Los Angeles Clippers: The 2018 NBA offseason summary and recap
Looking back at what the Los Angeles Clippers did right and wrong during the 2018 NBA offseason, including free agency and the draft
After trading Blake Griffin away at last year’s NBA Trade Deadline, the Los Angeles Clippers went from being a team that was looking to make some noise in the NBA Playoffs to a team that was on the road to rebuilding.
The Clippers ended the season with two picks in the 2018 NBA Draft lottery and a bunch of pieces to pick up in the process. In the end, the Clippers did well in moving Griffin and retaining Avery Bradley via free agency and adding Marcin Gortat (via trade) and Luc Mbah a Moute (via free agency).
They added small pieces that will certainly make an impact this summer.
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During the draft, with the No. 11 and 13 picks, the Clippers added Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson, two interesting guards that could have an immediate impact for the team this season. SGA is also getting some early buzz for a potential NBA Rookie of the Year sleeper candidate.
Despite all their young talent, the Clippers will still likely be closer to the bottom of the Western Conference than the top. Especially now that LeBron James resides in the West, it’s going to be even tougher for this team to make a real push towards the playoffs.
The Clippers are likely a year or two – or a Kawhi Leonard trade, or signing (next summer) – away from really making a return to the playoffs. They have talent, but the Western Conference is simply too competitive right now. If the Clippers were in the Eastern Conference, this article would likely have a different tone.
But they’re not.
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The Los Angeles Clippers could be an interesting team to watch this season, but to expect them to make the playoffs would be unfair. They’re talented and could make some noise in the near future, but not this season.