A deep Clippers roster will add even more depth as of tonight, when Chauncey Billups makes his 2012/13 debut against the Timberwolves. Billups tore his Achilles tendon last February, but re-signed with the Clips in the offseason, and will rejoin a backcourt that already includes Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe, and Jamal Crawford, among others.
Here are a few more odds and ends for Wednesday afternoon:
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News has been impressed by Darren Collison so far, but says it's too soon to tell whether Collison is a long-term solution for the Mavericks at point guard.
- Nerlens Noel remains atop the latest version of Chris Mannix's 2013 draft board at SI.com, with Cody Zeller moving up to the No. 2 spot.
- Speaking of the '13 draft, ESPN.com's Chad Ford conducted a chat today in which he answered plenty of draft-related questions, along with a few on possible trade scenarios.
- In a pair of Sulia links, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun submits performance reviews for Raptors coach Dwane Casey and GM Bryan Colangelo, suggesting that the team shouldn't give up either of them, despite Toronto's disappointing start.
- Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News examines the Spurs' handling of their D-League affiliate, the defending champion Austin Toros.
- In front-office news out of the Northwest Division, the Nuggets announced promotions for two members of their basketball operations department, while Trail Blazers COO Sarah Mensah announced her resignation (link via CSNNW.com).
- Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside examines some first-round picks that have been assigned to the D-League, and how it affected their respective careers.
I support Casey… I’m on the fence about Colangelo… I’d like him a lot better if he could get a good package in return for Bargnani… although I don’t know how realistic that is at this point.
I am puzzled every year by the Raptors. And it starts with Colangelo. They seemingly try to put an All-International team on the floor the past few years. I don’t have a problem with that, in itself. There are scores of fantastic overseas players in the Association, but the Raptors continually reach in the draft for what most believe to be marginal NBA talent. And it has been showing in their performance.
As for Bargnani, I think most teams don’t see him as a starter. As much as the Toronto FO might want him to be a Nowitzki it just won’t ever happen. He may be best suited as a 6th man and stretch big. He’s like a super Matt Bonner, but a poor man’s Peja Stojakovic or Hedo Turkoglu (minus their ability to pass).