Marcus Bryant
07-15-2003, 06:31 AM
www.dailynews.com/Stories...27,00.html (http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20955~1512627,00.html)
Maggette, Miller to test Clippers
By Joe Stevens
Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News
Whether it has been Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor or executive vice president Andy Roeser, the Clippers have repeatedly said they will match any offer sheet any of their players receives. On Wednesday, that premise will be tested.
Corey Maggette has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Utah Jazz, and Andre Miller has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Denver Nuggets, according to multiple sources in the NBA who refused to be identified Monday.
The two are prohibited from signing offer sheets until the free-agent signing period starts Wednesday. However, each has agreed orally to the deals.
Because Maggette and Miller are restricted free agents, the Clippers have the right to match the offers the two receive and keep the players. The team will have 15 days from Wednesday to match the offers.
Maggette's offer sheet is expected to be a maximum deal for six years and about $78 million. If the contract indeed is for the maximum, it will be a surprise because the shooting guard was not expected to lure such a lucrative deal this offseason. The Denver Nuggets met with him last week and reportedly offered him a six-year, $42 million deal.
Miller is expected to sign a six-year, $55 million deal with the Nuggets.
It also is a surprise where Maggette and Miller are signing. Throughout the summer, most speculation had Miller heading to Utah and Maggette going to Denver.
The speculation was fueled by Maggette's closeness to Denver assistant general manager Jeff Weltman, who was the Clippers' director of player personnel when the team acquired him. With point guard John Stockton retiring, Miller appeared to be a fit as a point guard in Utah, where he played college basketball.
Baylor and Roeser did not comment on the possibility of matching Maggette and Miller's contracts Monday.
But last week, Baylor said: "The one message that has been delivered across the board is that we want to keep this group of players on our team, and we will make the effort to do that. We know that the players will explore their options, and we respect their rights to do so. But as we have stated consistently, we don't envision an offer sheet that we wouldn't match."
Roeser, too, has been clear about the Clippers' plan to match offer sheets.
Last week, Roeser said: "We've said all along that we like our players and would like to re-sign them. That's what we intend to do."
The Clippers have two other restricted free agents, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom. One NBA source said Monday there is a chance the San Antonio Spurs will give Brand an offer sheet, but he might not sign it. The Clippers have offered Brand a five-year, $65 million contract, but it is uncertain whether he will accept it.
The Clippers also have four unrestricted free agents, including Michael Olowokandi. Though it had appeared Olowokandi was certain to leave the team, it is not absolute. The Clippers and his agent are expected to meet today, but Olowokandi already has had serious discussions with several teams.
Dunleavy's staff expands: NBA veteran assistant coaches Jim Eyen and Kim Hughes will be hired by the Clippers to join Mike Dunleavy's staff, a source close to the coach confirmed Monday on the condition of not being identified.
Eyen got his start with the Clippers in the 1988-89 season as an assistant under Don Casey. He went on to coach under Dunleavy with the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers and spent the past season as a scout with the New York Knicks.
Though the source said Eyen and Hughes' hiring was a "done deal," Eyen said it was not finalized. He declined to comment on his potential hiring.
"I can say that the Clippers made the perfect choice by hiring Mike," Eyen said from his home in Portland, Ore. "He is a great basketball mind. He's coached all different types of players in different situations, from veteran teams to rebuilding teams. He's done it all."
Eyen will be considered the team's top assistant. Hughes is a former NBA player who has been an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets.
One more assistant coach is expected to be added. It is unlikely it will be a carry-over from the Clippers' coaching staff this season.
Joe Stevens, (562) 499-1338 [email protected]
Maggette, Miller to test Clippers
By Joe Stevens
Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News
Whether it has been Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor or executive vice president Andy Roeser, the Clippers have repeatedly said they will match any offer sheet any of their players receives. On Wednesday, that premise will be tested.
Corey Maggette has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Utah Jazz, and Andre Miller has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Denver Nuggets, according to multiple sources in the NBA who refused to be identified Monday.
The two are prohibited from signing offer sheets until the free-agent signing period starts Wednesday. However, each has agreed orally to the deals.
Because Maggette and Miller are restricted free agents, the Clippers have the right to match the offers the two receive and keep the players. The team will have 15 days from Wednesday to match the offers.
Maggette's offer sheet is expected to be a maximum deal for six years and about $78 million. If the contract indeed is for the maximum, it will be a surprise because the shooting guard was not expected to lure such a lucrative deal this offseason. The Denver Nuggets met with him last week and reportedly offered him a six-year, $42 million deal.
Miller is expected to sign a six-year, $55 million deal with the Nuggets.
It also is a surprise where Maggette and Miller are signing. Throughout the summer, most speculation had Miller heading to Utah and Maggette going to Denver.
The speculation was fueled by Maggette's closeness to Denver assistant general manager Jeff Weltman, who was the Clippers' director of player personnel when the team acquired him. With point guard John Stockton retiring, Miller appeared to be a fit as a point guard in Utah, where he played college basketball.
Baylor and Roeser did not comment on the possibility of matching Maggette and Miller's contracts Monday.
But last week, Baylor said: "The one message that has been delivered across the board is that we want to keep this group of players on our team, and we will make the effort to do that. We know that the players will explore their options, and we respect their rights to do so. But as we have stated consistently, we don't envision an offer sheet that we wouldn't match."
Roeser, too, has been clear about the Clippers' plan to match offer sheets.
Last week, Roeser said: "We've said all along that we like our players and would like to re-sign them. That's what we intend to do."
The Clippers have two other restricted free agents, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom. One NBA source said Monday there is a chance the San Antonio Spurs will give Brand an offer sheet, but he might not sign it. The Clippers have offered Brand a five-year, $65 million contract, but it is uncertain whether he will accept it.
The Clippers also have four unrestricted free agents, including Michael Olowokandi. Though it had appeared Olowokandi was certain to leave the team, it is not absolute. The Clippers and his agent are expected to meet today, but Olowokandi already has had serious discussions with several teams.
Dunleavy's staff expands: NBA veteran assistant coaches Jim Eyen and Kim Hughes will be hired by the Clippers to join Mike Dunleavy's staff, a source close to the coach confirmed Monday on the condition of not being identified.
Eyen got his start with the Clippers in the 1988-89 season as an assistant under Don Casey. He went on to coach under Dunleavy with the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers and spent the past season as a scout with the New York Knicks.
Though the source said Eyen and Hughes' hiring was a "done deal," Eyen said it was not finalized. He declined to comment on his potential hiring.
"I can say that the Clippers made the perfect choice by hiring Mike," Eyen said from his home in Portland, Ore. "He is a great basketball mind. He's coached all different types of players in different situations, from veteran teams to rebuilding teams. He's done it all."
Eyen will be considered the team's top assistant. Hughes is a former NBA player who has been an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets.
One more assistant coach is expected to be added. It is unlikely it will be a carry-over from the Clippers' coaching staff this season.
Joe Stevens, (562) 499-1338 [email protected]