Los Angeles Clippers: Time to question signing Danilo Gallinari after poor first impressions

It’s time to start questioning the Los Angeles Clippers’ decision to sign Danilo Gallinari after the early returns in 2017-18 have been underwhelming.

When the Los Angeles Clippers made the decision to trade perennial All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Houston, they made a statement to their fans that the franchise was going in a different direction.

With the newfound cap space as a result of trading Paul, the Clippers made a splash this summer by acquiring the former sixth overall pick out of Italy, Danilo Gallinari, in a sign-and-trade between the Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks.

Gallinari signed with the Clippers for $65 million over three years, the richest contract of the 29-year-old’s career. The Clippers have had trouble finding consistency from the small forward position ever since Doc Rivers took over the team in 2013, so this move made sense for the club.

Coming off one of his best seasons of his career where he averaged 18.2 points per game, Danilo Gallinari is expected to add a unique element to the Clippers’ offense with his 6’10” frame and ability to knock down 3-pointers and free throws with ease.

However, in Gallinari’s first nine games as a Clipper, he’s given fans reason to question the franchise’s decision to replace its franchise point guard with a slightly lower-caliber player at a different position. Gallo is averaging just 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 35.5 percent shooting and 26 percent on 3-pointers.

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In a year where it appears the Clippers will rely on their superstar frontcourt duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Gallinari has swung and missed on an opportunity to have room to roam on the perimeter. He has missed too many open shots this season and it has definitely contributed to LA’s latest run of losing four of the last five games.

Gallinari is a combined 5-for-19 on 3-pointers in his last five games, which is right on his season average of 26 percent. Some might characterize his early-season struggles as shaking off the rust from the offseason, but a veteran and pure shooter like Gallinari should not need any adjustment period in his 10th season in the league.

On the defensive end, Gallinari has not shown much interest, as has been in the case throughout his time in the league. He has never averaged more than one steal or block for a season in his career. Playing in a division with talented small forwards such as Kevin Durant, Brandon Ingram, and T.J. Warren, the Clippers need Gallinari to accept the challenge of defending opposing small forwards.

If his poor play wasn’t enough to bother Clippers fans, Gallinari exited Sunday’s game against Miami with a bruised hip and did not return to action. The fact that it’s classified as just a bruise is good news, but the Clippers could choose to be cautious and hold him out of games because of Gallinari’s long history of injuries.

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It’s still way too early to vehemently criticize new Clippers general manager Michael Winger for dropping big money on an injury-prone defensive liability. The truth is that Gallinari is an incredibly gifted scorer in a position to succeed in a potent offense, but he’ll need to get it together soon if L.A. wants to stop its recent skid.