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2016-2017 LA Clippers – Last Year or Lob City: Where are They Now?

By Cannon Wonderlich

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against Mike Muscala #31 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 3, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against Mike Muscala #31 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 3, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 02: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets during the game at Barclays Center on November 02, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 02: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets during the game at Barclays Center on November 02, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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 Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /

Luc Mbah a Moute (Small Forward)

Luc Mbah a Moute is the only player on the 2016-2017 Clippers roster that is still on the team. He came to the team in 2015 free agency and in the 2016-2017 season, Mbah a Moute 6.1 points per game and was normally tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best offensive wing player. In 2017 free agency, he left to sign with the Houston Rockets before returning to the Clippers in 2018 free agency. This season, Mbah a Moute has been averaging 5.0 points per game, but has suffered injuries that have left him sidelined for a few games.

Chris Paul (Point Guard)

Along with Blake Griffin, Chris Paul was the biggest name on the Clippers during the Lob City Era. In 2011, the Clippers had a young star in Griffin and needed a superstar to pair with him in hopes to contend for an NBA Championship. That December, the Clippers traded Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman, and a 2012 first round pick (Austin Rivers) to the New Orleans Hornets for Chris Paul and a 2015 second round pick (Arturas Gudaitis). This gave the Clippers the co-star for Blake Griffin that they needed.

He made LAC a contender every season he was there and in the 2016-2017 season, CP3 averaged 18.1 points, 9.2 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. As his contract was expiring, he and the LA Clippers agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets in return for Patrick Beverley, Lou WIlliams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Wiltjer, DeAndre Liggins, Darrun Hilliard, and a 2018 first round pick (Omari Spellman). Chris Paul served as James Harden’s second option in Houston and was their best player in the 2018 playoffs. He led the Rockets to a 3-2 series lead over the Golden State Warriors before he went down with an injury.

Without him, the Rockets lost that series in seven games. Now, CP3 is still on the Rockets and is averaging 19.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 6 rebound per game. The Rockets are off to a rough start that is a complete contrast to how they were last season. Houston will be looking to Harden and Paul to turn that around.