Making a push for the playoffs, instead of tanking, this season might be what makes the LA Clippers the most appealing landing spot in free agency this summer
Like many casual NBA fans, I figured when the Los Angeles Clippers traded Tobias Harris they were bowing out of the playoff race. After all, Harris seemed to be their co-best player (with Lou Williams) and – at the trade deadline — the Kings and Lakers looked like safe choices to overlap them to reach the playoffs.
Sure enough the Clippers are all but assured a playoff seed, unlike their early February rivals, they have future draft assets only matched by the Celtics, and Landry Shamet looks like a solid rotation piece on a ridiculously cheap four year contract.
Still, a lesser franchise might have begun tanking, even thought their only incentive to miss the playoffs was to keep their draft pick this year, which is lottery-protected this year and next year.
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A lesser franchise would’ve been excused for tanking, sneaking into the lottery, and keeping what would theoretically be a better player than would be able to obtain were they to give away their pick this year but keep it next year.
However, I for one don’t think there’s much difference between a draft pick in the High Teens and one in the mid-to-high 20s. At least not a profound enough difference to justify shortchanging your young core’s growth, or your free agency pitch.
By making the playoffs, the Clippers theoretically energize their fan base, remaining relevant on the national scene, for at least two weeks when the Lakers and Knicks, their top two free agency rivals, have gone fishing.
By overachieving last year and this year, Doc Rivers established – or maybe re-established – himself as a top-tier coach. That has to make the Clippers more appealing to potential free agent signees, – again, especially when viewed next to the Knicks and Lakers. Even if the Clippers get embarrassed in four games by the Warriors, by remaining relevant they proved that this is a winning culture.
Making the playoffs simply cannot hurt their free agency pitch, while holding onto a very late lottery pick would do very to help it. Kudos to the Clippers, for prioritizing winning and good basketball culture over ping pong balls in a not very deep draft.
Even if the Clippers don’t make a big free agency signing, they project be a fringe playoff team for the next few years. If Kevin Durant leaves Golden State and the Clippers sign one superstar free agent (especially him, or Kawhi Leonard) they are instantly a finals contender.
And if they sign two superstars, while keeping their young assets, cheap role players like Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Shamet, along with their winning culture, we might be looking at the next NBA Dynasty.