Doc Rivers is already planning how to improve Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers’ 2015-16 season ended with injury and heartbreak, which means Doc Rivers is already thinking of how he can improve the team this summer.

The Los Angeles Clippers’ season is over, ending in devastating injuries, more disappointment, and even more uncertainty. The season-ending injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are what unravelled the team’s hopes to contend deep into the playoffs this year, but this doesn’t change the fact that once again the Clippers are out of the playoffs early. Another disappointing season has come to an end in the Lob City era, which brings about questions as to what the future may hold.

The question burning in the mind of Doc Rivers and Clippers fans more than anything else is whether or not the Big 3 of Paul, Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will still be intact for the 2016-17 season. There was already speculation flying around at the NBA trade deadline in February due to the team’s impressive performance in the absence of Griffin, which was only spurred on even more by the incident of him breaking his hand by punching an equipment manager.

The matter of the team being better off without Griffin is misguided, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of Doc considering changes now that another chance at a championship has escaped him.

So, whether or not a member of the trio will leave L.A. in a blockbuster trade is yet to be seen. In the meantime, though, Doc (who has failed to reassure fans that he’s a good president of basketball operations so far) is going to be thinking constantly about how he can set things on the right track for next season.

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“Oh I never stop thinking about improving the team,” Doc said to Dan Woike of the Orange County Register. “I think about it every game, every day, so that doesn’t change for me. Literally every game when I’m coaching I’m watching too. I watch and read, and we’ll be ready.”

Rightfully so, Doc needs to finally prove himself as GM and improve this team in the correct manner, without overreacting and blowing everything up or making more signings that don’t work out.

Besides the unavoidable matter of Paul and Griffin going down with sudden injuries, the chance of the Clippers defeating such a historically formidable opponent like the Golden State Warriors in the second round was always going to be immensely challenging. If it wasn’t for Stephen Curry‘s MCL sprain, it would have been hard for anyone to favor L.A. to come out on top in that matchup, once again leaving them with a likely second round exit.

The starting lineup isn’t the weakness, though. Of course, Doc may be thinking about trading Griffin to bring in a host of players in return for such a talented superstar. He may even be crossing his fingers that he can pull off a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant.

Doc is still in pursuit of a title, so trading for younger assets, draft picks, and smashing the reset button to such an extent still seems rather unlikely.

Nevertheless, no matter what direction the Clippers go in, there will be changes.

November 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

More clippers: Fighting through pain wasn't enough in Clippers' playoff elimination

First off, here are the free agent situations the team has to deal with:

Austin Rivers (player option for 2016-17).

Luc Mbah a Moute (player option for 2016-17).

Cole Aldrich (player option for 2016-17).

Wesley Johnson (player option for 2016-17).

Paul Pierce isn’t a free agent, but could easily retire.

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As you can see, the Clippers have their hands full with negotiating new contracts and searching for new additions on the free agent market. If backups choose to use their player options and see what offers they receive, the Clippers could essentially lose their entire core of role players. Even with several guys likely coming back, there will need to be changes.

When it comes to the Big 3, only Jordan is guaranteed to be around for years to come until his contract expires with a player option for 2018-19. Paul and Griffin, on the other hand, only have one more guaranteed year with the Clippers, leaving a great deal of pressure on how the roster is assembled for what will surely be the final run at a title next season if everyone is together.

The Clippers could either shake up their star trio or just make tweaks to secure the second unit even further. Either way, there are important decisions to be made to ensure that 2016-17 is the success that it needs to be.

Next: Are the Clippers ready to blow everything up?

We’ll just have to wait and see how a key summer in the Lob City era plays out, ending in a reset or an exciting surge forward.

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