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Los Angeles Clippers: Shake Up The Core?

By Josh Cornelissen

Nov 11, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and head coach Doc Rivers and center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and head coach Doc Rivers and center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee (24) defends as Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) loses control of the ball in the second half of game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Trail Blazers won 108-98. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Mason Plumlee (24) defends as Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) loses control of the ball in the second half of game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Trail Blazers won 108-98. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

What’s Their Plan for Free Agency?

NBA offseasons are a line of dominos, so it’s hard to project a clear path without knowing how other tiles will fall. If the Clippers do something major through the trade market with their core, their approach to free agency will understandably look different.

A mild approach to free agency is to once again address the margins. If all of their eligible players exercise player options – Austin Rivers, Wesley Johnson, and Cole Aldrich each have one – the Clippers will have $6 million to $9 million in cap space, depending on where the final number falls.

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More likely, all three players will enter free agency to cash in on the cap spike. As a serviceable 3-and-D wing, Wesley Johnson should be able to at least double his $1.2 option for next season. Aldrich showed to be a capable backup center and those probably will earn at least $5 million come July.

Austin Rivers is a curious case; he is a plus defender for either guard position, an unexpected development after his laissez-faire approach to defense during his years at Duke and in New Orleans. He can handle the ball, hit three-pointers at a league-average clip (33.5 percent this season), and during Game 6 against Portland showed his scoring ability attacking the basket.

Two years ago it was thought his father was the last person in the league who would employ him; now he could be turning down a $3.3 million contract to test free agency. It’s possible Rivers makes two or even three times that on the open market. This offseason, spending could by crazy league wide.

That cap spike helps and hurts the Clippers. On the one hand, they will have three max contracts and still have cap space to address the rotation. On the other, talented players will price out of their limited cap space. Even with the maximum $15 million they could end up with, they will need to fill in seven roster spots and pay two rookies.

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