Los Angeles Clippers: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason

Following a transition season where there was significant roster upheaval, here are five goals for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2018 offseason.

First, there was Chris Paul. Soon after, J.J. Redick jumped ship. Finally, there was Blake Griffin and his midseason blockbuster trade. Therefore, it’s safe to say the Los Angeles Clippers have undergone a significant facelift over the past 12 months.

Despite all these obstacles, it’s highly commendable that Clippers were able to compile a 42-40 record for the season, only narrowly missing out on the postseason action. Leading from the front again for the Clippers was center DeAndre Jordan, who, despite missing out on an All-Star selection, was again dominant by averaging 12.0 points and 15.2 rebounds per game in 77 appearances.

The surprise packet of the season was undoubtedly Lou Williams, one of the seven players received as part of the deal that saw Paul head to the Houston Rockets. Despite having established himself as an explosive scorer over the course of his career, Williams took his game to the next level with his increased level of responsibility. Playing a team-high 79 games, Williams averaged 22.6 points and 5.3 assists in 32.8 minutes per minutes per game — all career highs.

Additionally, Tobias Harris, the centerpiece of the package the saw Griffin head to the Detroit Pistons, was extremely impressive in his 32 games, averaging 19.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. In the modern small-ball era, Harris’ ability to stretch the floor from the 4-spot and hit at a 41.4 percent clip from 3-point range proved an invaluable addition to the Clippers in the back half of the season.

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However, despite the presence of this trio, the Clippers finished the season just one game above .500, and are hence miles away from being in a position to truly contend with the leading teams in the league. Therefore, the upcoming summer appears to a pivotal moment in the future of the franchise.

Do they completely blow things up? Do they use their draft picks or offset them? Who do they wish to build the team around?

These and many other questions are bound to be thrown around in the Clippers’ front office, from which many possibilities will likely be raised. With this in mind, here are five broad goals for the Clippers in the 2018 offseason.