2018-19 Finish: 60-22

 

Season Highlight:

The Clippers reigned the West all season, never handing over the top spot and went all the way to the Finals. All this despite losing their best player to injury halfway through, and suffering a handful of annoying injuries to key players additionally to Oladipo along the way too. Their resilience and continued strong play was the highlight, even overturning a 2-3 deficit in the Western Conference Finals to claw their way to the final showdown. It was a credit to all involved.

 

Season Lowlight:

The lowlight of the season had to be the final kick in the guts GM Andrew received when Oladipo went down. He’d been having struggles already, overcoming adversity and dealing with various off court issues too, only to find he now had the worst of on court problems to overcome also. This was the low point, nearly giving up and going back to the “next season” stance, but like the Phoenix…

 

Best Trade:

Clippers send: Dennis Smith Jnr and Boston 1^st Round Pick
Clippers get: Jaylen Brown

The Clippers only made 2 trades all year, but they are easy to differentiate and this one is the winner. Smith was showing he was no longer the future of the NBA Mavs and may not be the saviour he was once viewed as, and Brown looks every bit on the rise with a very clear long NBA career ahead with a high ceiling. He also fit the team better, too.

 

Worst Trade:

Clippers send: Nikola Mirotic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Clippers get: Reggie Jackson, Wayne Selden Jnr. and Detroit 2^nd Round Pick

This at the time looked like a bit of a head scratcher, despite both his players being on expiring deals and only a 50/50 chance to return, let alone for what price. But it was definitely a trade of need, with Jackson playing key minutes particularly with injuries hitting. In hindsight, now Mirotic is back in Europe, he cashed in solidly for just a chance at KCP returning.

 

Other Notable Trades:

No other trades.

 

Free Agency:

The Clippers are pretty much entirely locked up. Their kids are either locked up for years or still sitting on their rookie deals, key FAs are Restricted and only role players are coming into unrestricted free agency.

DRuss – QO extended, RFA. Staying.

Wayne Selden Jnr. – QO extended, RFA. Staying.

Thad Young – UFA. Chances are slim on retaining here so he’ll be renounced to release the cap hit. He won’t be back.

Jason Smith – UFA. He still got a gig as a sweet shooting big, but he’s old and a journeyman, he’ll be renounced and not returning too.

Troy Caupain – 2way RFA. He was available for a QO, but was decided to be renounced instead. He’ll try latch on elsewhere.

 

Star:

D’Angelo Russell

In the face of adversity, DRuss was the man to step up. He started the season in a little limbo, looking like he might get squeezed to the bench even. On the chopping block, could he actually make it? But he finished up playing all 82 games, starting 73 of them which was a major key when you look at: Dipo, 34 games. Booker, 57 games. Capela, 66 games. Collins, 68 games and even Jaylen Brown, 74 games. He was 2^nd in scoring at 19.8 points, but lead assists with 5.5, 2^nd in blocks, 3^rd for steals and led the team with a +6.5. DRuss was the reason their ship stayed on course.

 

Goat:

It’s hard to pick a goat out of the season that was, but taking injuries out of the equation, you’d have to point to the lack of growth of one that was expected to take a step, OG Anunoby. The clock is on guys like OG because he was highly touted but dropped because of injury in the draft. His 1^st year was always expected to be a white wash, but you’d like to see a step. It hasn’t come yet. But he’ll have all the chance in year 3. Go get it.

 

Draft Grades:

Pick #26 – Mfiondu Kabengele

B+ Grade

Can’t fault the pick. Solid upside, despite his age of 22, or at the least a role player to cover multiple big man positions in a team already brimming with talent. The potential for more makes him intriguing though. Went at about the same spot in the sister league and will fill about the same role there, too.

 

The Future:

As always with the Clippers, the future is shining like a beacon. The oldest guy on the roster is a reinvigorated Reggie Jackson at only 29, then you go to 27 for their stud in Dipo and everyone else is below 25 and locked up long term or becoming RFA. They were top this year with big injuries, so what’s to stop them remaining there this coming season with a clean bill of health?