Lindsey Hunter wants to play … with the Clippers?

by Matt Watson on Oct 23, 2008 4:02 AM EDT

Kudos to Need4Sheed for catching this report in the Los Angeles Daily News:

Just how serious were the Clippers' contingency plans if the diagnosis on Baron Davis' sprained left ring finger came back negatively? Apparently, serious enough to have free agent guard Lindsey Hunter in for a workout this week.

``We worked him out and he looked great,'' Clippers coach and general manager Mike Dunleavy said. ``He's in great shape, and a good veteran guy.''

Now that the Clippers have official word that Davis should only be out another week and doesn't need surgery, it's unlikely they'd sign Hunter, who won NBA championships with the Lakers in 2001-02 and Detroit in 2003-04.

This caught me off guard -- I took for granted that he'd either retire or attempt a mid-season comeback with Detroit if/when the whole FBI investigation blew over (which hasn't happened yet).

I have a lot of respect for what Hunter accomplished and had a lot of fun watching him over the years -- he was the one link between the original Bad Boys and the 2004 title team -- but seeing him trying (and failing) to warm the bench of one of the league's bottom-feeders is just depressing. Allan Houston, a fellow member of Detroit's draft class of 1994, is trying to do the same thing in New York with much the same results.

You'd like to see the players you grew up watching leave the game on their own terms; as a fan, it's sad to see them get pushed out before they realize it's time.

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Comments

I’m surprised Orlando hasn’t shown any interest. They just lost their 3rd string pg, and Nelson / Anthony Johnson isn’t exactly the best 1/2 PG combo in the league. Plus, Hunter played pretty well against them in last years playoff series.

by Jim on Oct 23, 2008 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t know if it’s as sad as it appears. Whenever I see someone retire early, before they were unable to compete, it makes me sad (see Sanders, Barry). There’s a retire-on-my-own-terms strategy, but if often backfires because the competitive fire that made someone a professional athlete is slow to burn down. Isn’t it better to be sure that you can’t run with the young guns, then sit back in your chair, wait until the current federal investigation blows over, and take a front office position?

by PDXPistonsFan on Oct 23, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

Jim: I was thinking Boston myself.

by Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

It’s not about playing. He wants to pick up real estate litigation tips from Donald Sterling.

by LanierFan on Oct 23, 2008 12:49 PM EDT reply actions

I was waiting to see where he’d go.

I’m pretty sure he still operates a automotive customization(word?)
business here in the (313) so maybe he’ll come back after
one or two final seasons.

by Skylar on Oct 23, 2008 12:52 PM EDT reply actions