Wammy Giveaway wrote:I won't call it an off-season post, but more like a bold prediction. Here's what may happen:
1.
Clippers get a 3rd superstar - That superstar will most likely be Carmelo Anthony. Chris Paul needs an alternate scoring partner to take the load off of him,
plus get those much needed superstar calls that the Clippers have been denied of this season. Blake Griffin will still get his (a few buzzer beating game winning baskets should deepen his scoring resume), but he should be playing the LeBron James role, orchestrating the offense and setting up his players for shots. DeAndre Jordan is an expiring contract this year, and given Doc's penchant for trading the farm to get his superstars like he did in 2007, this may be the year Doc pulls it off. But do the Clippers give up DJ to get Melo? That's the question.
2.
Their backup big will be Kevin Garnett. - I predict Doc Rivers will be reunited with the player the Clippers should have gotten before the NBA intervened and imposed the gag order. Garnett missed Doc dearly; he needs to be with him again in order to reclaim his playing potential. Garnett will still be a Net this season, but he'll buy out his contract to join the Clippers. The Big 3 will be Paul+Melo+Griffin, but with KG on board, the Clippers will finally get out of the second round.
3.
Some old Clippers are coming back. I am hearing from
Chrisclipsla that Elton Brand might return to the Clippers if and only if Donald Sterling is officially ousted and a new owner is announced.
Those are my off-season predictions. I'll leave the rest of the roster to chance. Only Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick are locks.
This team doesn't need a third superstar really, what it needs is just upgrades at SF and at the backup big man position. Also offense isn't really the primary need, defense is still needed first.
TradesJared Dudley - He was good for this team in theory, but it failed miserably in practice. With better health and maybe getting into the shape he was in previous seasons, he can still help a team, but the Clippers will need to move on. He makes ~$4M, so he isn't anything crazy contract wise. If just to clear space, he can be moved for a second round pick to someone who wants him, or he could be a piece in a sign and trade for another SF, again to a team that would want him.
Jamal Crawford - (on the fence). This won't be a popular suggestion, and I like Jamal myself, but he is just too unreliable as a scorer and way too inconsistent in bringing solid production in any other areas. Jamal has been benched in game 6 two seasons in a row by his coaches. In the most critical moments, the coach has not trusted Jamal enough, and that says something at the least.
If a player can be acquired to play a similar role, then Jamal can either be moved for that player, or moved to clear space to accommodate that player.
Free Agents to watch and why:
Point GuardsShaun Livingston - If Collison does not pick up his option, Livingston is a great option. He has good length and can defend, and he's an excellent post option. One of the great things about a guy like him is that he'd be able to legitimately guard SG's if paired with Paul, and he can also abuse smaller guards in the post with his excellent turn around jumper if the SG is switched on to Paul on defense.
Shooting GuardsThabo Sefolosha - His shooting took a dive this season in comparison to his previous two seasons, but he is still a 3/D wing. Now, OKC is most likely going to re-sign him back, but if the Clippers did some shuffling, that is, getting Pierce, moving Crawford, Sefolosha could come off the bench as a 3/D wing, and you can shuffle the lineups around to keep a creator on the court at all times. The other option is to start Thabo and bring Redick off the bench as a 6th man, but Doc seems intent on having Redick help facilitate his starting lineup offense.
Small FowardsPaul Pierce - Jamal is not the most reliable player out there, and Pierce is a guy who can come in as the teams 6th man (or starting SF) and can give the ability to score and create, but will be a lot more selective in his shots and more reliable in giving all-round production on a nightly basis.
Trevor Ariza - In the recent years, his 3PT shot has been great, and he's always been a player who can defend. Ariza fits the bill of the defensive and 3PT shooting wing that would help this team, and him and CP are no strangers to playing together. The issue here is going to be his price tag, and I don't think he will be affordable for the Clippers.
Marvin Williams - You'd think he was older, but the guy is only like 27 or 28 still. He can hit the three, he has good size and athletic ability, and he can defend fairly well.
Al-Farouq Aminu - Aminu still can't shoot, but what he can do is defend and rebound and he can be used as a small ball PF. He might just be what the doctor ordered in terms of a versatile, long and athletic SF/PF for defensive purposes. Doesn't seem like he would be an expensive option to add.
Shawn Marion - Marion is probably going back to Dallas, but he is still a player who can defend, but at 35, he's not someone to give more than a very small contract to. Still, if the position is solidified with another player, he could be an extra guy to add just for depth and defense. If you can't get a guy like Aminu, he is a backup option to explore.
Big menJordan Hill - Money matters, Hill is very likely to be too expensive for the Clippers, again, especially since the SF position is also going to be calling for MLE money, but he certainly should be on the radar.
Emeka Okafor - Emeka obviously would be nice to have as a backup C to defend and rebound, and missing a whole season will bring down his price tag, but he's only 30, and it isn't like he would have just forgotten how to play basketball. While it would be nice, I can't see him being in the Clippers price range, especially with other positions to fill.
Kris Humphries - I know most are thinking what? Why? People say him and Blake look alike, and they kind of do, and they also kind of play alike. Humphries is kind of like a poor man's Blake. If the team decides to move away from Davis as a backup PF, Humphries is a guy that could be acquired at a decent price to fill that spot. A signing of him would only be at a good price tag though, if it gets too much, forget it.
Boris Diaw - It is very likely that the Spurs retain him, but Diaw is a versatile big man that plays both ends and does basically everything on the court. He would be a great addition to this team.
Jason Smith - If we still want to at least have a big on the team that is a consistent shooter, the Blake tackler is actually a good option as he has good size and can play C without being mis-matched size wise, though his length is not so great. Career 44% from 16-<3PT and has shot 46.7% or greater from that range each of the last three seasons with an average of 47.9% FG and 52% of his total attempts have come from that range over the last 3 seasons. Decently athleic and can block shots a little also. Probably won't be too expensive and can play both PF and C.
that was quick