Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are in a weird spot. They have enough talent to try and make the playoffs and they certainly have a shot to do that but this is not a team that can win against an upper echelon team in the Western Conference. Winning a game would be a shock, winning a series would be virtually impossible. That likely won’t stop the front office from trying, they may not have a choice.
DeAndre Jordan would be wise to opt into the last year of his contract and collect the $24 million that very few other teams could or would offer him. Assuming he’ll be back they will have no cap space to work with.
The opening day roster could end up looking very similar to the one they trotted out after the Blake Griffin trade, except the additions of rookies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson. Who may have a hard time cracking the rotation with Lou Williams, Pat Beverly and Juwan Evans still on the roster let alone Milos Teodosic if he decides to opt-in, which he likely will. They did free up some guard minutes with the Austin Rivers/Marcin Gortat swap but they will still be hard to come by for the rookies. It might be time for a rebuild but the Clippers will probably rewind.
Verdict: Rebuild