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LA's Most Improved
An LA basketball team celebrated at least one award winner this year, as yesterday the Clippers' Bobby Simmons was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. This is a well-deserved award for Simmons who went from nowhere to solid scorer seemingly overnight. But, as everyone will remind you, Simmons is a free agent now and the NBA awaits to find out if Donald Sterling will pay up. Our advice to Sterling: Wait.
Bobby Simmons may be a good player, but not a standout. He's not worth overpaying for. The Clippers will be much better off saving their cap space for someone like Ray Allen or Michael Redd. Even Joe Johnson or Larry Hughes would be an upgrade. A Clipper team with actor Ray Allen in LA, wouldn't just make Sterling's team a playoff shoe-in, it could also propel the Clippers to become LA's team.
One thing LAist knows is that Sterling won't overpay for Simmons. So unless the Clippers can get him at a fair price (almost impossible after winning the MIP Award), Elgin Baylor should use that cap space he saved up for Kobe Bryant and shower it on a different star.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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