Doubtlessly the only dude on this list to be let go for a draft pick this summer, Camby will join the Clippers as they seek the promise land…which in their case would be the 7th or 8th seed out West. No longer the only player on his team who commits himself on the defensive end, he’ll patrol the paint alongside Chris Kaman, forming one of the more intimidating frontlines in the league.Marcus had a banner year last season, grabbing a career-high 13 boards/game and leading the league in blocked shots (3.6). Though KG snagged the DPOY, Camby was the most pivotal individual in the league on D. He was a black sheep on a team that was all about scoring; the guy doing all the dirty work in the trenches while his teammates ran up scores like Robert Traylor’s cholesterol. Melo and AI got what little glory there was to be had in Denver last year, while Camby got unceremoniously dumped. It’s a shame because even though he’s never been a scorer, as a big man who runs the floor well, doesn’t dominate the ball and protects the net when nobody else will, he fit in pretty well there.
Despite the many headaches he’s caused on D, Camby’s done enough aching himself over his career, playing in no more than 63 games each of his first seven years in the league. His past two seasons have been his healthiest yet, but as he dawns on the latter half of his 30’s, there’s no telling how much longer he can keep this up. Having Kaman down low with him will take a lot of weight off his shoulders and allow him to pace himself more, so Camby’s injury-plagued frame just might be able to hold up long enough for the Clippers to become a factor.
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