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While he'd certainly rather have shepherded his team in the playoffs this year, head coach Alvin Gentry can actually enjoy the lottery this year, knowing that he has talent in the form of Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson already safely on his roster.
A lucky bounce of the pingpong ball could result in the addition of someone like Duke guard Jay Williams, Kansas forward Drew Gooden or maybe even China's Yao Ming. But at worst, Gentry and the Clippers will wind up with the 12th pick, which in the past has produced Mookie Blaylock, Austin Croshere and George Lynch, to name a few.
Gentry has had a whirlwind two seasons in Los Angeles. After guiding the Clippers to a 16-game turnaround in the 2000-01 season, the best in the NBA, his team just kept improving last year with the addition of Brand, the 2000 co-Rookie of the Year and a 2002 Western Conference All-Star. The Clippers went from a .183 winning percentage in 1999-2000 to a .476 winning percentage in 2001-02. More importantly, Gentry has effectively blended his young athletes with veteran leadership to produce one of the league's most exciting teams.
Read what Alvin Gentry had to say to recent fan questions on May 14th:
Will : If the clippers were to get the first overall draft choice, who would they draft?
Alvin Gentry: I think that's hard to say right now, there are a group of people we would like at . Jay Williams is one of them, Yao Ming would be hard to pass on too. Those are two guys we would take a serious look at if we got the first pick.
sam: Are you looking at any high school players to draft?
Alvin Gentry: We will bring those guys in and work them out. It's hard to say until we find out what pick we have after this weekend's lottery. Then we will have a better idea of who we will bring in and work out.
darin k. culver city: With Olowakandi the main free agent the clips have to sign, what else are you guys shooting for this off season as far as free agents?
Alvin Gentry: Just re-signing our own players is the big thing for us. We like the team we have and we want to keep it together. Our top priority is to sign our own players rather than looking in the free agent market.
Paul (Philly): Hey Alvin, great job this season!
My question is what do you think is going to be the final piece to the puzzle in terms of you guys making playoffs and going even further? Thanks.
Alvin Gentry: I think the big thing for us is health, if we were healthy, i think we could have made the playoffs last year. We also have to step up our defense if we want to do better next year. If Lamar Odom were healthy, I think we would have made the playoffs.
Clipper Crazy in LA: Coach Gentry,
There have been rumors that the Clippers might bring over their #30 pick from two years ago, Marko Jaric. He sounds very interesting, a tall point guard who has a versital and unselfish game. Have you seen him play, and do you have any more information on if he is coming? With the way European players are doing so well in the NBA, could he be the next to make a splash?
Alvin Gentry: I have seen him play on tape and he will be playing in the World Championsihps in Indiana this summer. He is a very good player and we are very seriously considering bringing him over.
Dennis from San Luis Obispo: Alvin,
Last year was very exciting, but I can't help be feel cheated as a clipper fan for not being able to see Lamar Odom play more. How will the dynamics of the team change with Lamar back next year? How tough will it be to juggle playing time among so many talented players?
Alvin Gentry: First of all, we will be excited to have Lamar back because he practically missed the whole season. He'll be the main focus of our offense. I think we'll find a way to juggle the playing time. Injuries always happen, a lot of our guys can play multiple positions so that won't be too hard to manage.
Andrew (Los Angeles): What's your response to Mike Dunleavy's comments that he wouldn't want to be a Clipper?
Alvin Gentry: Those are false. I don't need to respond to those. Mike called our office yesterday and let be known that wasn't an accurate statement. I've known Mike since he was 8 years old so I don't think that was something he would say anyways.
Terry-Pasadena: Coach,
Which direction would you like to see the team go in the draft?
1. Another 7 foot center
2. Point guard
3. Shooter
Alvin Gentry: We are in need in all of those areas. If I could add anything right now it would probably be a point guard, a true point guard. I would also like to add a shooter, I think we need to become a better perimeter shooting team.
M: You have one of the youngest teams in the league with such a bright future. Do you see it feasible to keep the group together and mature as a whole?
Alvin Gentry: I think our goal is to keep the nucleus of the group together. We're going to try to keep the main guys together and grow as a team like the Chicago Bulls and other teams did.
Mark: With the West getting stronger every year, what changes are made to help Clippers stay competitive in this tough conference?
Alvin Gentry: I think we have to keep upgrading our talent. When you're playing the Lakers, Sac, Phx and Seattle, you have to keep up the talent to compete because those are very good basketball teams.
josie: Which Clippers players will be playing summer ball this year?
Alvin Gentry: Right now, we have Darius and Quentin, hopefully our draft choices and Keyon Dooling and Tremaine Folwkes.
prateek , bangkok: Do you think that the clippers will increase their salary cap after such a good season?
Alvin Gentry: We will definitely increase our cap. If we're going to re-sign our free agents, it will happen naturally. We will definitely be right at the salary cap this season.
leon: Do you think odom is going to be your franchise player for years to come or does it depend on his health?
Alvin Gentry: I think if he's healthy, he has the ability to be a franchise player. He's just 22 years old, he has a lot of maturing to do, but just on natural ability, I think he can be a franchise player.
Steve (Salinas): What are the team's priorities in this year's draft? Would you prefer to trade either or both picks for a veteran player?
Alvin Gentry: We're wide open. We're not locked into anything. We have a lot of flexibilities so we're going to look at all the angles as far as making our team better.
David (LA): I've been a Clipper fan for more than 5 years now. I was wondering how serious the organization is about developing into a contending team? I think all the talent is there. Also, do you have any ideas about how this years draft picks are going to be used?
Alvin Gentry: As I said before, we'll try to add the players that are necessary to take us to the next level. But we also have the ability to put those two picks together and come up with a veteran player. We're wide open.
Jim--Clipper Land: What are the teams you are watching the playoffs ?
Alvin Gentry: I like Sacramento, I love the way they play. I'm watching the Lakers becasue they're the team to beat. I like watching the Nets, watching Jason Kidd because he's the one player that raises everyone's game around him.
Alvin Gentry: I appreciate all the fan support that we've gotten. The reputation our franchise had has changed tremendously over the past two years and we appreciate the support all over the country.
