Clippers, past and present, are mocked

When dubious-achievement awards are handed out in the NBA, the Clippers seem to always play some kind of role. And for Bill Simmons, ESPN.com columnist, his list of the top 450 players in the NBA was no exception.

No. 450? Former Clipper and current Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand, whose season in Philadelphia was lost to injury almost before it began. His final game was Jan. 30.

Part of Simmons’ comments on his ranking of the league’s Least Valuable Player: “When you include Brand’s luring of Baron Davis to the Clippers, causing the Warriors to overreact with $66 million for Corey Maggette and Ronny Turiaf, you could argue that Brand murdered one franchise and gravely wounded two others. Sounds like an LVP to me.”

Trivia time

Which player in the NBA had the most turnovers this season?

On the frontline

Zach Randolph has had an up-and-down season, the lowest point his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, though when healthy he has been the best producer on the court for the Clippers. Still, Simmons ranked him No. 399 and wrote: “Not nearly enough was made of Mike Dunleavy willingly taking Randolph’s 2011 figure ($17.3 million) off New York’s books without getting a future pick from them.”

Speaking of Davis

Davis came in at No. 301, with this comment from Simmons: “Is it possible Tim Thomas switched bodies with him like in the plot of that new Zac Efron movie? Baron’s eerily consistent apathy and sunk shoulders look familiar.”

Trivia answer

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, with 272.

And finally

Florida International University wanted a basketball coach with a big name. They got one.

Isiah Thomas was introduced Wednesday by the university president as the school’s new coach.

“We are excited to have Isiah Thompson join the FIU family,” school President Modesto A. Maidique said. “This is bigger than basketball and bigger than athletics. Having a nationally recognized coach like Isiah at FIU will have a positive impact on our university as a whole, helping us achieve additional national exposure.”

They got the big name, but just didn’t get it right.