Los Angeles Clippers: Shake Up The Core?

Time to Blow it Up?

Doc Rivers stated before the season that if the Clippers fell short once again, he would consider whether the team needed to be “blown up.” For his part, Rivers affirmed this team’s core this week, saying he thought their window, while closing, was still open enough for another run.

But is it? The Clippers haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs with this core, under [former coach] Vinny Del Negro or Doc Rivers (or at any time in franchise history for that matter). Blake Griffin is an incredibly talented player, but his game is based on athleticism that could be sapped by nagging injuries and wane as he ages towards 30.

Chris Paul is already 30 and while there are reasons to be optimistic about his game as he ages, historically smaller guards have not held on well. DeAndre Jordan cannot shoot free throws, meaning Rivers has to pull him from the game in certain situations – a star big man who isn’t on the floor does the team no good.

Rotation pieces such as Jamal Crawford and Paul Pierce are well past their primes.

Should Rivers make a move while he can still get solid value from this roster? And should that move be roster armageddon?

Rivers could go young, jettisoning Paul and Redick and building around the two home-grown big men. He could go all-in for a title, flipping any young players and assets remaining to make one last run at the trophy with Chris Paul.

Or he could tear everything down, accruing picks and high-upside young players, and start over from scratch. That seems insane for a perennial 55-win team, but if the goal is to win a title, they probably cannot achieve that goal with this roster. Any moves should be considered.

Next: Trade a Star?