Clippers just circling the wagon with Blake
Signing an injury-prone Blake Griffin to the second-richest contract in the NBA makes absolutely no sense for the Los Angeles Clippers. That’s only magnified by the fact that the team traded Chris Paul and lost J.J. Redick in free agency.
What are the long-term plans for Doc Rivers squad? Does this include being swept out in the first round? Heck, does it include missing out on the playoffs altogether in a vastly improved Western Conference? That’s surely what we would call circling the wagon.
It’s now being reported that the Clippers are interested in veteran Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari, who will require an absolutely huge payday. It’s a payday that will likely include north of $20 million annually. Meanwhile, rumors persisted during the draft that Los Angeles was looking into the viability of trading center DeAndre Jordan.
There’s so many issues here that we could write a 3,000-word column on what’s happening in Los Angeles. Even with Paul and Redick aboard the past several seasons, this team didn’t make it beyond the conference semifinals.
Are we really to believe that the new Clippers dynamic with the seven players they acquired in the Paul trade is better off than that roster? In reality, Los Angeles should have blown it up completely. That would have included firing Doc Rovers, trading Jordan and letting Griffin walk in free agency. Paying him north of $170 million is absurd. Doing so after two consecutive seasons in which he exited the playoffs early to injury makes even less sense. Congratulations, the Clippers are back to being the Clippers.