LA Clippers (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5) – Cancel The Wedding, The Game Is On
This series figures to intrigue not just potential second-round opponent (the Warriors, obviously not the Trial Blazers), but GMs and Coaches across the Association. Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Gordon Hayward all have player options after this year, and would be foolish not to sign max contracts. Griffin and Hayward will be eligible for the new Designated Players Exceptions worth over $200 million if they are named to one of the three All-NBA teams.
Hayward has never been out of the first round. The young Jazz appear on the up and up, but an embarrassing loss in this series would raise serious questions about his free agency. Likewise, Griffin has to be tired of losing in the first or second round, and playing for one of the most unbalanced teams in recent memory.
Even if the Clippers find a way to finally make it out of the second round, the futures of their superstars plus J.J. Redick would remain cloudy. If they are beaten in the first round by a team that hadn’t made the playoffs in five years, it’s as good as over.