NBA
Los Angeles Clippers Offseason Review: Bet It All On Kawhi
Los Angeles Clippers Overview
Clippers 2018-2019 Record: 48-34 (8th Place in the Western Conference)
Result: Lost to Golden State 4-2 in the First Round
Coach: Doc Rivers
Draft: C Mfiondu Kabengele, SF Terance Mann
Additions: SF Kawhi Leonard, SF Paul George, PG Amir Coffey, SF Maurice Harkless
Subtractions: PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Traded to OKC), SG Garrett Temple (Signed with BKN), SF Danilo Gallinari (Traded to OKC), SF Wilson Chandler (Signed with BKN), PG Tyrone Wallace (Claimed by MIN), SG Sindarius Thornwell (UFA)
Los Angeles Clippers 2018-2019 Season Recap: Uncertainty Continues
The Clippers entered the season with a lot of questions. It was their first full season without former franchise player Blake Griffin, and the team’s expectations were cloudy at best. What kind of team would they be? What would they do with impending free agent Tobias Harris? Where did they stack up against the rest of the Western Conference? While their season didn’t end up a memorable one, it was filled with nothing but positives. From the progression of rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a lockdown defender, to setting themselves up for a potentially franchise altering offseason, the Clippers and their fanbase had hope.
Clippers Offseason Additions: Matching the Lakers’ Hype
To start the offseason, the Clippers cross-town rival Lakers made a giant acquisition when they traded for star Anthony Davis. Teams in the Western Conference were hard pressed to match such a huge signing, but the Clippers felt that pressure more than anyone else. The Clippers were eager to escape the Lakers shadow, and they did just that with some star power.
First was the shocking acquisition of Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a stunning late night trade. He didn’t come cheap, as the Clippers sent Shai Gigelous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round draft picks, and the rights to swap two other first-round draft picks, all to Oklahoma City. There wasn’t much time to doubt the price the Clippers paid, as hours later prized free agent Kawhi Leonard agreed to sign with them. Within hours the Clippers had completely changed the lanscape of the NBA. Two years after Chris Paul broke the hearts of Clippers fans by bolting to Houston, the Clippers were finally back in a big way.
Offseason Losses: Was It Worth It?
The obvious losses start with Gilgeous-Alexander and Gallinari, as they were used to complete the trade for Paul George. While it hurts to lose such a young star in Gilgeous-Alexander and a solid veteran in Gallinari, there’s no doubt the Clippers made the right move in getting the trade done with Oklahoma City. In a way, it can be viewed as trading for both George and Leonard as the biggest advantage the Clippers had in the sweepstakes for Leonard was the acquisition of George.
The Clippers also lost a pair of solid bench pieces in Wilson Chandler and Garrett Temple, both of whom signed with the Brooklyn Nets. While their departures won’t be back breaking, they will both be missed for their defensive abilities off the bench as well as their veteran leadership. Losing Wallace and Thornwell won’t make much of a difference as there would not be much playing time for them anyway, but they were a nice young pair of players that acted as depth for the Clippers. In all, the Clippers were able to add two premiere talents to their team while giving up minimal talent right now. While the five first-round draft picks sounds like a lot right now, it was well worth the risk for the Clippers to bet on the duo of George and Leonard to lead them to the NBA Finals.
2019-2020 Season Preview
Even though we haven’t hit training camp yet, the Clippers are on the fast track to a championship. As of now, their depth chart is:
Point Guards: Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams
Shooting Guards: Paul George, Landry Shamet, Jerome Robinson, Rodney McGruder
Small Forwards: Kawhi Leonard, Maurice Harkless, Terrence Mann
Power Forwards: Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green
Centers: Ivica Zubac, Mfiondu Kabengele, Johnathan Motley
On paper, the Clippers have potential to be the most well balanced team in the NBA. After Leonard and George, their second most enviable duo might just be Beverely and Williams. Beverley has improved every year, and is now a premiere defensive point guard. Behind him is perennial Sixth-Man of the year candidate Lou Williams, who has a chance to win the award for a third straight season.
Coach Doc Rivers might have to toy with the lineup to see what will get the best results out of Leonard and George, but there is no doubt they both will produce. It might take some time to adjust to playing together, but it will be a scary sight to see them syncing up together. The world will be watching as Leonard tries to solidify himself as the best player in the NBA this season.
Following the star power, the Clippers have a collection of criminally underrated talent. Landry Shamet, Montrezl Harrell, and Ivica Zubac all came to the Clippers via trade, and they have gotten the best out of them. Zubac is one of the most underrated players in the league, and getting to start alongside Leonard and George will do nothing but help him and his skill set. As for Shamet and Harrell, they will both be big contributors this season as the Clippers management view both of them as huge parts of their future.
Predictions
There’s no other way to put it: the Clippers are the best team in the NBA now. They will finish with around sixty wins while taking the number one seed in the Western Conference. While there are a lot of great Western Conference teams, the Clippers are set to dominate. Leonard’s postseason run with the Raptors was one of the greatest postseason performances of all time. On the other hand, Paul George is coming off a borderline MVP season. The two of them with so much momentum will be a dangerous thing for the rest of the NBA. With them and a great supporting cast, the Clippers might be the NBA’s next dynasty.
The Clippers and their fan base have waited a long time for the Clippers to get to the top. It seemed like the lob city era of Clippers basketball came and went in the blink of an eye. Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin gave highlight reels, but no playoff results. The Clippers fan base is hungry for a championship, and Kawhi is the right man to deliver them just that.
Written by Ryan Hess
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