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Here's the roster, as it now stands, for the L.A. Clippers:

PF - Elton Brand (6-8, 265)
PG - Keyon Dooling (6-3, 196)
PF/C - Melvin Ely (6-10, 260)
SF/PF - Tremaine Fowlkes (6-8, 220
PG - Marcus Hatten (6-1, 165)
PG - Eddie House (6-1, 180
SG - Marko Jaric (6-7, 198)
C - Chris Kaman (7-0, 255
SG/SF - Corey Maggette (6-6, 228
SF - Lamar Odom -- Free agent - signed offer sheet with Miami (6-10, 221
PF/C - Cherokee Parks -- Free agent (6-11, 240)
C/PF - Olden Polynice (7-0, 250)
SG - Quentin Richardson (6-6, 236)
SG/SF - QUINTON ROSS (6-6, 195)
PF/C Sofoklis Schortsanitis (6-9, 255)
PF - Chris Wilcox (6-10, 221
C - [deleted] Zhizhi (7-1, 275)

Now eliminate the players who play positions other than Q's SG and SF spots: Brand, Dooling, Ely, Hatten, House, Kaman, Parks, Polynice, Schortsanitis, Wilcox and Zhizhi.

That leaves Ross battling for time/spots with Fowlkes, Jaric, Magette, Odom (if L.A. matches his offer sheet) and Richardson.

Odom, should he stay, technically plays the small forward spot, but at his size, he plays a role similar to that of Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas - he defense (sort of) against the other team's power forward, so he really wouldn't be vying for the same spot. Likewise, Fowlkes is more of an inside guy than Q, so he's really in a different role than Q would be.

Magette is a key cog in L.A.'s rotation, averaging 31 minutes and almost 17 points per game last season. He signed a big offer sheet with Utah that L.A. matched, so it's clear he's the starter at one perimeter spot (small forward). He also was ninth in the NBA last year in free throws per 48 minutes, meaning the Clippers want him on the floor for extended minutes. Richardson likely is the starter at shooting guard, averaging 23 minutes and 9.4 points per game last year. He's not much of a passer (.9 assists per game last year) and isn't an exceptional defender.

That means Q's primary competition will be Jaric, L.A.'s second-round draft pick a year ago. Jaric is another in the growing line of European scorers. He's an inch taller and a few pounds heavier than Ross, averaging almost 21 minutes per game and 7.4 points per game last year. He's long, but is an average defender and doesn't rebound (2.4 per game) as well as Q. He's a very good pure shooter, and will be hard to unseat as the Clippers' backup shooting guard. Q needs to shine in the game's little areas -- defending, passing and rebounding -- to earn significant playing time.

GREAT breakdown, SMUguy!

Here's one for people who don't like to read...

Active Roster will be:

PG: Dooling, Jaric
G: Maggette, Richardson
SF: Odom*, Fowlkes
PF: Brand, Ely, Wilcox
C: Kamen, Polynice, [deleted]

IR candidates: Hattan, House, Ross

Schortsanitis is under contract in Europe for one more season.

*The Clips will resign Odom, but will let Chief go.

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Basically, he needs to beat out one guy to have a job. He’ll need an injury to crack the active roster.

That means Q's primary competition will be Jaric, L.A.'s second-round draft pick a year ago. Jaric is another in the growing line of European scorers. He's an inch taller and a few pounds heavier than Ross, averaging almost 21 minutes per game and 7.4 points per game last year. He's long, but is an average defender and doesn't rebound (2.4 per game) as well as Q. He's a very good pure shooter, and will be hard to unseat as the Clippers' backup shooting guard. Q needs to shine in the game's little areas -- defending, passing and rebounding -- to earn significant playing time.[/B][/QUOTE]


Jaric is a point guard. I understand that last year he played with Miller a lot, but usually Marko brought up the ball when both were together. Jaric has always been targeted by the franchise as the starting point guard of the next 5-10 years. He was a big reason they didn't think of signing Miller and the reason they will probably let Dooling go next year when he is a restricted free-agent.

Q's best chance is to make the team as an IR player, and then move to the active roster next year if the Clips let Richardson leave as a restricted free-agent.

Basically, Sterling is hedging his bets by stacking young guards on the IR... next year's restricted free agents are Dooling and Richardson, both who will probably leave LA.

Little things like playing defense?