Livingston not returning to Clippers?

Should the Mavs go after him?

Livingston said 10-12 NBA teams have expressed interest in him. Many of their representatives will be at the Chicago gym to watch him work out in the coming weeks.

"They're interested in the fact that I'm still young, still a 6-7 guard," he said. "They're interested in a lot of the things I bring to the table. My services can definitely be used around the NBA."

3 months ago Toddy Comment 15 comments 0 recs |

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Draftexpress report

Pacific-Division-Part-One—2975/” >on Livingston

Overview: A talented young prospect who will have to bounce back from a devastating knee injury. Entered the league straight out of his school and was just starting to show his potential before suffering a serious injury. Extremely tall for a point guard. Very skinny. Needs to add bulk to his frame. Has pretty solid quickness. Isn’t a great shooter by any stretch of the imagination. Not really much of a scoring threat. Doesn’t get to the free throw line at a great rate. Makes an impact on the offensive end by using his point guard skills. Can make plays for others. Has good ball handling skills. Sees the court very well. Can make passes that shorter points guards can’t. Rebounds the ball fairly well for his position. Developed his point guard skills at Peoria Central High School before declaring for the draft. May have to redefine his game once he returns. Could definitely stand to improve his jumper. Faces an uphill battle.
Offense: Gets most of his touches in pick and roll situations, but will also do some damage one-on-one and in transition. Displays a good looking jumper off the dribble (particularly from short and mid-range distances), but is a very mediocre spot up shooter. He seems to push the ball and turn his body on his release, which may be the primary driver of his struggles from the perimeter. Isn’t much of threat beyond the arc. Does a good job hitting shots off the dribble with a hand in his face, but his height allows him to shoot over most defenders he is matched up with. Decent finisher at the rim. Extremely creative. Needs to improve from the foul line. Displays impressive point guard skills. Possesses a deceptive first step, solid ball handling ability, and the ability to find the open man. His height advantage allows him to see the floor well and make passes than other point guards can’t. Still a bit turnover prone, but doesn’t make as many big mistakes as most floor generals his age. Runs the pick and roll like a veteran. Creates passing lanes and executes. Doesn’t have to turn the corner to find space due to his size. Displays an intriguing skill set for his size, but needs to improve his spot up jumper.

Defense: A solid defensive player for his age, who may not be the same when he returns from his injury. Has the quickness to make his length as factor. Great shot blocker for a point guard due to his size. Doesn’t always contest shots on the ball, but was getting better as he progressed. Displayed good anticipation when defending off the ball. Solid rebounder for his position, but not his height. Will get in a good stance and give effort. Had the potential to be very good defensively. Could still have it.

by Toddy on Aug 11, 2008 11:25 AM CDT 0 recs

Mavs can't waste roster space

on a guy who won’t be in competitive shape for at least a year, probably two. Get a player who can play now, leave the gambling-on-high-risk-talent for the Grizz, Wolves and Pacers.

Donte? Donte'! Donté?!?!
'spect da 'xtra E'

by iashwash on Aug 11, 2008 3:10 PM CDT 0 recs

Yeah, I would rather waste the roster space on Juwan Howard.

If he doesn’t work out, we only use one roster spot. If he does work out, then we have a possible point guard after Kidd.

The team that disappoints, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

by srdmad on Aug 11, 2008 6:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

yeah

it might be a decent move if we get him for the vet min, and see what happens… much like we have done with Green. We do need a backup pg, and he could come in and put in 5-10 min a game for us when Kidd goes out and Terry is not running the point.

by Toddy on Aug 11, 2008 11:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lvingston cannot play this year

There’s no 5-10 mins, it’ll take at least a year before he starts playing, and two before you can determine whether he’s worth keeping. I’m not saying that the Mavs shouldn’t waste roster spots on youth, I was saying Livingston is too much of a gamble. He will not contribute anything meanningful to a team this season, other than the hope that he’ll get better.
If the feeling around Mavs camp was that youth was the key, well, the Kidd trade would never have happened. Don’t be mad about paying Juwan the minimum, be mad that Diop’s getting the mid-level. Be angered that the Mavs still don’t have a shootin guard. Be angered that there are no other bigs with cleanup ability on the roster.
And stay away from Livingston. That kind of talent on those knees will break a fanbase’s heart. Ask the Clippers.

Donte? Donte'! Donté?!?!
'spect da 'xtra E'

by iashwash on Aug 12, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

You didn’t get enough of the “player who can play now” crap when Avery was here as the head coach? Eddie Jones, Greg Buckner, Juwan Howard, Devean George… Ugh…

At this point, the guys available who can “play now” are only available because nobody else thinks they can contribute…

by N41D on Aug 12, 2008 9:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

playing now = mortgaging the future

Problem is, the Mavs have been doing that for a few years, and you can only go so long before the payments start coming past due.

Get youth on the roster, please yes. A player that can “play now” doesn’t have to be in his mid-30s; he could be in his mid20s and still be youthful and still have upside. But a player in his early twenties that lost the main characteristic that made him an NBA player, and that still can not play, your going to use facility time, trainer time, coaches time to work him through a two year unproductive slump?

I wish all the best for Shaun, but wrong player wrong time. The kids knee is gone, he needs more time. Let someone else take the gamble, try to find another player in the woodworks.

Donte? Donte'! Donté?!?!
'spect da 'xtra E'

by iashwash on Aug 12, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

Amen

We need players that can play now and help dig us out of this hole we’ve gotten ourselves into.

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you come in first.

by Super Saiyan Patrick on Aug 12, 2008 6:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's a "no" for Livingston

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you come in first.

by Super Saiyan Patrick on Aug 11, 2008 6:32 PM CDT 0 recs

I say yes

It’s not like this kid is a few years away from being old and washed up, he’s only 22 as it stands now. With Kidd on the roster this gives him time to get healthy and get back to where he was hopefully. I say this mainly because its not like we have a lot of draft picks coming up in the next few years and I don’t see JJB becoming an established pg in the league.

by b3tts32 on Aug 12, 2008 8:29 AM CDT 0 recs

If you can get him...

It’s a chance well worth taking… I don’t know that he’ll ever be the same after that injury, but I’d much rather fill a roster spot with a young, high upside type than another Eddie Jones, Juwan Howard, or somebody else we feel the need to sign only because “he can play now”... The “play now” types are only out there and still available because nobody else thinks they’ll play now and contribute…

by N41D on Aug 12, 2008 9:05 AM CDT 0 recs