FanHouse MikeDunleavy

On Tuesday night, fortune finally smiled on the Memphis Grizzlies. After constantly finding themselves on the wrong end of an errant heel from Lady Luck's rumba, they got their turned to dance with her and ended up with the No. 2 overall pick. Finally fortune smiles on the downtrodden. Or did it?

Mike Dunleavy doesn't appear to be bluffing regarding the Clippers "obviously" drafting Blake Griffin. Which means highly touted Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio would fall to Memphis. Their other option is UConn big man Hasheem Thabeet. On the surface, this looks like a win-win situation for the Grizzlies. But if we dig deeper, it may turn out to not be so great after all. Par for the course for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Clippers president Andy Roeser tried to be coy when talking about what player his organization favored with the first overall pick, heaping mountains of praise on Blake Griffin but also maintaining that the basketball staff would put their heads together and talk things over before sharing the decision first with team owner Donald Sterling and then with the world.

Coach (and GM) Mike Dunleavy, though, sees no need to play things so close to the vest. "Clearly, we're taking Blake Griffin," Dunleavy told the Los Angeles Times. But what about Ricky Rubio, the Spanish point guard? Is Dunleavy selling Rubio short by announcing his decision so quickly?

Moments after learning that his team had won the 2009 NBA Draft lottery, Clippers president Andy Roeser had a look of euphoria. Within an hour later, he was already back to work taking questions from reporters in a post-lottery conference call.

Roeser didn't come right out and say the Clippers were going to draft Blake Griffin, but he certainly didn't hold back any compliments when talking about him, either.

For a full transcript of his comments, from his thoughts on Mike Dunleavy's job security ("We have every intention of opening camp with Coach Dunleavy this year -- although I think that we have every intention of approaching some things differently, too.") to his not-so-vague comments about which veterans need to improve ("Baron Davis did not have a particularly good season. He knows that; we know that."), keep reading.

Clippers VP Andy Roeser, the lucky (and fashion forward) fellow who took home the winning envelope in tonight's 2009 NBA Draft Lottery, jumped on the phone with reporters after the proceedings ended. He did not shy away from his feelings on presumed top pick Blake Griffin.

"He's a terrific athlete, he's athletic and strong," Roeser said. "He's a terrific person, and I think any franchise would be happy to have Blake Griffin for a long time." Roeser followed this with a substantial pause, then an afterthought comment that teams will be pleased with other players, too. (As in, "we'll be happy with Blake. Y'all can be happy with Hasheem Thabeet.")

Roeser later said he has "a pretty good idea what we're going to want to do" but that he wants to sit down with owner Donald Sterling before telling the world. Roeser isn't a "basketball person" in the organization, but he made it pretty clear who the Clippers have been dreaming about. Mike Dunleavy was among the dozen NBA execs in attendance for Ricky Rubio's weekend playoff games in Barcelona, but ... it's Blake. It's Blake.

By theory, the NBA Draft Lottery (Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET) is left to randomness. But what if a set of malevolent Basketball Gods, hellbent on upsetting the Order of the League, driving the depressed into further hopelessness, and rewarding only those with misguided or evil intentions, dictated the results? (Note: These malevolent Basketball Gods are responsible for Bruce Bowen, General Manager Isiah Thomas and the Vancouver Grizzlies.)

Close your eyes and imagine how the ping pong balls would bounce if malevolence ruled tonight's lottery ...

Stop ringing Thursday's alarm system, y'all, as Isiah Thomas will not be drawing a paycheck from the Los Angeles Clippers any time soon. In fact, reports Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times (via CN), Isiah approached the Clippers asking to work for them pro bono because his daughter will attend college in Southern California next season.

Current coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy listened to the (very!) generous offer, but declined.

Few terms in the NBA lexicon draw more guffaws of pity than "Los Angeles Clippers." One term which certainly has a case would be "Isiah Thomas." In fact, in a tournament of Most Hilariously Bad Things About the NBA, the Clips and Isiah would assuredly be one seeds (along with Darko Milicic and the microfiber ball).

It may pique your interest then, that according to ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan, Isiah recently discussed a potential role in the Clippers front office with team owner Donald Sterling. Stock up on beans and barricade the doors, my friends.

Over the weekend, the Boston Globe offered up a report suggesting the Clippers could be looking to replace Mike Dunleavy as general manager this summer. In 2006, Dunleavy, you may remember, signed a fat extension that pays him more than $5 million a year and runs through 2011. Either way, Clippers owner Donald Sterling is willing to take on the losses by either canning Dunleavy or forcing him to reliniguish his personnel duties and have him focus on coaching.

To that effect, KNBC in Los Angeles reports that the Clippers recently reached out to Lakers legend Jerry West regarding to GM position. Surprising no one, West apparently declined.

The Clippers almost upset the Cavs last night, leading for most of the game before a stunning collapse in the final quarter. But even after coughing up a 19-point lead, the Clips still had a chance to tie or win the game with six seconds left ... until Zach Randolph decided to play hero with a step-back three that missed the rim completely. If you couldn't tell by Mike Dunleavy's facial expression, that wasn't exactly the play he drew up in the timeout.

As teams get eliminated from the 2009 NBA playoff picture, Fork 'Em figures out what went wrong.

No team has been as disappointing in 2008-09 as the L.A. Clippers. At least one or two teams have been worse in quality, but the phenomenal ability to fail with this much talent seems unprecedented. An All-Star level point guard, a D.P.O.Y. level center, two strong big men, a R.O.Y. candidate, an experienced coach ... what happened to the playoff hopes? What happened to 2008-09?

You could listen to me toss out some jokes, or you could read a completely sober(ing) dispatch from a guy who has watched it all, ClipperSteve of Clips Nation. I think you'd prefer the latter. ClipperSteve's words, after the jump.