The LA Clippers Should Want More

As the trade deadline looms, The Clippers have some franchise-altering decisions to make

The season appeared to be slipping away before a spirited run from the 9th of December to the 17th of January took the Clips from a 9-15 record to 23-21. The fan base was elated. Things culminated with a gritty, testy win over the visiting Houston Rockets on January 15th, a date that will live on in infamy as one of the most ridiculous nights in NBA history:

A three-game-skid once again has the team on the outside looking in at the playoffs. The Clips are one game back on the Denver Nuggets for eighth place, and a full two and half behind seventh placed Portland. The adrenaline seems to be wearing off and the team is wheezing. Big decisions have to be made before the NBA trade deadline on February 8th. Let’s have a look at the Clippers two major trade pieces, Jordan and Lou Williams, as well as the future of the roster.

The Cavs might be declared unsuitable to continue as a franchise if they put the Brooklyn pick on the table. Would the Cavs own 2018 pick (top-20 protected) and Tristan Thompson be enough to get the deal done? It’s hard to imagine teams giving up much more than that for Jordan without an under-the-table agreement he’ll pick up his player option for next season. The Bucks, Blazers and Rockets have also been touted as potential destinations, but none of the three appear to be desperate enough to the pull-the-trigger on a deal.

The question of how DeAndre’s game will age is also of major importance to both the Clippers and any potential suitor. Though he’s gotten much better at the mental aspect of defense, he’s still heavily reliant on size and otherworldly athleticism. The size will always be there, but will he be able to maintain in the face of diminishing physical gifts? How valuable is he if he can’t reach to the rafters for lobs above the hands of even the most gifted NBA athlete?

Playoff referees are also less susceptible to Williams’ chicanery on offense. Williams is one of the best players in the league at getting to line in the regular season. Since the start of the 2015–16 campaign , Williams’ 47.3 percent free throw rate (FTr) is second only to James Harden among guards who have played at least 4000 minutes. In 15 playoff games over that same period his free throw rate drops to 27.8 percent, per basketball-reference. Whistles get stingier in the postseason, and Williams’ lack of size makes it much harder to compensate.

Like Jordan, a lottery-protected first and some filler might be the best haul the Clippers can reasonably expect.

These reports are subjective on the part of the players (a lot of whom may be rankled by Austin’s presence on the team). While Austin has enjoyed many benefits as the coach’s son, claims he only has a place in the league because of his famous old man are absurd. The younger Rivers is decent value at his current contract. He gets up 6.3 three-point attempts per game and cans 40.5 percent of them. While his decision-making and god-complex are still problematic, Rivers competes like crazy and has endeared himself to the Clipper faithful (if not some of his teammates and opponents).

Ultimately it all comes down to priorities. If the Clippers truly want to rebuild they should cash in on Williams and Jordan while they still can. Two first rounders, as well as the lottery pick they would surely have were they to move the pair, would be a fantastic start. Players like Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell still have the potential to flourish under a coach with less of a win-now mandate, while ‘Gallo and Beverley will have value once healthy.

The term “rebuild” carries negative connotations, sullied by cynical pull-downs and perpetually bad teams. Teams like the Raptors and Rockets have been able to retool on the fly, tight-roping the present and the future. To do so requires savvy leadership. The jury is still out on the Lawrence Frank/Jerry West partnership, but it’s about to be tested in a big way.

Plus, even if the Clippers hold on to DJ and Lou, there’s still no guarantee the team can even reach the playoffs. For one, as Matt Moore pointed out on twitter, The Clippers have a fairly brutal schedule over the next 13 games:

Let’s make something clear: The Clippers owe Blake Griffin nothing. The eighth year forward’s $173 million contract was the most he could have received, and it was offered with the tacit understanding that there was a very real chance his body was breaking down. The Clippers needed a franchise face, and Blake was more than happy to give it to them at the right price. Whether the team decides to go for a complete rebuild or a more conservative one, Griffin’s feelings should have minimal impact.

Staying pat and hoping for health isn’t the worst proposition in the world. The team is entertaining as hell when rolling, and has the makings of 50 wins next season if ‘Gallo/Blake/Beverley could even play an average of 65–70 games. The Clippers have eternally been the little brother of Los Angeles. The Chris Paul era wasn’t perfect, but at least the team was relevant. Fear of a return to losing and obsolescence is very real and understandable. Retaining DeAndre and Williams is a guaranteed way to stave both off for at least another few years. The real question is: Shouldn’t the Clippers want more?

All statistics courtesy of NBA Stats and basketball-reference.

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