Los Angeles Clippers Stand Idly By At Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Clippers tried to make a trade, but with nothing to work with, and Doc Rivers‘ reluctance to make a big move, nothing materialized before Thursday’s deadline.

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Rivers instead had been hoping to shop the buyout market, where veteran players on bad teams would ask for their release in order to play for a contender.

However, the Clippers courted Amar’e Stoudemire, but ultimate failed as he chose the rival Dallas Mavericks instead. Kevin Garnett was rumored to be available as well, but instead he accepted a trade to his old team in the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Even Tayshaun Prince, who was somewhere around the 35th option for the Clippers, wound up a Detroit Piston.

So even though the Clippers started off the second half of the season with a rousing victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, you still have to wonder if this team missed its opportunity to be a true contender.

Blake Griffin is still out at least a few weeks due to the emergency surgery to remove a staph infection. Spencer Hawes is not the answer, as in the game against San Antonio, Hawes played 33 minutes and scored only seven points and collected four rebounds. He was also a team worst minus-12 in plus/minus.

Even a small move to acquire a capable backup at the 4 would have been a boost to this team. Instead, Rivers did nothing, missed out on the lone buyout opportunity with Stoudemire, and now faces the reality that there are no reinforcements coming for this team.

The Clippers will be riding into the playoffs with the same players on the roster right now. Even worse, this summer is now turning into an interesting scenario. DeAndre Jordan will be looking for a max deal, and that kind of money will put the Clippers squarely into the luxury tax yet again.

If Los Angeles flames out in the playoffs this year, will Steve Ballmer, as wealthy as he is, be willing to shell out big bucks for a mediocre team with no real shot at the title?

Will Rivers the personnel man take the blame for Rivers the coach? Will Rivers use the Blake Griffin injury as an excuse? How will he justify using the few trade bullets he had to bring in his son, a failed lottery pick with abysmal statistics?

While the Clippers will almost assuredly make the playoffs, and maybe even put a scare into a contender in the second round, no one really thinks of them as true title contenders anymore.

It is also hard to imagine that changing as Paul gets one year older and any salary wiggle room the team has going straight into the pockets of Jordan.

Rivers backed this team into a corner over the summer with the acquisition of Hawes, and when that did not work out, this team was destined to fail.

No team was interested in any of the Clippers role players, and the additions of Dahntay Jones and Austin Rivers were not the missing pieces to push this team over the top.

Rivers has failed in his role as general manager, and unless a miracle comes this summer, Los Angeles is not winning a title anytime soon, despite having two all star starters and being in what should be the most desirable market for NBA stars.

Their cross-town rival is floundering, and what should be a golden age for the Clippers is looking more and more disappointing each day. The easy scapegoat in Donald Sterling is gone.

If the Los Angeles Clippers fail to make the NBA Finals in the Blake Griffin era, the blame will fall squarely on the shoulders of Doc Rivers.

Next: Los Angeles Clippers: Their Own Worst Enemies

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