Hoops Habit
Fansided

Potential Solutions To The Clippers’ Dilemma At Center

By Michael Manning

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) looks up during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 113-100 to win the series 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) looks up during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 113-100 to win the series 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

NBA free agency can be cruel to fans and teams alike. The Los Angeles Clippers learned that painful lesson after star center DeAndre Jordan rejected a max offer from the team he spent his entire NBA career with to join the Dallas Mavericks.

ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time

Jordan, who finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in the 2014-15 season, is going to be extremely difficult to replace. Jordan has led the Clippers in blocks since the 2010-2011 season and in rebounds since 13-14 season. Having a shot blocker like Jordan allows Chris Paul to gamble for steals without worrying about giving up an easy layup. Jordan also covers for  weaker defenders such as Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford.

What makes Jordan’s departure sting even more is that the Clippers have little to no depth at center. As it stands, Big Baby Glen Davis and Ekpe Udoh are the only centers remaining on the Clippers roster. But luckily for Doc Rivers and the Clippers, there are some very capable bigs remaining in the free agent ranks.

David West

Apr 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

David West recently announced that he plans to leave the Indiana Pacers. He gave this reason for his departure, “At this point in my career I just want to win,” West told WHTR.com. If West wishes to win he should consider the Clippers. Playing alongside stars like Blake Griffin and Chris Paul would be a huge attraction to West. Unlike many other teams that are bidding for West’s services, the Clippers can offer West a starting job.

West averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game last season for the Pacers. He has been an emotional leader for the Pacers since his arrival there in 2011. Having his toughness in the locker room will be helpful for the Clippers because they tend to get overly emotional. West also does something that Jordan never did: knock down free throws constantly, as he owns an 82 percent average from the line over the course of his 12-year NBA career.

West will not provide the same shot blocking that Jordan did, but make no mistake, West is certainly no pushover on defense. West’s defensive plus/minus was second on the Pacers last season.

JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee has already been linked to the Clippers as a potential Jordan replacement by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. McGee has been bursting with potential since his arrival in the NBA but has never realized it. Maybe playing on a veteran team such as the Clippers would get McGee’s career back on the right track.

McGee is an athletic freak as he is 7’1″ with a 7’6″ wing span. This allows him to catch lobs and block shots. McGee can protect the rim as he has averaged 3.2 blocks per 36 minutes over the course of his career. However Clipper fans may need to endure opponents intentionally fouling McGee as he owns a 58 percent lifetime percentage from the foul line.

McGee’s best years in the NBA came in Denver under veteran head coach George Karl and with a pass-first point guard in Ty Lawson. That would be the situation that McGee walks into with the Clippers with head coach Doc Rivers and point guard Chris Paul.

Kevin Seraphin

Kevin Seraphin is most likely the least known name on this list as he has played just 16.4 minutes per game over the course of his five-year career with the Washington Wizards. But when Seraphin gets his minutes, he is a very productive player. During his stint as a starter during the 2011-12 season Seraphin averaged 10.8 points 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Seraphin is a excellent rim protecter as he averaged 1.7 blocks per game per 36 minutes. Seraphin can also back up Blake Griffin as he can play power forward as well. Seraphin can create his own shot, as only 55 percent of his baskets are assisted by a teammate. This is something Jordan could not do while wearing a Clipper uniform as 69 percent of Jordan’s baskets were assisted by a teammate.

Next: 2015 Free Agency Tracker

More from Hoops Habit

Home/LA Clippers