The Los Angeles Clippers are coming off another disappointing early playoff exit. Now ownership and management must come together and decide how to move forward. Lob City hasn’t made it to the Western Conference Final with their current group of players. They also haven’t been able to stay healthy for the most part. Chris Paul is set to become a free agent. The same is true for Blake Griffin. The Clippers are clearly at a crossroads and if they want to push forward with their current core group they will have to convince them to take another shot. Here is a look at the Clippers offseason plan.
3 Things The Clippers Have To Work On
1. Sign Chris Paul
Paul, Griffin and J.J. Redick are all set to become free agents on July 1st. The Clippers can be a legitimate contender in the Western Conference with all three of those players. Without them, Los Angeles will have to start over. Ownership clearly wants the core players back with Steve Ballmer saying, “I love those guys, and I want those guys back”. The key could be convincing Paul to come back. Paul has a player option but if he opts out then the Clippers could convince him to return with a $200 million offer, which is something no other team can offer. Griffin is more likely to return if Paul is signed. That would leave Redick as the biggest pending free agent for Los Angeles. The Clippers will likely want to bring back Redick as well but there is a clear understanding that CP3 and Griffin are the key pending free agents. If LA can sign Paul, it could help lure Griffin back following another injury-shortened season.
2. Prepare A Contingency Plan
The Clippers could very well bring each of their key free agents back this offseason. At the same time, nobody will be truly shocked if they lost all three players. Management needs to have a contingency plan in place based on who signs and who walks away from the franchise. The Clippers will have a ton of money to spend if their key free agents walk and while there is a lack of star options there are some capable stars available. Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague, Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka are all set to become free agents. If Paul and Griffin walk, then maybe LA brings in Teague and Ibaka as potential replacements. The potential for a sing-and-trade with either of their top stars should be another intriguing option that the Clippers would want to consider. Whatever happens, management needs to establish a contingency plan in case the stars decide to walk away from LA.
3. Find Some Size
One of the most intriguing aspects of the current Clippers roster is the idea that this team is actually better off without Griffin. While that simply isn’t true from a talent perspective, the franchise must consider whether a small shakeup could help make this team a true championship contender. Utah exposed LA’s lack of size so that is one area the team will want to focus on. Paul, Redick and Griffin provide plenty of offense for the Clippers but their lack of size could hurt the team at the defensive end. Los Angeles will have plenty of options if even one of their top three free agents walk. However, even if all three return next season the Clippers will want to consider adding some size to their lineup.
Key Free Agents
Paul, Griffin and Redick represent two-thirds of the Clippers starting five. Simply put, if they lost all three it would be a disaster. However, the management team in Los Angeles must keep an open mind and consider all options. There are some notable star players set to hit free agency that might be interested in a move to Lob City. There is no question that in some way, shape or form, the Clippers need to change the culture on the team. They’re not going to win the West in their current form.
Brandon Bass, Raymond Felton and Alan Anderson are also set to become free agents so the Clippers might want to let them walk in an effort to look elsewhere for role players that better fit their core group.
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