They took in risk in latching onto Paul without any long term guarantees and that, by all accounts, is going well. The current Clippers are living proof of that. Simply put, sometimes you have to take risks. I mean, it’s not as if they’d be breaking up a long time winner like the Spurs here.
Truth be told, however, this team hasn’t proven it can win in the postseason either. Normally, I’m against tinkering with a winning formula. Plus, the Grizzlies are contenders themselves. Not only are these guys thus expendable, but Memphis might actually be able to provide them with more important roles. Which means this is a deal, provided the price is right, that Los Angeles has to pull the trigger on, even though its already winning at an incredible piece.īutler isn’t doing much of anything on either side of the ball anymore and, in Bledsoe, the Clippers have a young asset who they will never utilize to the fullest extent of his potential. So while the Clippers may be worried about Gay’s efficiency, Butler shoots nearly the exact same percentage from the field. Moreover, the 32-year-old Butler is scoring just 9.9 points on 41.7 percent shooting, production that pales in comparison to the 26-year-old Gay’s 17.8 and 41.6, respectively. The Grizzlies allow 99.8 points per 100 possessions with him on the court compared to the 105.7 the Clippers currently allow with Butler in the lineup. Remember, Gay is an understated defender. Knowing that the Clippers have a surplus of depth in the backcourt and could put together a package around guys like Bledsoe and Butler, only heightens the intrigue around a potential Gay deal. Hill is constantly injured and Barnes-while improving-remains inconsistent. That said, while guys like Barnes, Hill and Butler are all capable small forwards, neither provides the athletic punch Los Angeles boasts at every other position.
Toss in the ever versatile Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Caron Butler and Lamar Odom, and this team has it made. The Clippers are also more than set in the backcourt with Paul, Jamal Crawford, Willie Green, Eric Bledsoe and Chauncey Billups upon his return. This team is set in the post with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and even Ronny Turiaf. Los Angeles’ weakest point is obviously the small forward spot. Why on earth would they want to screw that up? The Clippers are one of two teams (San Antonio Spurs) that sit in the top five of both defensive and offensive efficiency. On the one hand, this team doesn’t want to mess with a good thing. Albeit, neither is his career-worst 41.4 percent shooting. I mean his 17.8 points per game are no joke.
Yes, Gay is expensive-he’s owed more than $53 million over the next three seasons-but he’s a borderline star. Instead, this is a Clippers team, backed by a suddenly frivolous owner in Donald Sterling, that is prepared to do whatever it takes to win and retain the free-agent-to-be in Paul this summer.Īt this point, it’s hard to imagine Paul spurning Los Angeles’ red-jerseyed stepchild in favor of anyone else, yet that hasn’t stopped the Clippers from exploring every possible scenario that could better their current convocation, including the pursuit of Gay. This isn’t the same Clippers team that willingly heaved a pile of money at Elton Brand or Baron Davis. The Clippers, I’m told, would consider Gay but are also justifiably wary of doing anything to affect the chemistry that has played such a big part in their season.
It’s clear they are on the lookout for an upgrade over reserve point guard Jerryd Bayless, and Butler would fill Gay’s small forward spot – albeit not nearly as well. 21 deadline, a package involving Clippers backup point guard Eric Bledsoe and veteran small forward Caron Butler, picks and other players to make the money work could be just what the Grizzlies are looking for (three teams may need to be involved). While it remains unclear how determined the Memphis Grizzlies and their new management group are to move their star small forward before the Feb. But while such success would normally dictate that a team not do a damn thing to disrupt their chemistry in any way, Los Angeles may not be prepared to abide by such a notion.Īccording to Sam Amick of USA Today the Clippers remain a viable landing spot for the aggressively shopped Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies: But should they try to make it even better?Ĭurrently, the Chris Paul-led Clippers have the second-best record in the NBA, trailing only the seemingly unbeatable Oklahoma City Thunder. If it’s not broke, the Los Angeles Clippers shouldn’t try to fix it.