NBA Rumors: Clippers Core Could Be On The Trade Block Soon

NBA Rumors: Doc Rivers hints that this could be the last hurray for the Clippers core of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in Los Angeles

After what felt like a successful regular season and playoffs last year, somehow it still all felt like a disappointment for the Los Angeles Clippers.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

When they arrived in the playoffs, almost no one was giving Doc Rivers‘ group a chance against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. They were dealt a bad hand. It just wasn’t their year – again.

However, as quickly as they were counted out, they turned the narritive. The Clippers went off to beat the Spurs in seven games. Everyone that said it just wasn’t their year, quickly turned that take into “this could actually be their year.”

Most believed that the Clippers would beat the Rockets in the second round, and their 3-1 series lead after Game 4 strongly echoed that point. Instead, Los Angeles went on to blow the 3-1 lead and fall to the Rockets in seven games.

Once again, after all the good that they had built, it was all for nothing. And Rivers knows that they can only get so many cracks at this winning an NBA Championship thing. And the Clippers might’ve already burned theirs.

According to Rivers, the core of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan will likely get one more shot, before potentially blowing things up in Los Angeles if they fall short again.

"[via Grantland]The Clippers have had three cracks at it with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan all in their primes, and they’re not afraid to admit the fourth could be their last — that another flameout will force them to ask whether the core has grown stale.“We’re right on the borderline,” Doc Rivers tells Grantland during a long sit-down at his office. “I have no problem saying that. I’m a believer that teams can get stale. After a while, you don’t win. It just doesn’t work. We’re right at the edge. Oklahoma City is on the edge. Memphis, too. We just have to accept it.”"

If nothing else, this is quite interesting. Will Rivers give the Clippers the entire season? Probably. But what if they get off to a really rocky start, something like a 10-15 record to open the year? What happens then?