Roggin & Simers: So what is it with watching players [before the draft]? You are drafting two guys and the second guy may not even make the team.
Mike Dunleavy: That could be very true but you still have to do your work.
R & S: Don’t you know already who you are going to draft with the 14th pick?
MD: No, absolutely not.
R & S: No idea?
MD: Well, I mean of course you have an idea. There’s a group of guys who should get to you and it’s ongoing. We still have guys coming in on Monday to work out and, you know, you got to wait through all the lying of who’s taking who and trying to jockey in the draft. Seeing if there is anyway if you don’t think you can get someone you like to move up or do anything to improve your team.
R & S: Can you really improve your team, given all of the players you have right now, with the first pick? In other words is this a guy you would expect to play or to help this team or do you have to get somebody who already has experience?
MD: I think you are safer getting someone with experience but there are going to be guys I think that are ready to play in this draft. And certain people, certain teams, may take players who aren’t as ready because they think they have a big upside. Probably for us, we are looking more towards somebody that can step into play.

R & S: What immediate help are you looking for in the draft, are you looking at small forward?
MD: Basically in the draft, we are probably looking at a perimeter player unless there is a big guy that is available that can really stroke the ball. Right now I think the premium in the league are guys who can make shots. Particularly with the way the west is playing right now, it’s really spread the floor and play a pick-and-roll game with jump-shooters and if you are lucky, you have someone who can score in the low post. Its really becoming much more of an offensive intense league right now. You have seen the way that Phoenix and Golden State have played although they are a little less limited because they do not have a low post game.

On Chris Kaman Playing in the Summer League...
R & S: Have you had any contact with Chris Kaman?
MD: Yea, Chris was working out all day yesterday [June 20th] in the gym.
R & S: How is he doing?
MD: He’s doing well. He’s back here right now getting ready to play on our summer league team in Vegas. He’s committed to having a great year.

R & S: So what’s going on with Shaun Livingston?
MD: You know what, we actually had great news yesterday [June 20th]. He’s now in Alabama where his surgery took place. He goes there back once a month for check-ups and he’s doing great. His range of motion, flexibility, strength are all right on schedule or ahead of schedule. The email I received was that the report was great and doc [James Andrews] says jogging is right around the corner.
R & S: Is there anyway to count on him for the upcoming season?
MD: I would think the earliest he could play is January or February but I think it is one of those situations where we need to be very cautious with it and obviously not do anything until the doctor [James Andrews] says its okay. Basically what they check when he goes in there is tightness of ligaments and strength of structure before they let him start taking the next steps. He’s in great spirits, he’s been working really hard and part of that is that he has not had any plateaus or setbacks and with an injury like this you are just never sure when that might occur. But as of right now it has been terrific.

Petros Papadakis & Matt “Money” Smith: The last time we saw you playing was against the Charlotte Bobcats on February 26 when you suffered that serious knee injury. Get us up to speed on what you have been through in regards to surgeries and rehab and how you are feeling.
Shaun Livingston: Well I had my surgery done back in march. I am about three-and-a-half months from post-op and everything. I am actually in Birmingham, Alabama with the country folks and people are real nice here and rehab is going real well.

On having James Andrews as his doctor...
SL: His resume and experience is second to none. The guy has operated on so many players and he is just a real stand-up guy. We did our research and homework and he was the best guy for the job. It was definitely a complicated surgery, about three hours, but we felt he was the guy for us.
P & M: What has James Andrews said about you playing in the NBA again?
SL: Well he says I am healing real well. I still got baby bones going on so hopefully that is helping out with the healing process. But my knee is doing very well in regards to this injury and the seriousness of the injury. I am just taking my time because a timeline is not set because it is a very complex injury so it is hard to set a specific time and date. I am definitely shooting for the upcoming season and getting ready to get back on the horse.

P & M: What have the Clippers told you about your future with your contract running out in a year from now?
SL: We still have another year left and we will play it by ear and see how things go. Obviously I would love to stay a Clipper and love to stay in the city of LA and play in front of the fans of Los Angeles. We will see how things play out. We have a whole year to go and hopefully I will get another opportunity to perform.

P & M: We saw you throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium the other night. How did it feel to be in front of a big crowd again?
SL: That felt great. I played baseball all the way through high school. I was a pitcher believe it or not so I thought I had a future going until basketball kicked in gear. It felt great being up there on the mound and that experience felt second best to being out on the court playing in front of the fans. Just to look around and see the type of pro stadium that they play in and walking on the grass. It was bananas. I really wanted to throw a screwball or a curve ball or something but I didn’t think they were ready for it.

P & M: If you could write the future what are the next five years going to be like for Shaun Livingston?
SL: Championship, championship, championship, championship, championship. Five of them. That’s what we are trying to strive for. Obviously there are little goals with the season and trying to get back in the playoffs and excelling in the playoffs. I truly believe this year’s team has the possibility to go in with a chip on our shoulder and bring it back to where we were two years ago.