Clippers roster, what's next?

[clipsfever]

Am still really surprised that Zhaire Smith cleared waivers AND hasn't been signed since.

he'll get a 10-day contract somewhere, still very young. But he played 143 total minutes since being drafted 2 years ago. That tells me he is not that good.

I think that's the wrong conclusion, the low minutes is more likely due to the freak medical event he suffered:

https://www.gq.com/story/zhaire-smith-76ers-deadly-allergic-reaction

Why wouldn't you take a chance on a 21 year old, 3-and-D candidate with the physical tools (pre-freak medical event) to get drafted 16th not so long ago?

[esqtvd]

Am still really surprised that Zhaire Smith cleared waivers AND hasn't been signed since.

he'll get a 10-day contract somewhere, still very young. But he played 143 total minutes since being drafted 2 years ago. That tells me he is not that good.

Injuries and then very sick with an allergic reaction. But the real problem is he's a 6'3" power forward.


https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/01/zhaire-smith-discusses-transition-from-college-big-man-to-nba-guard/

[Vae Victus]

Just to clarify. Is the team hard capped and cant add anyone right now?

[TucsonClip]

Just to clarify. Is the team hard capped and cant add anyone right now?

We are right up against the hard cap, but enough wiggle room to go after 10 day contract guys when they come available, plus still have the BAE if we clear space to use it on the buyout market.

We only have one open roster spot, so best to use that as flexibility throughout the season, or take a minimum, non-guaranteed guy into the season and then trade him around the deadline.

[Vae Victus]

Just to clarify. Is the team hard capped and cant add anyone right now?

We are right up against the hard cap, but enough wiggle room to go after 10 day contract guys when they come available, plus still have the BAE if we clear space to use it on the buyout market.

We only have one open roster spot, so best to use that as flexibility throughout the season, or take a minimum, non-guaranteed guy into the season and then trade him around the deadline.

Ok, so basically we are hard capped and cant even offer a full vet min. I rather hope we pick up a vet PG like Lin and hope he's desperate enough to take a non-guaranteed deal. We need guard playmakers badly as we're basically chancing on Batum (who might be cooked) and Kennard (who's knees are iffy) as basically the only changes in added playmaking. Upside, hopefully Lou doesnt dominate the ball like crazy anymore off the bench, i rather hope we trade him for some less salary coming, so as to open up the BAE slot for a high quality buyout signing.

[TheNewEra]

Looks like Ibaka is starting and Morris is out. Preseason thread?

[esqtvd]

The Athletic:

For those without subscriptions, the mini-survey of NBA execs and scouts gave the Lakers the nod, mostly because of Schroder.

Several mentioned they expect Lou to be dealt, but also Beverley. As an expiring who can plug right into anyone's second unit, Lou at $8M should be much more movable. Some thought Beverley [2 years left @ $14M per] might be tough to move.

https://theathletic.com/2253028/2020/12/11/lakers-clippers-rivalry-which-team-got-better-offseason/

[Quake Griffin]

Can this team snag PJ Tucker?

Cheap n one year left.

[Quake Griffin]

Can this team snag PJ Tucker?

Cheap n one year left.

Bump for why we are not doing this?

This team should be all over this guy imo.

Am I missing something?

[MartinToVaught]

The Rockets would have to want anything we could give them in return for him. Maybe they just don't.

Alternatively, maybe the front office is monitoring the Harden trade situation so they can get involved with a possible deal and get Tucker that way.

Or maybe the front office just isn't interested in Tucker at all. In all honesty, they should be more focused on getting a point guard. The options seem pretty mediocre at best right now, so if I were Frank, I'd be looking into any Euro PGs who might want to make the leap to the NBA.

[Quake Griffin]

The Rockets would have to want anything we could give them in return for him. Maybe they just don't.

Alternatively, maybe the front office is monitoring the Harden trade situation so they can get involved with a possible deal and get Tucker that way.

Or maybe the front office just isn't interested in Tucker at all. In all honesty, they should be more focused on getting a point guard. The options seem pretty mediocre at best right now, so if I were Frank, I'd be looking into any Euro PGs who might want to make the leap to the NBA.

I understand the should in your statement. But it looks like Lue already said we don't need to do that.
-__-

My question for this is kinda like....ok, if we're not going for a PG we're just gonna avoid a tough hard nosed wing defender and corner 3 pointer shooter?

Someone has got to make this make sense. I, for one, think we need his new energy to come here and play with this team. After t first 2 preseason games, we're gonna need some counseling to get out of the rut we are in...or maybe just a new guy with some good energy and hard nosed defense.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Perhaps these guys are rusty, but I'm worried about shooting- particularly off the bench.

I would kick the tires on Korver- see if he is still playable for 10 or so minutes a game.

[nickhx2]

edit

[KL2]

Read on Twitter

[esqtvd]

The unvarnished skinny from Hollinger at The Athletic

https://theathletic.com/2251336/2020/12/15/hollinger-2020-21-clippers-preview-lineup-predictions-and-high-expectations/


The players in a nutshell

Code: Select all

Nicolas Batum, SF
Charlotte contract was a joke, but he can help here.

Patrick Beverley, PG
Rightly earns plaudits for pitbull D but must cut fouls.

Paul George, SG
Was having good year til game went sideways in playoffs.

Serge Ibaka, C
D has slipped but a good shooting option at center.

Reggie Jackson, PG
Like many Clips, played well until playoffs happened.

Mfiondu Kabengele, C
So impressive, they drafted another center right away.

Luke Kennard, SG
Underrated offensive weapon if his knees hold up.

Kawhi Leonard, SF
Still has argument as game's best two-way player.

Terance Mann, SF
Defensive role player may get some run this year.

Marcus Morris, Sr., PF
Career-best from 3 (40.8 percent) but rarely gets to rim anymore.

Daniel Oturu, C
Raw big with plus physical tools has a chance.

Patrick Patterson, PF
Not really sure why they're so enamored of him.

Lou Williams, PG
A phantom on defense but still an elite shot-creator.

Ivica Zubac, C
Size, hands, mobility. League's most underrated player?

Amir Coffey, SF (2w)
Hustler with a plus handle, may get minutes.

Jay Scrubb, SG (2w)
If only we had a word for deep reserves who rarely play.

This was one thing I haven't read anywhere else:

Code: Select all

But the Clippers should be looking at their conditioning when they go back through this season. They were winning each of the last three games at halftime but got absolutely spanked by Denver late in games. Leonard, in particular, seemed like he was running on fumes at the end, with just two points in the second half of Game 7. George, infamously, hit the side of the backboard on open 3s from each corner in that half.

The Clippers shot a ghastly 28.9 percent in the final three second halves. As bad as they were from the perimeter, they also shot 30.5 percent inside the arc. In the end, it was their offensive meltdown that hurt as much as chemistry or coaching. Which is amazing, in retrospect. This was the league’s second-best regular-season offense and had seven rotation players shoot at least 37.5 percent from 3.

Still, Hollinger is bullish:

Despite last season’s disastrous ending, the Clippers have to be taken seriously as a championship threat. Leonard was the mainstay of Toronto’s title run in 2019 and a Finals MVP before that in San Antonio. George’s past few postseasons have been disappointing, but he’s a knockdown shooter who guards multiple positions and remains a top-shelf secondary offensive threat.

There isn’t a third star, but this a deep, talented roster. Zubac is good and could have a mini-breakout this year. Kennard and Ibaka were helpful pickups who should increase the floor space considerably. Williams, Beverley and Morris may not be top-drawer starters, but these guys are plus rotation players. Batum and Reggie Jackson are better than most minimum guys. As a result, even when Kawhi sits out, this team will usually be favored.

Throw on top the fact that L.A.’s front office has been both aggressive and (mostly) shrewd in putting this team together and still may have some cards left to play in-season, and one has to like the Clippers’ chances. Even now, this is a team that can play big or small, can put out lineups for defense or offense and always has a trump card in the matchup game because of Leonard.

The two wild cards are the coaching change and the sting of their shocking collapse against Denver. The Clippers learned the hard way last season that playoff series are not won on paper. But on paper, this is the best team in the West.

49-23, first place in Western Conference

[Clemenza]

Might have to take a look at that Kyle Guy kid on the Kings if he doesn't make their roster. He's pretty good

[TheNewEra]

Depending on how the knee soreness goes we might end up seeing Patterson and Kabengele

[esqtvd]

Buha in The Athletic. Just going to grab 2 sentences from each for conversation's sake. Subscribe--its worth it...


https://theathletic.com/2267547/2020/12/17/kawhi-leonard-paul-george-clippers/


Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers’ most interesting players, ranked from 14 to 1

(To be clear: This is not a ranking of Clippers players but rather a subjective look at the level of interest in each player’s performance this season.)


14. Patrick Patterson
He’s no longer a rotation-level player. If he can maintain last season’s 3-point shooting (a career-high 39.0 percent), Patterson could be a net-neutral in small doses.

13. Daniel Oturu
Logic dictates that Kabengele is ahead of Oturu in the pecking order, but it wouldn’t shock if Oturu leapfrogged him in the rotation, jumping a few spots on this list in the process.

12. Reggie Jackson
It was a bit surprising to see Jackson return to the Clippers after his disappointing postseason, one that saw him be as detrimental defensively as Montrezl Harrell at times. He’ll likely play more than some of the names ranked higher than him, but he doesn’t move the needle.

11. Terance Mann
Mann has a shot to earn rotation minutes this season, with the 10th spot in the rotation seemingly wide open. The Clippers have insisted he’s a point guard, and he offers a different look from Jackson as a change-of-pace ballhandler who can also cover for Lou Williams or Luke Kennard defensively with his size and strength.

10. Mfiondu Kabengele
He’s a cleaner fit next to Serge Ibaka than Ivica Zubac, and it’s unclear if he’s quick or savvy enough to play the four. But in comparison with Patterson and Oturu, Kabengele should be the favorite to earn big-man minutes behind Zubac.

9. Lou Williams
He’s going to dominate against second units, and in some fourth quarters, with plenty of 20-point, five-assist performances while not playing much defense--though this finally could be the year we see a decrease in productivity or minutes. There’s also a chance he’s traded at some point.

8. Nicolas Batum
The 32-year-old has carried a stigma around him the past few years because of his monstrous contract signed in the wild summer of 2016. But he has a Swiss Army knife-like skill set, and if he can return to his above-average 3-point shooting from two seasons ago, along with providing some solid playmaking and defense, he’ll be a steal at the minimum.

7. Ivica Zubac
This might feel low for Zubac, but it seems as if playing Ibaka — who’s the better and more modern player — is the priority in a win-now season. In the scenario that he sees a jump in playing time, Zubac goes up a couple of spots, but his breakout season is likely delayed.

6. Marcus Morris Sr.
Morris is the third-highest-paid Clipper after the team fell into the Bird rights trap with him, so there is some pressure on Morris to live up to that billing beause it’s unlikely the Clippers will add a player earning more than Morris over the next couple of years. They need the best version of him this season.

5. Patrick Beverley
The Clippers have been better with Beverley on the floor than off of it: He’s a defensive menace and an underrated shooter and playmaker. But his health and foul trouble have kept him off the floor during times the Clippers have needed him.

4. Luke Kennard
With the Clippers surveying the free-agent market and not seeing a clear point guard upgrade at either the starting or backup spots, Kennard can potentially solve some of their ball movement and secondary playmaking concerns. If he can stay healthy, Kennard has a shot to be the team’s sixth or seventh man, even closing games in giant lineups in certain matchups.

3. Serge Ibaka
Ibaka is no longer the defensive lynchpin that he used to be, but the Clippers are still confident that his defensive mobility will be more helpful in close playoff games than Zubac’s, Harrell’s or Green’s. Additionally, Ibaka’s ability to allow them to play five-out basketball will elevate last season’s No. 2-ranked offense.

2. Paul George
The team couldn’t survive a Leonard injury of course, but assuming the Clippers are healthy, or largely healthy, George’s play in the 2021 postseason will likely determine their ceiling as either a semifinals team, or a conference finals or NBA Finals threat.

1. Kawhi Leonard
Not only is he an impending free agent, but he also was at the center of some of the team’s chemistry issues last season, directly or indirectly. If those dynamics are to improve this season, he’ll have likely played a significant part.

The two-time champion and NBA Finals MVP is still one of the best players in the world, capable of taking over a game at a moment’s notice. He needs to be at a top-five, if not top-three, player level come playoff time for the Clippers to win a championship.

The outcome of this season will partially dictate Leonard’s future and, to a large extent, that of the Clippers.

As our 3rd-highest paid player, I'd rate Senior as much more key and although a nice piece, I'm not sure Ibaka will have such a big impact, nor should an MLE guy on the other side of 32 be expected to. Solid stuff from Jovan here, but if Senior remains mediocre, I don't know who is going to pick up the slack.

[donemilio21]

The unvarnished skinny from Hollinger at The Athletic


49-23, first place in Western Conference[/list]

49 wins is equivalent of a 55 win regular 82-game season. I think that's a top 4 finish for sure, but does not win the conference.

[TheNewEra]

Still confused why we offered Patterson and Jackson contracts