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Los Angeles Clippers: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 19, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 113-102. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 113-102. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Clippers
November 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall

On the bright side, barring any serious injuries, the Los Angeles Clippers will still be one of the three or four best teams in Western Conference next season. They had to tweak their bench a bit, but last year’s second unit wasn’t great, so it needed to be done once again.

The essential pieces like Griffin, CP3, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick are all back for next season, which is the most important thing. But by wasting their time in a failed pursuit of Kevin Durant that was never financially viable in the first place, the Clippers spent most of their summer overpaying the same old bench pieces as a Plan B.

Redick and Paul have proven they can be effective as they continue to age, but guys like Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, Wesley Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute and Paul Pierce haven’t proven much lately. Throwing Felton, Bass, Speights, Anderson and two rookies into the mix doesn’t really change much.

Next summer, Griffin and CP3 have the power to opt out of their deals, and Redick comes off the books as well. If the Clippers fail to take down the Warriors and Spurs juggernauts out West, the Lob City era could end without a single conference finals appearance.

At that point, CP3 might look to join a super-team knowing his prime is dwindling. Griffin may look to make a name for himself alongside Russell Westbrook in his home state of Oklahoma, even if his camp says he’s committed to staying with the Clippers. A shooter of Redick’s caliber will also be widely pursued by other teams.

The Clippers needed an offseason where they put extremely limited cap space to good use. Landing KD would’ve pushed them over the top, but what felt like a pipe dream to begin with became exactly that.

More hoops habit: Los Angeles Lakers: 2016 Offseason Grades

When Durant fell through, all the Clippers could do was bring everyone back for another go, and none of those contracts — the overpaid ones and the team friendly ones alike — will prevent a blow-up next summer if Lob City fails again. The pressure is on for 2016-17.

Grade: C-

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