Curse at Small Forward Spot

[Ranma]

Hey, Doc.

You've already cost us a 2015 first-round pick for the privilege to pay you quite a lot of money to coach and try to be GM, so I would greatly appreciate that you stop wasting them like the protected 2017 first-rounder for the likes of Chris Douglas-Roberts and Ekpe Udoh. The draft can be a very valuable resource if you know what you're doing in terms of selection and development.

For instance, with our current 7-5 record projecting at either the 14th or 15th overall selection, it would have been nice to use such a draft pick to either try to move up for a guy like Justise Winslow or stay put and select whomever else that might be of help instead of drafting shooters you don't even want to play. A year later, a kid like D'Angelo Russell might be in play. As my post towards the bottom shows, there have been plenty of good players available in the middle-to-latter part of the first round for the astute talent evaluator and developer.

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Yes, I understand hindsight is 20-20 but the point I'm making is that the draft is not that bad of a crapshoot and a big part of successful drafting is the development of draftees. Doc's handling of both Bullock and Wilcox seems to indicate that he's not as inclined to develop young players like a Stan Van Gundy or Gregg Popovich would be.

To illustrate my first point, look at some finds made in the mid-to-late first round in recent draft years:

2011
15th - Kawhi Leonard
16th - Nikola Vujecic
17th - Iman Shumpert
19th - Tobias Harris
22nd - Kenneth Faried
23rd - Nikola Mirotic
24th - Reggie Jackson
30th - Jimmy Butler

2012
15th - Moe Harkless
18th - Terrence Jones
19th - Andrew Nicholson
20th - Evan Fournier
21st - Jared Sullinger
25th - Tony Wroten
26th - Miles Plumlee
28th - Perry Jones

2013
15th - Giannis Adektokoubo
17th - Dennis Schroeder
23rd - Solomon Hill
24th - Tim Hardaway Jr.
25th - Reggie Bullock

I didn't include the 2014 class to give it at least some developmental time, but looking at the lists above, there seems to be plenty of opportunities and it hasn't taken long for plenty of contributors to already show themselves. The jury is still out on Bullock but that has to do with his lack of playing time thus far. The Clippers could use pretty much any one of the listed players above on their roster--assuming, of course--Doc would be willing to play and/or develop them. Bottom line: giving away draft picks to plug holes with disappointing trades and not developing the picks made only compounds the roster problem, especially given our salary cap situation.


p.s. Jimmy Butler was a player I really wanted on the team because a lot of evaluators loved how hard he worked. While his upside may have been thought to be limited, there was little question that he would be an immediate contributor to an NBA ballclub. It was no surprise that the Bulls were the team to draft him since Butler's scouting report reminded me a lot of Ron Artest's--whom the Bulls also drafted--in terms of being a hard-nosed, gutsy player who was dedicated to the game.

[LACtdom]

What frustrates me is that Doc has acquired two injured players to fill our SF void over the past two years. Dudley and CDR may have both been acceptable fits but there is no point wasting assets to get players who are injured. I think Doc needs to work out players more before we make moves. Injury is okay to put up with if it's a long term plan but I'd hardly consider Dudley and CDR as cornerstones to our team.

[mttwlsn16]

RYAN GOMES!

**** him

[QRich3]

Hey, Doc.

You've already cost us a 2015 first-round pick for the privilege to pay you quite a lot of money to coach and try to be GM, so I would greatly appreciate that you stop wasting them like the protected 2017 first-rounder for the likes of Chris Douglas-Roberts and Ekpe Udoh. The draft can be a very valuable resource if you know what you're doing in terms of selection and development.

And even if you don't, you can always luck out and get someone worthy of playing time!

It's frustrating seeing how KJ McDaniels is looking really good on the Sixers and he has the exact skills we're looking for. Even if he wasn't gonna get burn on a good team this year, we sure as hell could use him for next year or the one after that.

I don't blame him for Dudley since he was a good player before he came to us and a great fit on paper. I liked the Bledsoe trade even though I knew he was gonna have more value than Redick and Dudley combined when he had a starting spot. But because of fit and our limited market I didn't see a much better solution. But the Dudley trade, I still don't understand. I guess it was because of us being possibly over the hard cap if he got his playoff bonus, and they were forced by the league to shed salary, but that'd make them look even more incompetent, and they never even admitted to it afaik.

[Ranma]

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Can he defend?

[TucsonClip]

Can he defend?

He was always a good rebounder due to his wingspan and motor. He certainly can defend the 2 and 3, but hes not a whole lot different than Bullock in that regard, and Bullock is absolutely the better shooter. Think of a smaller Matt Barnes.

[Ranma]

Dan Woike, Orange County Register (4/29/14)

The solution to the Clippers situation at small forward, for the time being at least, has been a platoon of four players, with Rivers picking match-ups and situations for the players he has on his roster.

“We’re just trying to platoon. I think I said that before the season started,” Rivers said before Saturday’s game. “We’re just doing that. But, we weren’t doing it well early on, but now we are.”

If the situation calls for an athletic defender, the Clippers can turn to Matt Barnes. If they want scoring, they can pair Jamal Crawford with J.J. Redick. If they want size and shooting, they can use Hedo Turkoglu.

Rivers can even start to use Reggie Bullock after the second-year player looked sharp in two starts this past week while Barnes nursed a calf injury.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s a weakness,” Barnes said. “We all do different stuff, and we can all affect the game differently.

“…Everybody wants more minutes, obviously, but we’re all here to win.”

Bullock’s role in the platoon seems the least certain. Rivers went to him early in the second quarter for Turkoglu, who he was closely monitoring for signs of fatigue.

“Everybody can’t play. Reggie has earned our trust, but right now, guys are in front of him,” Rivers said. “…Reggie works hard at it. He’s learning how to be a pro and the whole thing.”

Clippers Close Productive Trip with Victory

[mike3]

I myself don't know the answer, I don't like having to switch starting SF's everytime we want something different. I want Reggie to see more time.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Looks like Ray Allen isn't even considering the Clippers. Perhaps he doesn't have a close relationship with Doc any more

[og15]

Might be because SG is actually this teams deepest position. If Ray Allen came to the Clippers he would have to be playing SF

[Roscoe Sheed]

Might be because SG is actually this teams deepest position. If Ray Allen came to the Clippers he would have to be playing SF

I think he could play small forward. He is a bit small, but that might be the best position for him at his age.

[og15]

Might be because SG is actually this teams deepest position. If Ray Allen came to the Clippers he would have to be playing SF

I think he could play small forward. He is a bit small, but that might be the best position for him at his age.

The issues might not be whether he can, its probably that he doesn't want to be playing SF, so that kind of kills the Clippers option

[Roscoe Sheed]

Might be because SG is actually this teams deepest position. If Ray Allen came to the Clippers he would have to be playing SF

I think he could play small forward. He is a bit small, but that might be the best position for him at his age.

The issues might not be whether he can, its probably that he doesn't want to be playing SF, so that kind of kills the Clippers option

What do you guys think of this trade?

Redick and DJ for McGee and Afflalo?

I know that McGee is a huge question mark and a potential head case, but he essentially has the same skillset as DJ and Afflalo is definitely better than Redick.

Just a thought.

I also wonder if Doc has ever gauged the market for either CP3 or Blake Griffin. I really like these two guys, but I really wonder whether they are good enough to win it all. I think a guy like Aldridge would be a better fit than Blake, but I don't think either team would make such a trade.

[LACtdom]

Barnes is playing well lately. If we are going to pick up a new starting SF I don't want a 'maybe he'll turn out good' type prospect such as Ray Allen at the 3 or CDR 2.0. We need a proven talent.

[LACtdom]

I also wonder if Doc has ever gauged the market for either CP3 or Blake Griffin. I really like these two guys, but I really wonder whether they are good enough to win it all. I think a guy like Aldridge would be a better fit than Blake, but I don't think either team would make such a trade.

Not many GMs would have the guts to make a trade like that. I think the Clippers need some kind of 'bargain' player who is producing more than he is being paid. Lebron, Bosh and Wade took pay cuts to win a chip. Tim Duncan and Dirk have taken massive pay cuts to boost their rosters. CP and Blake are being paid top dollar and so it is vital that we get the most out of our money allocated to the supporting cast.

[og15]

I think he could play small forward. He is a bit small, but that might be the best position for him at his age.

The issues might not be whether he can, its probably that he doesn't want to be playing SF, so that kind of kills the Clippers option

What do you guys think of this trade?

Redick and DJ for McGee and Afflalo?

I know that McGee is a huge question mark and a potential head case, but he essentially has the same skillset as DJ and Afflalo is definitely better than Redick.

Just a thought.

I also wonder if Doc has ever gauged the market for either CP3 or Blake Griffin. I really like these two guys, but I really wonder whether they are good enough to win it all. I think a guy like Aldridge would be a better fit than Blake, but I don't think either team would make such a trade.

The Denver trade idea would probably end up being a wash or actually make the team worse, remember this teams biggest issue is still defense. DJ is a better defender than McGee, and Afflalo's defense over Redick isn't good enough to make up for that.

Aldridge is a nice player, and while his shooting and length are nice, I'll have to actually disagree with the fit. I'm not sure if he actually alleviates the defense issue even with the better length. He doesn't actually produce better on offense than Blake, Blake scores the same or more and more efficiently and is a better playmaker and passer. Aldridge won't throw those passes to DJ like Blake does, he's not a transition threat like Blake, and he'd make this team even more perimeter and jumpshot oriented than it already is.

Superstars are always hard to trade because you don't get adequate value. Paul and Blake are fine to win with, but like all players, you need the right supporting cast, especially trying to come out of the West.

[madmaxmedia]

A platoon of 4 players at one position is basically saying, none of them are good enough to play starters' minutes.

Both Redick and DJ have significant value for the team, trading both to get Afflalo isn't worth it.

We don't need to retool our roster, we just need a lucky trade or FA opportunity to pop up where we can land an SF who actually is worth playing 35 minutes per game.

[mattd13]

I really do not see any trades that the clips could make that would be a real change. I have watched jj and aflallo since the magic days and jj has become the better player overall.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I really do not see any trades that the clips could make that would be a real change. I have watched jj and aflallo since the magic days and jj has become the better player overall.

I agree that Redick is better than I thought he was before the Clippers got him, but Afflalo is the better overall player. He has turned into a very good shooter (not as good as Redick) and is certainly a much better defensive player.

I was just throwing his name out there as an idea. I think Afflalo may not be ideal in some ways because although he is a good defensive player he is a bit undersized to defend small forwards.

[og15]

Afflalo is a better defender, but he's probably in the above average category, not a game changer at his position on defense though, and like you mentioned, he can't necessarily defend SF's.