you the Heat, Nets and Clippers all will have more attractive situations than the Knicks when it comes to the roster next summer," Windhorst wrote.

"All that said, my feeling is the only place LeBron would consider leaving for at this juncture in his career would be New York. Key word there being 'consider.'"

The Clippers have been linked to Ramon Sessions for a majority of the summer.

On Friday, the team released Mark Madsen, a move that many believe could lead to more talks between the Clippers and the restricted free-agent point guard.

The Los Angeles Clippers today waived forward Mark Madsen.

Madsen was acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 22nd along with Sebastian Telfair and Craig Smith in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

The Clippers? roster currently stands at 12 players.

Alan Hahn provides an update on the status of restricted free-agent Ramon Sessions.

"I continue to hear that the Knicks remain the 23 year old's last remaining legitimate option," writes Hahn. "The Clippers seem content with their roster and the Bucks just recently made additions (Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic) that suggest they are ready to move on, as well."

According to Hahn, the Knicks are ready to sign an offer sheet at around $4 million per season if and when Sessions accepts.

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy is satisfied with the team's roster after acquiring Rasual Butler from the Hornets.

Los Angeles has 14 players under contract, and Dunleavy left the door open for more movement.

Butler, acquired for a second-round pick in 2016, is expecting big things for the Clippers this season.

"It's a playoff team," Butler told the Los Angeles Times. "Last year, they had a bunch of injuries and couldn't find a good rhythm as a team."

Blake Griffin's recovery from a strained right shoulder is moving along.

Griffin suffered the injury during the NBA's Summer League in July and doctors estimated that he would be sidelined for three to four weeks at the time.

"Everything is moving forward probably even ahead of schedule," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

Griffin's injury isn't expected to hamper him when the 2009-10 season begins in a little over two months.