By Simon Lim

While many people in LA recover from hangovers suffered during the celebrations of the Lakers' three-peat, the other LA team, the Clippers, gear up for what could be a captivating off-season. With two important pieces to the Clippers starting five on the free-agent market, center Michael Olowokandi, and point guard Jeff McInnis, it could finally be time for management to open their wallets and spend some of that money they've stored away for a rainy day. For a few years now, the Clippers have been reluctant to max out the contracts of valuable players; this could be a good time to change that trend.

Michael Olowokandi will no doubt be looking for all the money he feels he's worth, and that's a lot, after all he was the no. 1 overall pick in the '98 draft, and he is too good a player to let go. Some may disagree, but he is a legitimate 7-footer, and did improve slightly during the season, and even showed signs of a great center, which gives the Clippers the inside game to contend in the West. But before that can happen, they have the flexibility to venture around with their two lottery picks in the draft, and the options are really intriguing. Don't the Lakers really want some guy named Qyntel Woods? So a reasonable option for the Clippers would be to take Woods with the 8th pick, and, because the Clippers already have a logjam of young, talented small forwards, they could tie Woods on a wire and dangle him in front of the Lakers, and say, "Here boy, here boy, come and get it!" A draft night trade could occur with the Clippers getting some savvy veteran help they have needed so much. A Derek Fisher or Lindsey Hunter would fit in nicely, as well as Robert Horry coming off the bench to give Elton Brand some rest. This would be a better option than taking some youngster out of Europe who won't do much until a few years down the track.

With their 11th pick, they can fulfill the wishes of the Blazers and select high school phenom Amare Stoudamire, and make a draft night trade in exchange for possibly another Stoudamire, point guard Damon. Throw in a few extras here and there, and we've got ourselves two deals on draft night, which will bolster the Clippers back court with savvy veterans who know how to run the show, and at the same time it also gives them some clutch performers who will not shy away from delivering down the stretch of a game, something the Clippers lacked immensely during last season.

If the Clips are successful in manufacturing the deals, and also the re-signing of The Kandi Man, chances are they won't need to spend the money coveted by Jeff McInnis. Instead, they're starting line up will consist of Kandi, Brand, Lamar "The Superstar" Odom, Corey Maggette, and Mighty Mouse. Only one major change you say, but the bench, well, one word: electrifying. With guys like Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson doing that head thing, Derek Fisher can come into the game and be his trigger-happy-three-point self, while Horry provides the stability and leadership this young team needs, while sinking threes in the dying seconds of a game. The question that now stands is not whether the Clippers will make the playoffs, but rather how far will they go? Could it be that the next team to rival the Lakers is their inner city brothers, taking away their limelight in Tinsel Town? How ironic would it be if Horry hits a three on the buzzer to take the Clippers past the Lakers in the playoffs? Impossible you say? Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

Simon Lim is an avid hoops fan from Australia.