Los Angeles Clippers: Grading Every Player’s 2017-2018 Performance

Danilo Gallinari: D

When Danilo Gallinari was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, he was met with immediate praise. Not only was he already a well-established three-point shooter, but he was the small forward that the Clippers never could obtain during the Lob City era. Basically, hopes were high that he was the missing link.

Spoiler alert: He was not.

If you don’t remember, the Clippers sent Jamal Crawford and Houston’s first-round pick (acquired in the Paul trade) to the Atlanta Hawks, which sent Paul Millsap to the Denver Nuggets, which sent Gallinari to Los Angeles.

At the time, it was regarded as a solid trade for all parties involved. Atlanta was lent a hand in their rebuild, the Nuggets received a valuable piece, and the Clippers would finally get their wing.

But looking back, it’s easy to see that Gallinari might not have been the right move for Los Angeles. He suited up for just 21 games this season and shot a career-worst 32.4% from three-point land. The injuries he really couldn’t help, since that’s just a given with his history. The shooting numbers though, were horrendous.

It’s no surprise that rumors are circulating about his future with the team. Speculative articles consider having him moved on draft night, among other scenarios.