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Los Angeles Clippers: Three Undervalued Free Agent Prospects in 2019

By Abhishek S

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Jerry West and Steve Balmer enjoy the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers on March 27, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Jerry West and Steve Balmer enjoy the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers on March 27, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: Los Angeles Clippers executive board member Jerry West (L) and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talk as they attend a 2018 NBA Summer League game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 92-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: Los Angeles Clippers executive board member Jerry West (L) and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talk as they attend a 2018 NBA Summer League game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 92-85. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

With 2018 NBA free agency done, it’s time to focus on undervalued prospects who the Clippers should look at in free agency for 2019.

The 2018 NBA Free Agency saw the Los Angeles Clippers diligently close deals to bolster their odds of landing a playoff spot. Under the direction of Jerry West, Lawrence Frank and Michael Winger, the Clippers accomplished their task of assembling a competitive roster. Recruiting their future backcourt pair by means of the draft, the Clippers have performed impeccably in improving the youth talent in their team. Further, amassing veteran experience on expiring deals offers them interim leadership presence accompanied by flexibility in the future.

By dispensing 70 million in cap-space for the forthcoming season, owner Steve Ballmer appears hell-bent on acquiring star talent and making a run for the Championship in the near future. With the assistance of a ring bearing coach in Doc Rivers and an invaluable consultant in Jerry West, the Clippers boast a superior front office in contrast to their fellow fringe playoff contenders. Their unpopular yet shrewd move of trading away franchise centerpiece Blake Griffin in return for expiring contracts has paved the way for the coming years.

Posing a respectable roster, their attempt at extending budding tweener in Tobias Harris fizzled out. Nevertheless, they succeeded in re-signing the present Sixth Man of the Year winner Lou Williams for a meager 25 million, 3 year deal. The veteran scorer will serve as a revered mentor to rookie guards and will shoulder the responsibility of leading the Clippers’ bench unit.

Defensive prospects Patrick Beverley and Avery Bradley accompanied by versatile scoring wing Danilo Gallinari will also play pivotal roles in the upcoming season. Barring injury concerns, the Clippers will pose a respectable core with ample talent to challenge for a playoff berth.

With superstar free agents, namely Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Buttler, Kyrie Irving and others entering the forthcoming free agency, the Clippers will push to land one of these stalwarts. However they will face stiff competition from big ticket franchises with a similar cap situation, akin to the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks.

Bearing this in mind, the Clippers should earmark a few underrated free agents who can emulate the production of these bigwigs. Fellow franchises in Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers cruised to the knockout phases with a home court advantage in the prior season by using effective coaching and tough mentality as a means. In the off-chance that the Clippers fail in their objective of landing a heavyweight free agent, they can strive for identical success in the 2019-20 NBA season. A few prospects that could entice the Clippers in their journey to attaining success have been mentioned below.

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