Negri: The Corey Maggette Rumors
- Oct 12, 2006
- By Jason "Jump Shot" Negri

Returning home from the former Cold War nemesis, the LA Clippers in the midst of the local media wondering about Head Coach Mike Dunleavy and center Chris Kaman’s possible contract extensions find themselves in the national sporting news for another reason.

Coming out of Chicago earlier this week from noted columnist Sam Smith, Smith threw out the idea of a Clippers and a Chicago Bulls swap involving Corey Maggette for forward Luol Deng and center Michael Sweetney. It is not the first time Maggette’s name has popped up in the trade rumors. This off-season the Clippers swingman was rumored to be part of a three-way trade which would ship the 6-6 swingman to the Denver Nuggets in which the Clippers would obtain coach Mike Dunleavy's son, Mike Dunleavy Jr. from the Golden State Warriors. During last season’s trading deadline, many believe the only reason Maggette was not traded to the Indiana Pacers for forward Ron Artest was because of Maggette's nagging foot injury which sidelined him for the majority of the season.

One of the biggest questions marks going into the upcoming season for the Clippers will be the role of Maggette, a role which was clearly defined only a season before. During the 2004-2005 season, the former Duke Blue Devil along with Brand, were the team leaders. Maggette was an effective scorer capable of slashing to the basket or putting points on the board with outside shooting and led the team in scoring with 22.2 points a game. But, with Brand becoming a legit MVP candidate, the addition of the veteran and vocal presence of point guard Sam Cassell, along with the acquisitions of Cuttino Mobley and Vladimir Radmanovic combined with Maggette missing 50 games last season with a injured foot, Maggette was reduced to a sixth man role upon returning. This season with the addition of free-agent signing Tim Thomas, shooting guard Cuttino Mobley looking to improve on a sub-par season and with Shaun Livingston and Chris Kaman as the future of the team, Maggette's role on the team is a huge question mark.

Last season, as the Clippers marched to arguably their best season in franchise history basically without Maggette, who when he returned to the line-up, the Clippers were basically a lock for the postseason. The only slight bump in the road was Maggette’s unhappiness with his reduced role as a sixth man as Dunleavy preferred to go with a more defensive oriented line-up. While, Maggette did not make any Ron Artest trade demands, the seven-year Clipper did not take coming off the bench with a smile on his face. Going into the season if Maggette is not satisfied with his role, will Maggette’s unhappiness and possible consistent trade rumors linger over the Clippers and disrupt the team as they try to qualify for the postseason?

As any casual sports fan is well aware, the Clipper were a symbol of mediocrity and often lacked depth and quality players. Now, it is the opposite. The Clippers are easily one of the deepest team in the league and with Mobley, Thomas, and Maggette on the team, how Dunleavy handles and manages the logjam of minutes between the three players will be one of the keys to success for the season. But, for as long as Maggette remains with the team and is not a consistent every day starter, expect the rumors surrounding the Clippers swingman to be consistent.

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