The Los Angeles Clippers needed a big summer to preserve the Lob City era for the long-term, but had to settle for re-signing the bench. Here are their complete 2016 offseason grades.
Another season in the Lob City era, another premature playoff exit. Not getting over the hump has been a consistent theme for the Los Angeles Clippers in the Chris Paul–Blake Griffin era, but in 2016, it reached a depressing new low when both had to watch from the sidelines.
Even worse, their second round opponent would’ve been a Golden State Warriors team playing without Stephen Curry.
But with CP3 and Griffin sustaining playoff-ending injuries in the Clippers’ first round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, yet another season ended before Lob City’s two stars could taste their first conference finals.
With the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs re-upping this summer, the Clippers desperately needed a strong offseason to have any hope of making their move in the playoffs next year. Next season’s success is crucial, since Griffin and CP3 can opt out of the final year of their contracts and hit free agency next summer.
Sporting a lackluster bench that underwent a complete makeover last summer, did the Clippers do enough to make a legitimate playoff run in 2017? Or did they just settle for bringing everybody back for another go-round in the hopes they’ll be healthy this time?
Here’s a look at the Los Angeles Clippers’ complete 2016 offseason grades.
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