LA Clippers: 3 reasons to pursue a Derrick Rose trade
By Dalton Sell
LA Clippers: 3 reasons to pursue a Derrick Rose trade – Team needs a leader
Following their second-round exit, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins did not hold back when describing the most prominent flaw with the LA Clippers.
"“The Clippers do not have a leader. Kawhi Leonard is not the guy that speaks out vocally and talks about. He just goes out there and performs and does his job. And if I’m the Clippers, I would really really consider trying to get at Rajon Rondo. They do need a leader, they need a voice in that locker room that’s going to hold guys accountable. It’s only so much you could do as a coaching staff and as a head coach. You need a guy that’s gonna say the right things in the locker room and that’s gonna lose themselves in the team, and lead by example and preach the gospel day in and day out, and make sure guys don’t have a hidden agenda. Right now, the Clippers do not have a leader and that is part of their problem.”"
The odds of Rajon Rondo leaving the Los Angeles Lakers for the Clippers this offseason is slim, so they might want to scour elsewhere for an option. Another avenue to address this issue could be Derrick Rose. Although the 32-year-old was not the most outspoken player in his early days, he has gotten more accustomed to being a vocal presence both on the court and in the locker room in recent years. As Rose’s former head coach Tom Thibodeau put it back in 2018, transcribed by Jace Frederick of the Pioneer Press:
"“He’s got great awareness, saying the right thing at the right time to someone … but doing it in a positive way. Because leadership is not just about confronting somebody, it’s inspiring them and also about lifting them up…”"
After the embarrassing close to their season, the LA Clippers undoubtedly need someone to come in and spark some inspiration. Not only is Rose a former MVP winner, but he is a battle-tested veteran who has been through the wringer throughout his career and could bring a much-needed presence to this team.