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Los Angeles Clippers: Grading The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers players pose with jerseys at press conference at Staples Center. From left: Branden Dawson (22), DeAndre Jordan (6), Austin Rivers (25), coach Doc Rivers and Josh Smith (5), Cole Aldrich (45), Paul Pierce (34) and Wesley Johnson (33). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 21, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6), coach Doc Rivers (center) and forward Paul Pierce at press conference at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall

Heading into the offseason, many wondered where the Clippers were going to go following such a brutal playoff collapse. With Lob City in desperate need of bench players and possessing limited cap room to work with, not to mention Jordan considering returning home to Dallas, it could’ve been very easy for a legitimate title contender to crumble into the dust.

Instead, the Clippers had one of the best offseasons in the NBA. They re-signed Jordan to a long-term deal, retaining their defensive anchor and keeping one of the NBA’s best starting lineups intact. They brought in Paul Pierce, who’s sure to be a fan favorite and will help spread the floor. And they bolstered the bench with Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Austin Rivers, Cole Aldrich, Wesley Johnson and rookie Branden Dawson.

That’s a pretty darn good offseason for a GM who was (rightfully) hammered for his team’s lack of depth during a playoff run that should’ve lasted until at least the conference finals.

The Clippers are all in for the 2015-16 season. The sad truth is that even after such a stellar offseason that addressed so many problem areas, L.A.C. isn’t guaranteed to make it out of the first round next year. The Golden State Warriors are defending champs, the San Antonio Spurs reloaded, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be healthy and the Memphis Grizzlies aren’t going anywhere.

But in the cutthroat Western Conference, losing Jordan would have spelled doom for the Clippers and might have even damned Chris Paul’s chance of ever making a conference finals. Instead, Los Angeles should be in the fight at the top of the conference standings and with the right luck, could contend for a title this year.

A few months ago, the Los Angeles Clippers were on the verge of a collapse — not only in their final playoff series, but in regards to this current core as well. Instead, they’ve reloaded and are ready to compete for a title again in 2015-16. That’s a pretty darn good offseason, even with the intrinsic risks involved with some of those acquisitions.

Grade: A-

Next: San Antonio Spurs: Grading The Offseason

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