Now that Josh Smith has fallen to the bottom of the Los Angeles Clippers’ rotation while Cole Aldrich has been delivering off the bench instead, there are several reasons why Smith should be traded.
The Los Angeles Clippers are riding their longest win streak of the season (six), and it’s come at a surprising time while Blake Griffin is out with a partially torn quadricep tendon. His absence has almost helped, as it’s given others such as J.J. Redick, DeAndre Jordan, Cole Aldrich, Austin Rivers, and Paul Pierce the opportunity to step up. With the bench playing well and the remaining star starters leading the way, the Clippers are firmly sitting at 4th place in the Western Conference.
Another aspect of their win streak during Griffin’s time out that has been surprising, though, is the continued demotion of Josh Smith.
His playing time has dropped when he actually gets on the court during games, Doc Rivers has placed him at the bottom of the rotation behind all other possible options, and, of course, his name has been mentioned in trade rumors.
And that’s just the start of potential reasons as to why the Josh Smith era in L.A. looks like it’s over, and why he could be dealt.
Before proceeding any further, it’s important to emphasize that I don’t think it’s vital Smith should be traded. Shot selection and occasional awareness issues aside, he brings real value with his passing, rebounding and especially defense. Although, the question of his potential fit with the team is made harder to answer when he’s stuck on the bench instead of evolving as someone with reasonable minutes who can consistently make a difference.
However, in all honesty, there’s no way to deny that Smith has been consistently ignored over the last few weeks and now resides at the bottom of the rotation. Now that he’s playing less minutes (or not playing at all) than guys like Aldrich, Pablo Prigioni, and even rookie Branden Dawson in their last game, his future in Los Angeles doesn’t look too bright.
It seems like an appropriate time to face the facts that Smith simply isn’t important to Doc Rivers right now, and that only makes trade talks seem more likely as the February 18 deadline gradually approaches. Which is why we’re going to look at the argument as to why he should go.
Next: Why keep him if he isn't playing anyway?
Why keep him if he isn’t playing anyway?
This is the most obvious reason as to why it doesn’t make too much sense to keep Smith. At least until something changes, Smith has been stripped of the solid role he had when signed as a free agent this summer.
He started as a backup power forward and center in small-ball lineups, and averaged 15.5 minutes over the first 16 games of the season. While he never did much in the way of scoring, with just 5.3 points on 37.8 percent shooting, he did at least make an impact with his defense. And, if given the chance with either Griffin or Jordan in at center, his lob passes have been a great asset from a backup power forward who can handle the ball and pass.
That being said, in recent weeks, the same cannot be said for the promising role that Smith was going to have when brought to L.A.
Over the last 10 games he’s appeared in, Smith has averaged just 11.3 minutes a night. When looking at the last couple of weeks, though, things have gone a few steps further. Over the Clippers’ last eight games, Smith has received five DNP’s, while playing no more than six minutes in any of the three contests he’s actually appeared in.
He even received less minutes than Branden Dawson against the 76ers who has played 13 minutes all season, and even then those minutes came from garbage time in the fourth quarter when the Clippers had amassed a huge lead.
Essentially, this lack of playing time only serves as more reasoning to trade him. If Doc is playing him for a few minutes a night or not bringing him off the bench at all, what’s the point in keeping him? Maybe if he’s dealt elsewhere, he could at least help bring in a role player that may actually contribute.
This also brings us to the next matter of Smith’s near-nonexistent playing time. While Smith has been demoted, Cole Aldrich has instead risen up as the Clippers’ backup center, and he’s doing a great job.
Next: Cole Aldrich needs to keep his role
Cole Aldrich should be getting more minutes at backup center
Even though Aldrich has had a better opportunity to pick up more minutes in the Clippers’ frontcourt while Griffin is out, he made a solid appearance before the injury occurred. With five points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks in just 13 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 21, he gave a brief glimpse of what he can do in short bursts.
More recently during the time in which Griffin has been out, Aldrich has continued to step up. 10-15 minutes off the bench have equated in some excellent performances, specifically a 13 point, six rebound, three assist, four steal game against the Washington Wizards, and an eight point, nine rebound, two block night in just 11 minutes against the 76ers.
Good things have been happening with Aldrich on the floor, thanks to his energy, defensive instincts, rebounding, and generally just knowing where to be to avoid ruining offensive possessions or allowing easy scores. Which, for the Clippers’ bench this season, hasn’t always been the case. Aldrich, on the other hand, may be limited to the odd cut to the basket or hook shot on offense, but his defense makes a real difference. The offensive rating of opponents has been 10.2 points lower with him in the game this season.
If the Clippers want frontcourt stability, defense, and energy from their second unit, they need to keep giving Aldrich playing time, even when Griffin has returned.
This only makes matters worse for Smith’s fit with the team.
Next: The Clippers have been playing well without him
The Clippers have been playing well without him
Even though their recent schedule hasn’t been too tough, the team is playing in the right way. The bench players are finally making shots, the lineup featuring Pierce at power forward has worked with a stellar offensive output, there is finally some energy and intensity, and stars like Paul, Jordan and Redick are all rising in Griffin’s absence.
Plus, a six-game win streak is a six-game win streak. That’s what really matters.
In fact, Doc himself has commented on the matter of Smith and Lance Stephenson’s low playing time lately (per Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times):
"Neither Smith nor Stephenson appears to be on the verge of receiving an appreciable uptick in playing time. “For me, I’m just worried about who I’m playing and then when someone else is not, then we’ll put Josh in or someone else in,” Rivers said. “But right now, why would you want to touch what’s going on?”"
In fairness to Doc’s comments and his often questionable decisions, you can’t really disagree here. Besides the obvious decision to bring Griffin back into the starting lineup when he returns (what a surprise that will be), the Clippers shouldn’t really be tampering with the way things are right now.
This point of the argument for Smith leaving L.A. does come with some question marks, though. For a start, the minutes Pierce has had as a stretch power forward have only looked ok because of the fact that he’s finally started making some shots. If you take away his 9.8 points in 19.6 minutes a night over his last five games, and his 43.5 percent three point shooting, his usual cold stroke from this season and poor defense makes him a total liability.
That being said, while the shooting of other role players may be inconsistent, they are at least playing with the right kind of cohesion as of late. Players are getting open and moving where they need to be in the offense, the rotations are working better, and Aldrich has helped end the small-ball experiment that did nothing but destroy leads that the starters built up.
“If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. That old saying applies to the Clippers right now, and it makes the need for Smith pretty low.
Next: Smith could help get someone Doc will actually use
He could help get someone Doc will (should) actually use
Who the Clippers may pursue if they trade Smith is unclear. Ideally, Doc will go after a point guard to step in behind Chris Paul who’s a reliable three point shooter, a solid defender, and someone who can run the offense effectively with precise pick-and-rolls, for example.
Yes, Austin Rivers has been playing well as of late with some hot shooting and improved defense, but the shooting won’t last and he’s still not a point guard who can run the offense to create much for others. As for Prigioni who has also settled in well lately, the sample size with the Clippers is still too small to know how the rest of the season could turn out. Plus, there isn’t exactly much long-term future now that he’s 38.
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A point guard who’s more consistent than Rivers and younger than Prigioni seems like the best move that the Clippers could make if they do look to trade. On the other hand, maybe a big man who can replace Smith on the bench, with a similar skill set to Aldrich, could be beneficial. A typical second unit frontcourt with size and toughness rather than a three-point happy, small-ball experiment could be perfect.
However, to find such a player with what the Clippers have to offer will be extremely difficult, not to mention the lack of minutes available in the frontcourt rotation now that Aldrich has stepped up and Griffin is returning soon.
This also brings up the issue of team chemistry, and working any new potential players into the rotation in a way that won’t detract from others. And that’s been a problem the Clippers have already dealt with far too much this season.
We’ll be considering potential trade targets and suitors for certain players soon, so be sure to look out for that here at Clipperholics to see what could (ideally) happen to help the team. Yet, with how well things are going right now without Griffin, they are better off by keeping this team intact.
Next: How the Clippers are winning without Blake Griffin
In the meantime, you can debate in your mind what you think of the Josh Smith era in L.A. It seems all but over with the way he’s been thrown to the bottom of the rotation, so it looks even more likely that he might be dealt away before the February 18 trade deadline.
If not, he’ll be another failed acquisition by Doc who will do little more than keep the bench warm for his favored teammates.