Clippers Free Agency: Time to sign a new backup point guard?

NBA free agency 2016: Should the Los Angeles Clippers try to sign a new backup point guard this summer? If so, who should they consider targeting?

Providing Doc Rivers doesn’t make a huge mistake or receives a ridiculous offer he can’t refuse, Chris Paul will still be with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2016-17 season. He’s integral to holding the team together at both ends of the floor; an obvious statement that only gained more emphasis during Blake Griffin‘s time out in the regular season. Yet, with a limited defensive weapon and 38-year-old veteran behind him as backups, could it be time for the Clippers to look elsewhere for their secondary point guard?

Austin Rivers and Pablo Prigioni both have valuable assets they can bring to the table. Despite their flaws and limitations, Rivers is a vastly improved defender and Prigioni is one of the sneakiest veterans around with a patient understanding of the game. In their own ways, both have something that the Clippers don’t want to lose, and Doc has made it clear he wants to keep his team together.

“I don’t know if we have a No. 1 (priority),” Doc said to the Orange County Register’s Dan Woike. “We have a priority to try to just keep making our team better. We have a lot of free agents, and that indicates that we did a really good job last year. … So now we have to try to do it again. We have to try to sign as many of our guys back as possible.”

We don’t know exactly who the Clippers will be forced to prioritize as most of their players become free agents this summer, but we know he wants Paul and Griffin around for another year and, as you can see in the quote above, he also wants to re-sign as many role players as possible. The bench was a serious improvement over last year, and it makes sense that Doc wants to keep the majority of his guys together.

How does his son Austin fit into this situation, though?

We don’t know whether the Clippers are willing to let him go and search elsewhere or whether Rivers’ current importance will rise even further if Prigioni (who is 39 in less than two weeks) considers retiring or isn’t re-signed.

As an offensive player, Rivers has a lot of growing to do. He has moments where he drives aggressively to the rim, using a combination of floaters, layups and three-pointers (if they start falling) to make a real impact. His 20-point, eight-assist, six-rebound, zero-turnover performance in Game 6 against the Portland Trail Blazers while fighting with one good eye was exceptional, showing just how much toughness he brings each night. But when it comes to running an offense with poise, creating space for others, and running an effective pick-and-roll, he falters.

More from Clipperholics

At this point, we ultimately can’t predict who the Clippers may pursue because we don’t know who will be re-signed. Given the painful end to the season and the rising salary cap in particular, players have every right to test the market or opt out if they still have a player option for the upcoming season. After the last few weeks, it’s more than understandable even if Doc’s wish is to bring everyone back.

So, until we hear rumblings as to who may be leaving L.A., we’ll have to wait and see what areas of the roster the Clippers are forced to address. But if the cap space emerges and a free agent is eager enough to join, a new backup point guard, capable of delivering consistently at both ends, should be a priority behind a new wing to finally solidify the small forward situation.

Next: Clippers cannot lose Cole Aldrich in free agency

Then again, with low cap space and limited options in their price range, neither of these upgrades will come easily. The Clippers’ struggles to improve didn’t just end with their playoff elimination.

Home/Clippers News