So how did Chris Kaman feel about the trade rumors floating around this morning? Here’s the story I just filed, which includes one of the funniest quotes I’ve ever see right up at the top:
Truth be told, Chris Kaman and the internet really don’t go together. Once a week or so, he checks his Yahoo! email account and that’s about it. He’s not much for television either.
“I’m into other stuff, shooting my bow and arrow around in my backyard, flying helicopters around,” Kaman said. “I just do stupid stuff you wouldn’t think I’d be doing, but I’m the one doing it.”
But even with the self-imposed wall filtering out the media, Kaman was still well-aprised of the report in Tuesday’s New York Post mentioning him as a “centerpiece” to a deal the Clippers discussed recently with the Charlotte Bobcats.
“Yeah, my buddy told me about that,” Kaman said after practice on Tuesday. “One of my boys that lives with me and works for me, he’s the one I get all my info from.
“I don’t know how much of it is true, but I don’t care. … I enjoy playing here and hope I can stay here for a while But if there are other plans, that’s OK. If you don’t look at it like a business, you’re going to be offended too easily.”
According to Clippers coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy, Kaman really doesn’t have anything to worry about.
The Clippers did have a brief talk with the Bobcats involving Kaman, but the discussion died rather quickly, Dunleavy said.
“Everybody who understands the NBA understands it’s a dance,” Dunleavy said. “This one started out by somebody saying I like your guy. … (and being informed) Oh, you don’t want to dance with me?
“So they got the rejection and then they threw it out (to the press), `Hey I almost had a dance with somebody.’ ”
In other words: Charlotte called, said they liked Kaman, the Clippers listened –as NBA teams always do –and asked what the Bobcats would offer in return. They didn’t really like any of the pieces the Bobcats had or could offer, and the talks died.
Would the Clippers ever entertain trading Kaman? Sure, but it would take a lot.
As one source close to the team source said, “A 7-footer who can rebound, defend, score and block shots, who comes at a good price? Those guys don’t get traded very often because there are very few around. If you were to trade one, it’d be hard to replace.”
The Clippers aren’t looking to make any deals until the team starts to come together around new point guard Baron Davis. After 15 or 20 games, when it becomes more clear what’s working and what’s not, they might be more open to such discussions, if there was something they felt they needed.
Kaman, it seems, isn’t too worried about his future with the club. The 26-year old center has four years and $43 million remaining on his contract with the team and has established himself as a solid double-double guy.
“I don’t think they want to trade me,” he said. “I just think people propose stuff and you can look at it all you want and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. If it does, it does.”
