Kittles

Nevertheless, the most visible Clipper is probably Kerry Kittles, who replaces Quentin Richardson as the Clippers shooting guard.

The cost-saving Nets dealt Kittles for only a second-round pick, and he should step right into the starting role. Kittles may not match Q's 17.2 points per game, but on a team of full of youngsters, there's something to be said for a seven-year veteran from a back-to-back Finals team.

One of two Clippers over the age of 30, Kittles is a solid pro who stayed off the back pages in New York, never complaining about his role, his shots, his coach, etc. Kittles just went about his business, pouring in 13 points a game and shooting better than 35 percent from downtown to quietly complement a lineup that included Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson.

Good teams need guys like Kerry Kittles. The Clippers don't have enough of them, yet, but with his influence, the future could be brighter.

Brand

This season, that draftee is high-schooler Shaun Livingston, a 6-7 point guard whose court vision had people comparing Livingston with a point guard that made his start in Los Angeles 25 years ago.

Don't expect Magic, but you may see plenty of tricks from Livingston, a lanky teen who needs to add some beef to his frame in order to handle the rigors of the NBA. At only 19, Livingston won't lead his team to The Finals like the man to whom he has been compared, but he adds marquee value to a franchise coming off a 28-54 season a year ago and started Marko Jaric at the point.

Kerry Kittles joins the Clippers after an underrated career in New Jersey. He was the fourth option on back-to-back Finals teams, but even that was good for at least 13 points a game in New Jersey, where he was a great shooter with 3-point range. At the cost of a second-round pick, he was a great get for a team looking to offset the loss of Quentin Richardson.

The Clippers 1-2 punch of Elton Brand and Corey Maggette returns to make Duke fans proud. Brand hit the 20-10 plateau for the third time in five seasons, while Maggette topped the 20-point mark for the first time in his career. The two team leaders in minutes should get similar minutes, with similar results, this season.

The Chris Kaman project enters year two. The 7-footer showed promise as a rookie, averaging 6.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. If he doesn't improve, one of the four other 7-footers will earn minutes, the most likely candidate being Zeljko Rebraca.

Chris Wilcox also shows flashes when given the opportunity, which isn't often playing behind Brand. In 17 starts, the former Terrapin averaged 10.7 points per game.

Alas, Wilcox is one of seven Clips born in the '80s, so coach Mike Dunleavy is at the helm of what would be one heck of an NCAA team. Instead he goes to battle against the NBA's best. While he has enough talent to win many of these confrontations, the playoffs are out of reach, ensuring the annual draftee watch resumes on schedule next fall.