The Clippers title window closed?

[formula 400]

3 STRAIGHT PRESEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS IS A DYNASTY. GOING FOR #4!!!!!!!!!

[Ducksplatt]

I am not writing them off until after the playoffs. KL and PG are just riding out the regular season and will pick it up come playoffs. At least that is the only plan I can think of. Or they are toast.

[Johnny Bball]

I know they don't control their own picks, but what's preventing them from trading the players they currently have and accumulating draft assets that way? The team has a number of players that would still fetch a solid return.

You can't tank if you don;t own your picks. And doing that makes your competition better.

I never said tank. It's just making the best of a bad situation. Think of it as getting a head start. Or even go for a Brooklyn type recovery.

All better options than the one you propose, which is basically just wallowing in sadness for a decade.

EDIT: And as others have noted if they trade said players they'll more than likely be getting the better end of those pick swaps. You seem to be all over the place.

Propose? What are you even talking about?

[dautjazz]

That PG trade may go down as one of the all time worst. I thought it was a huge overpay at the moment, with SGA's development it's just ridiculously bad. PG could only dream to be as good as SGA currently is at only 24.

[baldur]

I am not writing them off until after the playoffs. KL and PG are just riding out the regular season and will pick it up come playoffs. At least that is the only plan I can think of. Or they are toast.

If they can make the playoffs first.

[Clemenza]

That PG trade may go down as one of the all time worst. I thought it was a huge overpay at the moment, with SGA's development it's just ridiculously bad. PG could only dream to be as good as SGA currently is at only 24.

Kawhi wasn't coming to the team if they didn't make the trade. Presti saw the urgency and desperation over charged and made the Clipps bend over. On paper all the assets was for PG but in reality it was for Kawhi and PG.

[hippesthippo]

EDIT: And as others have noted if they trade said players they'll more than likely be getting the better end of those pick swaps. You seem to be all over the place.

The Thunder have the option on the pick swaps, not the Clippers.

Woops! Sorry, the way I've written it is misleading. *They'll more than likely keep their own picks those years.

[clippertown]

Clips situation is misleading. The problem they have is a lack of synergy. Every game there is a different lineup so nobody can get any rhythm. Plus they are super weak in the big man positions and loaded up in the guard/wing lineup. I love Mann, but is he really a point guard? Wall is washed. Tye Lou is overwhelmed and showing his weakness with predictable schemes that don’t work.

In addition, Kawhi and George have had moments this season where it’s obvious they are still great players. Injuries aside, they have been great this year. They need a consolidation trade badly but come playoff (or play-in) time, don’t sleep on them.

[hippesthippo]

You can't tank if you don;t own your picks. And doing that makes your competition better.

I never said tank. It's just making the best of a bad situation. Think of it as getting a head start. Or even go for a Brooklyn type recovery.

All better options than the one you propose, which is basically just wallowing in sadness for a decade.

EDIT: And as others have noted if they trade said players they'll more than likely be getting the better end of those pick swaps. They'll more than likely have their own picks those years. You seem to be all over the place.

Propose? What are you even talking about?

Lets recap:
You: They won't be relevant until 2030 at best.
Me: Why not trade some of their players for picks to improve quicker?
You: They can't tank and doing that makes their competition better.
Me: It's called making the best of a bad situation, which is better than what you've proposed.
You: PROPOSE?!?! What have I PROPOSED?!?!?!!!!!?!?

You've stated you think their title window is closed, that they won't be relevant for close to a decade and that they shouldn't trade any players. You've proposed nothing. That's the point. Doing nothing means not winning anything and getting increasingly worse for no real reason.

[Sofia]

JazzFanSince23

[Johnny Bball]

I never said tank. It's just making the best of a bad situation. Think of it as getting a head start. Or even go for a Brooklyn type recovery.

All better options than the one you propose, which is basically just wallowing in sadness for a decade.

EDIT: And as others have noted if they trade said players they'll more than likely be getting the better end of those pick swaps. They'll more than likely have their own picks those years. You seem to be all over the place.

Propose? What are you even talking about?

Lets recap:
You: They won't be relevant until 2030 at best.
Me: Why not trade some of their players for picks to improve quicker?
You: They can't tank and doing that makes their competition better.
Me: It's called making the best of a bad situation, which is better than what you've proposed.
You: PROPOSE?!?! What have I PROPOSED?!?!?!!!!!?!?

You've stated you think their title window is closed, that they won't be relevant for close to a decade and that they shouldn't trade any players. You've proposed nothing. That's the point. Doing nothing means not winning anything and getting increasingly worse for no real reason.

I previously proposed not giving up everything and then some for Paul George because ti was dumb and that one day the bill would come due. And my post isn't proposing anything and wasn't meant to. That's the point. I don't care what they do.

[ConSarnit]

I think I am done buying this iteration of the Clippers. I just don't think Kawhi can get back to his peak pre-injury level. Offense always seems like a slog at the highest levels.

Good news for Clips fans though: I 100% believe your team is a premier destination (top 3?) for franchise players. Guys want to to be in LA. They now have another option. If the Lakers are full (or not very competent/slightly cheap) players will strongly consider the Clips. The Sterling cloud was holding you back from being a draw. That's gone. Yeah, you owe some picks. Might not matter when stars show up at your door. I don't think most people see it yet because they are stuck in "lol clippers" mode from the past 40 years but I believe that's over.

[scrabbarista]

How many times have the Kawhi/PG Clippers been fully healthy for 10 straight weeks? Isn't that how long the playoffs are? If the answer is zero times, and it's been over three and a half seasons already, then I'd take that as a sufficient sample size to say it's pretty surely not to happen this season. And even if they're healthy for that exact 10-week window, will they be able to develop enough chemistry, literally overnight, to beat DEN or MEM in the First Round? No, my friends; the answer is no. Barring a miraculous trade or an unprecedented run of health leading up to the playoffs, I'd say the Clippers' window is indeed closed.

[Michael Jordan]

Clippers were the worst choice for Kawhi.

Returning to Toronto or choosing the Lakers would have likely awarded him with another ring.

[DudetheObscure]

EDIT: And as others have noted if they trade said players they'll more than likely be getting the better end of those pick swaps. You seem to be all over the place.

The Thunder have the option on the pick swaps, not the Clippers.

Woops! Sorry, the way I've written it is misleading. *They'll more than likely keep their own picks those years.

There is a strong possibility that the Thunder use the pick swap this summer. The teams are currently tied and OKC has the easiest remaining schedule while LAC has the 3rd hardest. At this point no-one should be surprised if OKC finishes higher, especially with the unreliability of of PG and KL.

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

[Wammy Giveaway]

Good news for Clips fans though: I 100% believe your team is a premier destination (top 3?) for franchise players. Guys want to to be in LA. They now have another option. If the Lakers are full (or not very competent/slightly cheap) players will strongly consider the Clips. The Sterling cloud was holding you back from being a draw. That's gone. Yeah, you owe some picks. Might not matter when stars show up at your door. I don't think most people see it yet because they are stuck in "lol clippers" mode from the past 40 years but I believe that's over.

Even with Sterling gone, Clippers may never be a true destination. Their losing history is just too strong to overcome. For some reason, the Clippers are this special kind of franchise that brings out the worst in players, coaches, and employees.

- If you've never been injured before, you will now
- If you were wickedly good before, your skills take something of a hit
- If you're a great coach, you won't be; look at Doc Rivers

Sterling may be gone, but his presence still lingers within the club in some way, shape or form. Think about this: the 76ers and Suns have two 3-1 collapses in their resume, so does the Clippers. But here's what separates the Clippers from those two teams:

- 76ers had already won a title (1967) before experiencing their first ever 3-1 collapse (1968), and their second collapse was 13 years away (1981)
- Suns two Finals appearances (1976, 1993) happened in between their first in 1970 and second in 1995, a 25-year difference

Clippers have (1) never won a title (2) never reached the Finals and (3) never gotten past the 2nd round. Even when the Jazz were a part of the double 3-1 comeback by Nuggets in 2020 NBA Bubble Playoffs, their past Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998 gave Utah protection. Clippers had none of that luxury, and as a matter of fact gave them the longest conference finals drought in all of professional sports with 50 years. And their first collapse happened in 2015 - that's a five year gap, also a record! You can already see why their collapse was deemed the greatest in NBA history.

I want to see Clippers succeed, but their fatal flaw of wanting to be loved, respected and worshiped like Lakers keeps them from taking the next level. What fans, the media, and the world think about the Clippers is more important than just trying to win a title, and their complete avoidance of their players getting ejected from games for fear of ruining their Good Samaritan Spurs image is proof of that. Their 2018-19 run where they had zero All-Stars, just role players, making the playoffs as an 8th seed and taking Game 2 from the Ultimate Warriors via largest comeback in NBA playoff history of 31 points should be their blueprint. None of this pretending to be Lakers, Splash Bros. Fantastic 4 Warriors, LeBron James-led teams, Doc's Big 3 Celtics, Jordan's Bulls, Good Samaritan Spurs (Duncan, Popovich), etc. They shouldn't be following trends, fads or emulating proven commodities.

Otherwise, Clippers will forever be stuck in this endless loop of pulling off improbable comebacks and never getting the love they've longed for.

[Dacost]

How many times have the Kawhi/PG Clippers been fully healthy for 10 straight weeks? Isn't that how long the playoffs are? If the answer is zero times, and it's been over three and a half seasons already, then I'd take that as a sufficient sample size to say it's pretty surely not to happen this season. And even if they're healthy for that exact 10-week window, will they be able to develop enough chemistry, literally overnight, to beat DEN or MEM in the First Round? No, my friends; the answer is no. Barring a miraculous trade or an unprecedented run of health leading up to the playoffs, I'd say the Clippers' window is indeed closed.

Very good post and exactly what I was going to say.

This Kawhi situation is just odd and unfair especially for guys like Tye Lou.

[formula 400]

what title window? they can't even get past Denver, who still takes their lunches to this day. Clips have the Preseason and Summer chips. that means a lot

[clippertown]

That PG trade may go down as one of the all time worst. I thought it was a huge overpay at the moment, with SGA's development it's just ridiculously bad. PG could only dream to be as good as SGA currently is at only 24.

Kawhi wasn't coming to the team if they didn't make the trade. Presti saw the urgency and desperation over charged and made the Clipps bend over. On paper all the assets was for PG but in reality it was for Kawhi and PG.

Adding to this, the Clips took a gamble. If KL and PG worked out, they were legitimate contenders. If they were below expectations, they could be traded but even at their worst, they were likely to be a fringe playoff team with average to poor draft picks. They knew both players had at least 5 years of quality in them. But the worst possible scenario is playing out. Both players are injured constantly making them essentially liabilities. I commend the Clips for taking a gamble (after all those Sterling years) and if things worked out (as they still may), OKC won’t get many lotto picks even in a full Clipper rebuild. SGA is turning into a superstar so it hurts more, but he is still not at PG’s level. 99% of pundits would have made that deal, given the Kawhi impact.

Clips will never be bottom feeders as long as Ballmer owns the team and it stays in Los Angeles.

[jfs1000d]

I think it’s over. They just get healthy, motivated. Chemistry lacks. They have a great team on paper, they just aren’t physically and mentally able to put it together.


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