NBA Free Agency: 4 fun fits that we need to see this summer
By Mason McFee
I Shoot My Shot Like Jordan
“WHAT’D YOU SAY ABOUT MY BOY CHRIS?” – Doc Rivers, supposedly.
I can’t take credit for this first trade idea, so I have to give credit where credit is due:
"2. Trade DeAndre Jordan to Milwaukee for Greg Monroe’s expiring contract and a top-four-protected first-round pick. Doesn’t the Freak need an elite rebounder/shot blocker/rim protector/head of handshakes/someone who can get any pretty celebrity on a text in three minutes? The Bucks would be crazy not to do this. DeAndre, Freak, Jabari, Middleton, and Brogdon? With Thon Maker as the grizzled old veteran off the bench? – Bill Simmons, The Ringer, “An 11-Step Guide to Saving the Clippers”"
Love or hate Bill Simmons, this is a super fun idea. Giannis already runs the point half the time (his usage rate last season was 28.3 percent if you want to get technical), but can you imagine? Even if Jabari doesn’t come back full strength, he doesn’t necessarily need to be if Jordan is manning the paint.
He can stretch the floor a bit more to protect his knees from banging down in the paint as Middleton and Brogdon run countless screens and cut towards the basket to create lob opportunities for Giannis and Jordan. Milwaukee could be brewing something hoppy.
If you’re the Logo or Doc, why would you do this? Well, it’s nice that their top priority is re-signing Blake, if he’s meeting with the Suns the first day of free agency does that really indicate he’s interested in returning? (Translation: he gone) Fortunately for them, CP3 left them quite a few parting gifts.
As of right, this is how I project the Clippers starting 5 and primary bench unit:
- Beverley-Rivers-Dekker-Harrell-Monroe
- Williams-Crawford-Johnson-Johnson-Stone
Not great, but not terrible either.
Now, stay with me – let’s say that Jordan does end up in Milwaukee. While I love Brogdon’s game and perfectly fits Kidd’s system, why not keep swinging for the fences? Or rather, the Hill?