With DeAndre Jordan possibly on his way out, here’s a look back at the playoff runs from the Los Angeles Clippers’ Lob City era.
During the summer of 2017, the Los Angeles Clippers traded point guard Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets for a myriad of veterans and young prospects. The move came following a second consecutive first round playoff exit, and in hopes of a quick rebuild and culture reset.
Midway through the 2017-18 season, Los Angeles decided to also trade forward Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons following a rough first half. Two-thirds of the Clippers’ once formidable “Big 3” were now on different teams, and center DeAndre Jordan was the lone remaining member.
However, with Kelly Iko of USA TODAY reporting Jordan is interested in playing in his hometown of Houston, the Clippers could see Jordan depart from the team as well.
The rise and fall of the Lob City era was a dramatic one. When the then-New Orleans Hornets traded Paul, it helped revitalize a Clippers fanbase desperate for team success. The team accomplished many impressive milestones, but failed to live up to the expectations in the later years of their union.
The pressure for Chris Paul to get past the second round of the playoffs, along with the rise of the division rival Golden State Warriors, added more pressure on the Clippers to contend for a championship, and ultimately, led to them breaking up the team.
Here are all six of Lob City’s playoff runs ranked, from the least to most heartbreaking.