Clippers’ J.J. Redick says team will keep core together
By Tom West
Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick thinks the team will be keeping their core together this offseason, despite so many critics arguing for a trade.
We’ve already heard Doc Rivers express his intent to keep the Los Angeles Clippers together, and now an actual Clipper has gone on the record to say that he thinks the team will (and should) keep the core intact. Which, while so many hot takes and wild theories will be thrown around this season, is what Clippers fans will be pleased to hear.
During an appearance on ESPN’s The Jump with Rachel Nichols, J.J. Redick was asked what he thinks the Clippers will do this summer. Unsurprisingly, to support his teammates and to add his always candid perspective on what they may do, Redick said that he believes the Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan trio will stay together:
"OKC has kept their core together for, you know, going on five or six years now, and they’ve added incrementally to that and you never know when that window may open up. And it felt like for about 10 minutes our window was open. It was, like, Steph’s [Curry] gonna be out for a couple of games and then our two best players get hurt for the rest of the playoffs. So, I think we will keep our core together. I think it’s a good idea. Given the contract situation, Blake has an opt out for 2017 and Chris does as well, I think you keep them together for one more year."
When thinking about the Big 3 trade debate, it’s important to remember that while this season ended in another playoff disappointment, everything could have been entirely different if it wasn’t for two playoff-ending injuries to Griffin and Paul. Just as they had their break with Stephen Curry‘s MCL Sprain (that ultimately made him miss three games in the second round), the Clippers’ two best players went down within a single, painful half hour.
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If that never happened, though, they may have gained an early series lead against the Warriors, potentially setting themselves up to sneak their way into the Western Conference Finals for the first time and make a run at the NBA Finals.
Just imagine how different the playoff landscape and possible title-winner — not to mention discussions about the Clippers — would be if that were the case.
And that’s all it takes sometimes for contenders to get their break. You don’t tear apart a perennial 55-win team when there’s no better alternative or trade option available to you, because sometimes a little luck and a few hot performances is all you need to reach the next level.
Rightfully so, Redick argued that adding complimentary pieces to support your stars is the best approach, and that the Clippers should maintain that approach for the next year.
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At least for one last run in 2016-17, when Griffin can be around for more than half the regular season and the Clippers can (hopefully) enter the playoffs fully healthy, it’s worth keeping the core together.