Media Day has arrived and training camp begins on Tuesday. The Clippers’ 2018-19 season is officially under way.
Unless the Clippers swing a trade for Jimmy Butler this week, here are the 10 most interesting storylines during camp and preseason — most of which were discussed with general manager Lawrence Frank and head coach Doc Rivers over breakfast at the Clippers’ training facility last week.
Advertisement
1. How does the backcourt glut play out?
Scan the Clippers roster and you’ll notice an obvious imbalance: Over half the roster comprises guards. And while the frontcourt has its own questions, the backcourt rotation remains a mystery that will be decided in training camp and preseason.
“I’m going to try to stay open-minded,” Rivers said of the backcourt battle for minutes. “I always do. I love the ‘best man wins’ concept.”
On paper, Avery Bradley and Patrick Beverley make sense as the two starting guards — and form arguably the best defensive backcourt in the league. After that, Lou Williams will command his usual 26 to 28 minutes per night. But who plays beyond that — Milos Teodosic? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Jerome Robinson? Sindarius Thornwell? — remains to be seen.
“Obviously you go in with some thoughts,” Rivers said. “Avery and Pat in the backcourt. But that can change. It depends on how camp and preseason goes, and you’re going to watch. But we do have a lot of guards.”
Rivers believes that the Clippers’ guard-heavy roster is a strength with the way modern basketball has shifted to better spacing and perimeter play. “That’s a good thing,” he said. “The tough part is that some point you are going to create a rotation. For some that will be really good and for some that won’t be so good. But I like the fact that it’s a guard-driven league right now. The more skilled, the better.”
2. Are the young guys ready to contribute?
For the first time since 2010, the Clippers have lottery-pick rookies on their roster — and not just one, but two. The franchise is investing heavily in Gilgeous-Alexander and Robinson, and Gigeous-Alexander has already accumulated buzz after his standout performance in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Perhaps the most intriguing hypothetical for Clippers fans in training camp is whether Gilgeous-Alexander can crack the regular-season rotation. He is behind Beverley in the depth chart and might even be behind Teodosic, too. Williams is guaranteed minutes at backup shooting guard, so Gilgeous-Alexander might have to play out of position at the 3 in three-guard lineups at times.
Advertisement
Robinson is the victim of a crowded depth chart, as it’s hard to see him earning minutes over Harris, Bradley, Williams or Luc Mbah a Moute at the 2 or the 3. Still, he projects as a good-to-elite shooter, and if he can score efficiently in his limited opportunities, he may be able to carve out a bigger role.
Ultimately, the deciding factor will likely be the Clippers’ playoff odds. How long they remain in the postseason hunt will have a say in how much the two rookies play. If the Clippers are out of the playoff picture by January or February (unlikely, but you never know), expect to see more of Gilgeous-Alexander and Robinson.
3. The dawning of a new era: Clamp City?
When the Clippers signed Mbah a Moute this summer, they solidified one of the best defensive perimeter trios in the league.
“Defensively, you look at our team, if you’re up one at the end of a game and you throw Avery [Bradley], Luc [Mbah a Moute] and Pat [Beverley] on the floor, you’re thinking like, ‘Good luck scoring on that group,’ ” Rivers said. “But you don’t know how that all is going to fit still. I can’t wait. Having a healthy team, and staying healthy is the key.”
The prospect of teaming Mbah a Moute, Bradley and Beverley together has spawned Lob City’s evolution: Clamp City. Beverely has fully embraced the moniker on Twitter.
RT RT RT July 10, 2018
The key for all three players will be the offensive end, as each is somewhat limited on that side of the floor. Can they shoot well enough to keep defenses honest? Can they attack off the dribble and make opponents pay occasionally? Their ability to play effective two-way basketball will help make up for the defensive limitations of the Clippers’ three primary offensive options (Tobias Harris, Danilo Gallinari and Williams).
Advertisement
Even though he might have the best defensive reputation of the three, Bradley is still not given the credit he deserves on that end, according to Rivers. “I think Avery is still underrated defensively,” Rivers said. “He’s as lockdown of a defender as you have in the league.”
Outside of these three, though, who else will play above-average defense? There are no other lockdown defenders on the roster besides Thornwell (who might not play that much), and thus the nickname might be put on hold until the team’s true defensive identity reveals itself.
4. Does Gallinari have a bounce-back season? And what does that mean?
There’s no way around it: Gallinari was disappointing last season. He shot a career-low 39.8 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from deep. He lacked explosion and wasn’t in good shape. After having back-to-back career years following a compromised year due to ACL surgery, Gallinari regressed to his initial post-injury form.
“I think he was disappointed with all of the injuries last year,” Frank said. “You see someone who is very determined on the things he can control. Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. He has had great focus. Doc has spent a lot of time with him. Our coaches went to visit with him and work with him for around 10 days in Italy. He came back early. Our guys really see how determined and focused he is. He’s extremely skilled and talented.”
At this point, there have to be legitimate concerns about Gallinari’s season-long health. He’s missed at least 19 games in five of the past six seasons, and he missed 29 or more games in half of those seasons. You can basically pencil him in to miss at least 20 to 25 games each season, and that’s a problem when you’re being paid over $44 million over the next two seasons and not producing near that level when healthy.
But after resting and recovering this offseason, Gallinari won MVP of the NBA Africa Game last month, and, according to Rivers, he’s looking great in workouts.
“Gal looks amazing,” Rivers said. “It’s the best Gal I’ve seen. He’s in the best shape. When you watch the players on the floor, he’s dominating games. He has a great spirit right now.”
Advertisement
Gallinari’s health and production loom over the Clippers’ season. If he can stay healthy and play up to his contract, the Clippers might be able to trade him later in the season or next summer. At the very least, he’ll be worth his contract and help the team’s playoff chances. If he gets injured again or doesn’t return to his Nuggets-level play, Gallinari could serve as the anchor that prevents them from adding the necessary depth and pieces around any stars they bring in next summer.
5. Who starts at center?
As I wrote earlier in the summer, the Clippers will likely only have one starting position battle: Marcin Gortat vs. Montrezl Harrell. There are arguments to be made in favor of each of them.
Harrell is a decade younger and statistically the better player — especially offensively — right now. But traditional big men tend to have less value off the bench — Gortat would probably be more effective as a starter. Harrell’s relentless energy is infectious and sparked one of the league’s better bench units last season. It wouldn’t be surprising if Rivers kept him in a reserve role but let him close games.
Rivers hasn’t made up his mind yet. “No,” Rivers said. “We’ll let that dictate itself.”
With regards to what he’s looking for to determine the position, Rivers wouldn’t break down the dynamic between the two big men, but clarified that he thinks the starter debate is pointless.
“I don’t know. Because sometimes, the whole starter thing is to me a little overblown,” Rivers said. “Who starts doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a top-five player. It means that they fit that rotation. Maybe you want someone off the bench that brings you more energy. The starting lineup for me has never been a big deal. But it is a big deal for players, and I do get that. But I’m more concerned with who is going to finish than who is going to start. And that’s what we’re going to find out.”
6. Managing egos and minutes
The Clippers have one of the deepest rosters in the league. There are as many as 13 players that reasonably expect to be a part of their rotation. They don’t have the top-end talent of the better teams in the league, but they will compensate with depth and the ability to withstand injuries and play multiple styles.
Advertisement
But with half their rotation on expiring contracts — and likely available for trades at some point during the season — it can be difficult to manage expectations and ego when it comes to roles and playing time. Players aren’t just playing for this season; they’re also playing for their next contract and, in certain cases, the rest of their careers.
For Rivers, managing egos and minutes of such a potentially short-term roster will be his biggest challenge of the season. It’ll be fascinating to see how he juggles what’s best for the team vs. what’s best for his players.
“That’s the hard part,” Rivers said. “That really is. What the key is, for any free agent, is success. But where I think they struggle, a lot of free agents in their last year, is they think about individual success. And it’s really more about team success and if you’re a part of that. I think that’s what we have to get them to buy into. And just because they’re a free agent, that doesn’t mean they’re a free agent to leave. They could be a free agent to be a part of this for the rest of their careers. We want to show them that as well.
“But it’s about winning and playing together and showing you can function with a team for all of them. Unless you’re a one-percenter, where no one cares if you win or lose, we still want you. Everyone else has to prove that they can win and fit in. That has to be our group.”
Rivers likened this group’s character and identity to the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons. He clarified he doesn’t necessarily view this roster as a championship roster — he admitted he doesn’t know what realistic expectations are yet — but he thinks the Clippers are deep and defensive-minded.
7. Redefining Lou’s role
Heading into his 14th season, Williams is coming off averaging a career-best 22.6 points and 5.3 assists and almost making the Western Conference All-Star team. It’s unrealistic to expect similar production if the Clippers are healthy and Harris takes another step offensively, but Rivers is optimistic that Williams can be just as effective this season.
“He had a special year. And we expect him to do that this year, but with more energy,” Rivers said. “We asked Lou to do far more than we should have asked, and Lou never complained. Not only that, but Lou was a great teammate last year.”
Advertisement
Williams’ locker-room leadership was a common theme among teammates last season; Rivers believes it didn’t get the attention it deserves from the media.
“I think we hear about Lou as a scorer and all that, but I don’t think you hear enough about him as a teammate and a truth-teller,” Rivers said. “That’s to me what stood out most about Lou — more than his play, just his words. Especially in the stretch when we were really struggling. I thought that was his most important time. He spoke up and said the truth in the locker room.”
If Williams can pick up where he left off last season, or at least close to it, and the Clippers’ bench remains healthy, they will be one of the best second units in the NBA.
8. Closing time
Rivers suggested he envisions Mbah a Moute, Beverley and Bradley closing games because of their defensive acumen and switchability. The logical follow-up question: Who closes games alongside them?
“What we have to find is the other two,” Rivers said. “Who else is on the floor with them at the end of a game?”
If those three are the favorites, that means at least one of Harris, Gallinari and Williams will be on the bench — and probably not happy about it. That also means the team will be playing without a traditional big man.
Realistically, Harris and Williams will be out there as the team’s offensive closers, and Mbah a Moute as the team’s defensive closer against star-level wings. That leaves two spots open, one that will likely be filled by Bradley or Beverley, and the other with Gallinari or Harrell. My prediction: Harrell, Harris, Mbah a Moute, Bradley, Williams, with Gallinari sometimes replacing Harrell if the opponent is playing small ball.
“When you have the ability to close games, you win games. When you don’t have the ability to close games, you’re in a lot of games. … That will be our thing this year,” Rivers said. “Defensively, I know we can close. Like I’m positive. Offensively, we’ll find out if we can close. If we can do that, then we’re going to be really good.”
Advertisement
9. Who gets cut and/or traded?
The Clippers currently have 17 players under contract; the league maximum is 15 players. Somehow, some way, they will have to cut, waive or trade at least two players.
As previously laid out, the most logical casualty is Jawun Evans. He’s buried on the depth chart as the fourth-string point guard — maybe even fifth or sixth behind Williams and Ty Wallace — and struggled in summer league, which is never a good sign for a second-year player.
After that, though, it’s difficult to discern what the Clippers are going to do. This is why retaining Wallace, while a good move in a vacuum, was a little confusing. If he doesn’t fit the roster, they can still cut him before the season for only $300,000, per a league source. If he does, the Clippers have to either eat more money by waiving a player or potentially attach an asset to dump one.
The next-most logical candidate would be Wes Johnson, as between Mbah a Moute and Mike Scott, he appears squeezed out of the frontcourt rotation. The Clippers now also have Gilgeous-Alexander, Thornwell and Robinson to log minutes at the 3. Johnson is making $6.1 million next season, which is probably too much to waive. The more likely scenario is he’s moved to a fringe playoff team that needs help on the wing.
We also can’t rule out an extra Clipper being shipped out in a potential Butler trade.
10. How good is this team?
When asked what specifically he’s looking for in training camp, Rivers took a macro view on how the roster fits together and which players are worth keeping around — both for this season and possibly beyond.
“Can we function together?” Rivers said. “Who fits, not only the team, but in the future? Who fits us in the long run? We’re going to find out a lot about some of our young guys, too, and I think that’s very important. So there’s a lot going into the year that we don’t know that we need to know.”
Advertisement
The Clippers are at least two deep at each position. They have a little bit of everything in their rotation, with the ability to play big, small, in transition, in the half court, in a shootout or in a slugfest. But just how good are they really? Predictions for the team range from a No. 7 or No. 8 seed to 12th or 13th in the West. Health is an unknown variable — with this roster more so than normal rosters. We don’t know how the pieces fit on either end. There is no real sample size for most of this group.
The Clippers have perhaps the most variance of any team in the league.
“I do think we’ll find out a lot about our guys in the next couple of weeks,” Rivers said.
Top photo of Doc Rivers by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images