NBA Rumors: Doc Rivers Wants To Bring Back Clippers’ Core
NBA Rumors: Doc Rivers wants to bring back Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick in order to keep the LA Clippers’ core together
Many perceive this playoff run as do-or-die for the LA Clippers. With three of their core four (Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick) hitting the unrestricted free agency, an early playoff exit could be the final nail in this core’s coffin.
After failing to make the Western Conference Finals in each of their last five tries – six, if they lose before the third round again this season – bringing back the same core beyond this season could be viewed as insanity behavior.
If the Clippers haven’t gotten the job done in six tries, what makes the front office believe that something will be different in years seven and eight – when the West is arguably better.
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However, if team president and head coach Doc Rivers has it his way, the core of the Clippers will be back next season.
"[via USA Today]“Let’s say we don’t win this year — which I think we will, (but) let’s say we don’t. Do you give up on a 50-win team that has proven that they’re really close (to winning it all), or do you hang in there and keep trying to maybe make changes around (the core)?“I always use Utah as a great (example). Thank God Karl Malone and (John) Stockton didn’t listen to people, you know what I mean? They fell (in the playoffs), and kept trying and kept trying. And finally, late in their careers, they finally broke through to the Finals. They didn’t win it (all). But you know, that’s the pursuit. I just think it’s so easy to (say), ‘Hey, they should break up,’ from the outside. And I think that’s such an easy opinion.”"
Rivers, to a certain extent, may have a point. Although, if the Clippers do bring back their core it will cost them.
According to USA Today, bringing back Griffin, Paul and Redick could cost LA somewhere along the lines of $196 million, which includes a $56 million luxury tax bill.
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Would all that money be justified for a team that has failed to make the Conference Finals in their six years together?