The LA Clippers have failed to address the biggest need
The one major move the LA Clippers desperately needed to make during the offseason, in acquiring a ball distributing, offense manufacturing point guard, still has not happened and at this point probably won’t.
The Clippers were also looking to get bigger in the frontcourt, which they did manage to accomplish by signing free-agent 7-footer Serge Ibaka away from the Toronto Raptors. This signing reunites Ibaka with Kawhi Leonard, who together helped the Raptors win their first-ever NBA championship during the 2018-19 campaign.
Ibaka’s signing comes after the surprising departure of, the Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell walked down the hall in favor of a two-year deal with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. While the Clippers will miss Harrell’s offensive production and rebounding, Ibaka is an upgrade at the center position as far as being a rim protector and overall, defensively.
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Ibaka stretches the floor from the center position as he shot 38.5 percent from 3-point territory last season. In all honesty, the Clippers picking up Ibaka just seems to fit, especially since he and Leonard appear to be close going back to their one season together in Toronto.
But the biggest move the Clippers must make before the season starts on December 22 is that of a point guard. Not just any point guard, but one who can lead a team and be that floor general that this team was missing in the Orlando bubble. Leonard has shown that he is not a vocal leader and probably never will be.
Paul George proved in the playoffs that he does not have what it takes to lead, although he did attempt to, but had his efforts rejected by certain teammates. As well respected as new head coach Tyronn Lue is around the league and within the Clippers organization, the head coach can’t be the leader on the floor no matter how much credence his voice invokes on the sideline.
The rumored reunion of Chris Paul and the Clippers isn’t happening as Paul is the new point guard for the Phoenix Suns. That would have been a tough deal for the Clippers to figure out with very few assets remaining after the trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder last offseason that landed George in LA.
Rajon Rondo had been floated around as a potential option for the Clippers, but he opted for what will likely be his last big NBA payday when he signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
Another option for the Clippers, but less likely, is Terry Rozier of the Charlotte Hornets. With the Hornets drafting LaMelo Ball third overall in last week’s draft, some feel the Hornets may be willing to part ways with Rozier, handing the reins and the franchise’s future over to Ball. This trade may still be a longshot due to Hornets’ owner Michael Jordan being a fan of Roziers’ game.
As it stands now the Clippers look to be heading into the 2020-21 season with Patrick Beverley as their starting point guard, with Lou Williams off the bench as more of a combo scoring guard. There have been whispers of Williams being potentially shipped out of town but as of now there doesn’t seem to be a ton of trade interest in “Sweet Lou” at age 34 and coming off a not-so-stellar playoff performance in Orlando.
With less than a month until the 20-21 season tips off, the Clippers have very little time to figure this out, to get that impact player to LA, that can help lead this highly talented squad to a birth in the western conference finals and beyond for the first time in franchise history.