The Chris Paul trade was essentially forced upon the Clippers. All indications are that Los Angeles was eager to re-sign both Paul and Blake Griffin in order to run back some version of its usual self in their perennially hopeless Western Conference chase.
The Clippers can still build around Blake Griffin
Los Angeles will have to convince Griffin to stick around. If the Clippers succeed, there’s still a chance to build a strong team with Griffin as the centerpiece.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
When CP3 became convinced he wanted to play with James Harden and the Rockets, the Clippers salvaged some pieces by agreeing to a trade instead of watching Paul walk for nothing. Now, they wait to see what Griffin decides to do.
Some, including our own Michael D. Sykes II, have argued that the Clippers should make a clean break from the Lob City era by letting Griffin walk. It’s true that as presently constructed the Clippers can’t hang with the Warriors, Rockets, or Spurs (L.A. couldn’t even beat Utah with Paul!) The idea is that the Clippers could keep their cap sheet clean going into 2018 and try to provide a soft landing spot for multiple superstars hoping to team up in a big market.
The problem is that this formula has only ever worked once in the luxury tax era: in Miami, where the Heat already had one of the superstars (Dwyane Wade) in tow. The Lakers and Knicks — far more prestigious franchises than the Clippers -- have tried this idea repeatedly since 2010 to no avail. The idea that the Clippers are going to serve as host to a Paul George/Russell Westbrook pairing or some incarnation of the LeBron James/Carmelo Anthony brotherhood is fantastical.
It could happen. But it’s a really bad bet.
Rebuilding is a bad bet, too. DeAndre Jordan has a player option for 2018-19 that he’ll likely decline, making him a rental from this point forward. Renting a $23 million center in this salary cap environment will be a tough sell for most teams.
L.A. otherwise has little in the way of intriguing young prospects beyond what the Clippers received in the CP3 trade in Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell. Veterans Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams, and Austin Rivers are on contracts that are inappropriate for rebuilding clubs. (Patrick Beverley, also acquired in the CP3 deal is the exception. He’s on a high-value steal of a contract, whether you trade or keep him.)
This is to say nothing of Doc Rivers, who has already ditched a franchise because he didn’t want to deal with a rebuild. If the Clippers lose Griffin too, will Doc be far behind?
The Clippers have known the hinterlands all too well, and that’s not a place they should return to willingly. Finding a way to remix the new core and compete for playoff berths while staying attractive to potential free agents is a better play.
Griffin is at the center of this.
Griffin played one season before Paul arrived in Los Angeles. In that season, he was the unanimous Rookie of the Year despite productive debuts from John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. That was a losing season for the Clippers -- L.A. was incredibly reckless with the ball, had only two decent shooters on the roster, and were terribly inconsistent on defense -- but Griffin showed immense promise. He fulfilled it once Paul arrived at the end of the 2011 NBA lockout.
Over time, Griffin became more than a spectacular dunker. He’s one of the best passing big men in the league, and he has a very strong overall floor game attacking from the high post. He’s reminiscent of Kings era Chris Webber in that he’s deadly in three ways from 20 feet, the best player on the floor most nights, and a true centerpiece with very specific needs around him.
The Clippers have some of those needs already filled. Jordan is an elite defender, rebounder, and finisher. Beverley is a clear downgrade from CP3, but he’s a lockdown defender, a strong low-mistake set-up man, and deadly on catch-and-shoot action. Because Beverley will use so many fewer possessions than Paul did, Griffin will have a bigger role. Odds are he’ll use them well.
Having Chris Paul would be better than not having Chris Paul. This is obvious. But as we saw with Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, losing a superstar teammate can inspire the one left behind to new heights. From this angle, the post-CP3 Clippers are better set up to support Griffin’s skills and needs than the post-Durant Thunder were set up to fill in around Westbrook. (In other words, the Thunder had no shooting, which is the primary need around Westbrook.)
The Thunder couldn’t legitimately tank once Durant left, and it’d be painful for the Clippers to try to do that, too. The wrinkle is that L.A. now must convince Griffin to stick around whereas Westbrook really had no choice. If Griffin decamps for Miami, Boston, or anywhere else, the Clippers will be in a bind.
Rivers, Steve Ballmer, and Jerry West can sell Griffin on a Clippers team built around not the CP3-Griffin pairing, but built around Griffin himself, with his friend Jordan a perfect co-star. They can sell Griffin on a roaring reputation-repairing MVP campaign where he runs the show and has a shot at vengeance.
Perhaps L.A. can have it both ways. Griffin could ink a three-year deal with a 2019 opt-out, which lets either side bail relatively soon if things go sideways. This would also allow Griffin to get to a 35 percent max deal sooner than if he signs a full 5-year deal. It depends on how much salary security means to Griffin vs. salary maximization.
The Clippers are in a worse place on Thursday than they were on Tuesday. But this can be salvaged. The Clippers can still be the best team in L.A. for years to come. It’s just going to have a lower ceiling for now, and a different centerpiece.
That is, if Blake Griffin wants to stick around.
