April 2011 Los Angeles Clippers Wiretap

Elgin Baylor Loses Wrongful-Termination Suit Against Clippers

Mar 30, 2011 7:49 PM

A Los Angeles jury Wednesday unanimously rejected former Clippers' general manager Elgin Baylor's  wrongful-termination lawsuit against the team.

The jury voted "no" to all of Baylor's claims that owner Donald Sterling and team president Andy Roeser created a hostile workplace. Baylor, now 76, alleged he was harassed and subjected to age discrimination which lead to his 2008 departure after 22 years as a Clippers executive.

"We just didn't feel the action taken by the Clippers was based on Mr. Baylor's age as much as they felt it was just time to make a change in that position," jury foreman John Casani said.

Casani said there was sentiment among a few jurors to give Baylor some financial award based on sympathy, but the jury concluded he was an at-will employee who reasonably deserved to be let go after the Clippers made the playoffs only four times in his 22 years as an executive.

Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, NBA

Discuss
Mo Williams: Derek Fisher Is The Hines Ward Of The NBA

Mar 26, 2011 1:22 PM

The Lakers defeated the Clippers by a 112-104 final on Friday night.

On Saturday, Williams delivered a Tweet about Derek Fisher in obvious reference to the confrontation at the end of the game.

"If yall didn't know, D Fish is the Hines Ward of the NBA," wrote Williams. "I don't know if that's a compliment or not. But don't let that nice guy fool u."

Chris Kaman was ejected in the final minute following a demonstrative argument with Fisher following a physical screen. Kaman made a gesture at Fisher to meet him in the parking lot after the game.

Fisher frequently uses his elbow when he is met with a screen on the perimeter.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Derek Fisher, Mo Williams, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

Discuss
Lakers, Clippers Oppose Kings Move To Anaheim

Mar 25, 2011 4:13 PM

The Lakers and Clippers strongly oppose the Kings' move to Anaheim, sources say, because it would bring a third team into their market playing out of a building (Anaheim's Honda Center) that sits just 30 miles away from Staples Center.

But the Lakers and Clippers would need 14 other teams to oppose the Kings' relocation when it reaches the voting stage.  But one source said there are already strong indications in circulation that the Kings will be able to secure the minimum 16 votes required (and maybe more) to clinch the simple majority needed to ratify any proposed relocation.

It would appear that the best L.A.'s teams can hope for is a hefty relocation fee that could dissuade brothers Joe and Gavin Maloof, who co-own the Kings. Relocation fees in the NBA are "discretionary," meaning that the fee established by the league's Board of Governors vary from relocation to relocation. The Seattle SuperSonics, for example, paid a $30 million relocation fee when they moved to Oklahoma City.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Griffin Records First Career Triple-Double

Mar 24, 2011 10:18 AM

The Clippers defeated Washington by a 127-119 double-overtime final on Wednesday. Blake Griffin recorded his first career triple-double, scoring 33 points to go with 17 rebounds and 10 assists.

"It means a lot," Griffin said. "But the best part about it is getting it along with the win."

Los Angeles Times

Tags: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA

Discuss
Kaman Considering Playing For Germany In Olympic Qualifier

Mar 24, 2011 2:15 AM

The Clippers' Chris Kaman is considering playing for Germany at the European championships in Lithuania this summer. They start in late August and run well into September, and serve as a qualifier for next year's Olympics in London.

Kaman said he'd play if his friend Dirk Nowitzki agrees to play.

"If he's not playing, then I'm not playing," Kaman said. "It's all on him."

Kaman made big news at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when he represented Germany by virtue of his great-grandparents' German heritage.

Los Angeles Times

Tags: Chris Kaman, Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA

Discuss
Griffin Monitoring Sterling's Actions As Owner

Mar 19, 2011 11:29 AM

Blake Griffin is concerned with the way Donald Sterling manages the Clippers and is monitoring the situation, according to sources.

Sterling recently testified in Elgin Baylor's lawsuit against the Clippers for wrongful termination and the owner also had a mishap related to an advertisement for Black History Month that was actually scheduled for March and included Griffin's picture.

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Tags: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Blake Griffin Disappointed In Oklahoma’s Dismissal Of Jeff Capel

Mar 16, 2011 10:08 AM

Former University of Oklahoma star Blake Griffin talked to ESPN.com about the firing of his former coach, Jeff Capel.

“What bothers me the most is that everyone is saying he did all of this when Blake Griffin was there,” Griffin told the website. “Well to me, you say he deserves no credit when a certain player is there and then, when things go bad, throw all the blame on him. To me, they're piling it on. He took over the program after Kelvin Sampson and all of those sanctions and he put his faith in everyone. This is what he gets? Within two years we're in the tournament and now two years later he's fired? It's completely unfair.

“As soon as he got the job he started recruiting me and we were in it together,” Griffin told the website. “When I committed to Oklahoma, it wasn't a popular thing to do at the time but I went because of Coach Capel. We all take pride in what we did there and what we built and for them to turn their backs on him so quickly, it really disappoints me.”

Oklahoman

Tags: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma Sooners, Big 12 Conference, NCAA, NBA

Discuss
Sterling Testifies In Baylor Lawsuit

Mar 16, 2011 2:19 AM

Clippers owner Donald Sterling testified on Tuesday in Elgin Baylor's wrongful termination lawsuit against the Clippers.

"You didn't know about his basketball career?" Baylor attorney Carl Douglas asked Sterling.

"His accomplishments? The Hall of Fame?"

"No," Sterling answered. "... I didn't know that. I hired him for $3,000 a month. I didn't really know what his role was.... He was working in a mail-order company back then."

Baylor was an 11-time All-Star in the NBA and the first overall pick in 1958.

When asked about a Baylor predecessor, Sterling said the name Carl Scheer "sounds familiar." He added, "I don't profess to know anything about basketball. I'm a professional lawyer."

As for what he recalls about Baylor taking over basketball matters, the owner said, "[Baylor] … ultimately made $500,000 a year. Somewhere in between, he assumed that role."

Sterling testified that he gave Baylor wide latitude for how to run the team.

"Elgin Baylor wouldn't tell me the players he was drafting. He was afraid I'd tell another owner," Sterling testified.

The NBA "is like musical chairs, they constantly remove and change owners, general managers, coaches and agents, but I had a man I protected for 22 years.… He kept telling me it would get better. I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't get better. It got worse."

Sterling admitted he agreed with the move to make Baylor a consultant.

"The record speaks for itself. Of course, I was disappointed. I'm spending one-third of a billion dollars to win, and who's in charge of winning? Elgin Baylor is a good person, but we lost seven out of 10 games with him. How can anyone feel good about that?"

Douglas asked Sterling if the team is now in better shape without Baylor.

"I think we're getting better," Sterling said. "Getting better all the time."

Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Rockets Would Have Taken Baron, No. 1 Pick For Yao

Mar 10, 2011 3:10 PM

The Clippers could have traded Baron Davis and their number one pick in the 2011 NBA Draft that was used to acquire Mo Williams and Jamario Moon in a similar deal for the expiring contract of Yao Ming, according to Bill Simmons.

Los Angeles made the trade in order to improve their salary cap situation in each of the next two offseasons, but a trade for Yao would have produced more financial savings.

Simmons is known for having a close friendship with Houston general manager Daryl Morey.

Bill Simmons/ESPN (via Twitter)

Tags: Baron Davis, Yao Ming, Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Griffin Open To Team USA Consideration

Mar 10, 2011 11:19 AM

Blake Griffin has emerged as one of the best young players in the game, but there may not be room on the USA roster for the 2012 Olympics.

“I haven’t talked to anyone at USA Basketball at all,” Griffin told Sporting News. “I would love to (play), but I know they have a protocol and they bring guys in the summers before and all that, and I haven’t been able to do any of that the past two summers. They have guys that have been in the program. It’s one of those things where, I’d be glad to, but it’s not my main concern.”

Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant are considered locks in the frontcourt, which would likely leave two spots for a group that includes Chris Bosh, Lamar Odom, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love and Griffin, amongst others.

Griffin wouldn't choose not to play because of concerns over his knee.

“Nothing like that, I am not fatigued or anything,” he said. “I have done a lot to try to stay fresh and stay healthy, doing a lot of treatment and making sure I get my lifts and all that. It’s a tough part of the season, just because we’re nearing the end and we’ve been on the road for a long time. It’s just one of those things, you have to go through it, and I am going through it and it’s a good experience for me. Summer will be the same. Next time around, I will be more prepared."

Sean Deveney/Sporting News

Tags: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, National, National Olympics

Discuss
Del Negro Issues Challenge To DeAndre Jordan With Kaman Looming

Lisa Dillman/Los Angeles Times

Baylor's Attorney Contends Clippers Didn't Care About Winning

Los Angeles Times

Eric Gordon To Miss Five-Game Road Trip

Associated Press

Gordon Likely To Miss 7 to 10 Days

Los Angeles Times

Clippers Lose Gordon Again To Injured Wrist

Associated Press

Baylor Drops Discrimination Claim Against Clippers

Los Angeles Times

Clippers Send Warren Back To D-League

Press Release

Gordon Expected To Return Against Rockets

Los Angeles Times

Wall, Griffin Win Rookie Honors For February

RealGM Staff Report