After losing Game 5 at home to the Jazz on Tuesday night, the Clippers will head to Utah down 3-2, on the brink of elimination. And as soon as they’re bounced from the postseason, which could happen as early as Friday, the Clips will face some potentially franchise-altering decisions, as Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical outlines. According to Wojnarowski, it’s not “realistic” to believe that the Clippers will bring all their key free agents back and go deeper into the luxury tax if they’re ousted in the first round on the heels of another Blake Griffin injury.
While there may be some roster changes coming in Los Angeles, the Clippers are very unlikely to undergo any sort of front office upheaval, per Wojnarowski, who says that Doc Rivers isn’t leaving the club. Rivers has owner Steve Ballmer‘s trust and confidence, and the Clippers like their current front office structure, which includes Lawrence Frank in an executive VP of basketball operations role, Wojnarowski writes.
Still, the Clippers’ brain trust will have a lot to think about if the team’s season comes to an end this weekend. Here’s more on the franchise:
- Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times breaks down several scenarios for the Clippers’ offseason, suggesting it would be “stunning” if the team were to bring back its entire core after another early postseason exit. In Plaschke’s view, the most likely scenario involves retooling the team around Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, with Griffin and J.J. Redick heading elsewhere.
- A past roster decision is coming back to haunt Rivers and the Clippers in this year’s postseason, according to James Blancarte of Basketball Insiders, who details the team’s decision to waive Joe Ingles in 2014. The Australian forward caught on with the Jazz shortly after being cut by L.A., and is playing a key role for Utah in these playoffs.
- Before he signed with the Celtics last summer, Gerald Green appeared to be on the verge of signing with the Clippers, reports Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Sources tell Deveney that the Clips believed they had Green locked up before he ultimately landed with Boston. Green likely wouldn’t have been a postseason difference-maker for Los Angeles, but he did have a big game for the Celtics on Sunday, when he poured in 18 points in Game 4.
I don’t think Doc Rivers has done very well with the Clips. He hasn’t been horrible, but he hasn’t been great either. Overvaluing his players and not really making the most of his playoff chances with incremental upgrades.
Rivers can’t even pronounce correctly the name of the player that’s kicking his teams backside.
I’ve never liked doc. always thought he was overrated. got fired by magic, had horrible years with Boston, got kg and Allen, won ONE ring, and is still working off that one ring
I agree with you on Rivers. Tom Thibodeau was the reason Boston won their championship.
You cant win a ring with Moute as your SF specially now with the Warriors around for the next 4-5 yeara. They are better off trading Blake to NY for Melo straight up and start giving Brice Johnson minutes at the 4 or pick up Mirotic in free agency.
Can’t trade griffin to ny
Rivers needs to concentrate on the front office or coaching, he clearly can’t do a good job at both concurrently.