Austin Rivers
Apr 26, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills (8) is fouled while shooting by Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Austin Rivers (25) in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: B
There was a reason why Rivers was a lottery talent in 2013. A weak draft is one of them, but at his height, age, and size, the upside was there for Austin to be an impressive scoring guard in the NBA following his lone season at Duke, even if he never projected to join the ranks of NBA elite at the peak of his prowess. But where the Pelicans were hinging it’s developmental future on Rivers reaching pick point following his no.10 selection, on a Los Angeles Clippers team that features an abundance of talent, eventual-peak Rivers would be excellent but isn’t needed in Los Angeles.
You can argue with the legions of internet-goers about exactly where Rivers stands among reserve point guards in the NBA, but after being relied on to be sort of a ‘bench savior’ amid Jamal Crawford‘s struggles in the playoffs — and showing flashes of being able to do so throughout — the Clippers wont need him to be THAT guy anymore thanks to other players featured on this list.
The question with Rivers is which player is he majority of the time? The one we saw during the regular season or the one we saw every two or three games in the playoffs. Using his entire body of work as a sample size, the numbers tell us he’s more the former than latter, but if he general progressions occurs — Rivers is only 22 years of age — growing toward the latter would put Rivers’ production past what he’s being paid at $3.1 million next year.