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Roundtable: All Aboard The Landry Shamet Bandwagon

By Logan Rapp

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 9: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers celebrates after play against the Boston Celtics on February 9, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 9: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers celebrates after play against the Boston Celtics on February 9, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PLAYA VISTA, CA – JUNE 22: Clippers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank talks about the 2017 draft at the Clippers training facility in Playa Vista on Thursday, June 22, 2017.(Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA – JUNE 22: Clippers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank talks about the 2017 draft at the Clippers training facility in Playa Vista on Thursday, June 22, 2017.(Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images) /

The Front Office

RAPP: It’s amazing what happens when you have an owner who actually pays for good people in the front office (and also isn’t a virulent racist), isn’t it?

SNELLINGS: Well, there’s a reason we moved Doc back to just coaching, moved Lawrence Frank to the front office and brought in Michael Winger.

I’m actually writing a piece about the team hosting the most recent Playbook event and both Winger and Frank attribute the success to Ballmer. They really are impressed with him.

KIMBRELL: The grace with which Doc took the move from Coach/GM down to just Coach might not have been talked about enough. That could have been a really ugly situation

CHONG: It really is nice to know that the guys steering the ship (pun completely intended) really know what they’re doing. Like, it’s one thing to fill a front office with people who know basketball and get get the job done, but Frank, Winger, West, Redden. These guys REALLY know their stuff.

LOFTIN: It’s refreshing to see how nuanced and layered every move the front office has made has been. They are gearing up to build a super team next summer, while maintaining the flexibility and assets for a slow build if necessary. Even if we strike out in free agency, the future looks ok.

CULLEN: @Seth Kimbrell let’s not forget that Doc put Lawrence Frank in the front office. I do think he saw the writing on the wall and put some insurance in place.

KIMBRELL: That’s a solid point, Brian.

ETHAN SMITH: Could Frank win Executive of the Year this year?

SNELLINGS: I doubt it Ethan. I assume Masai has that one locked down if the Raptors make the Eastern Conference Finals.

CHONG: Even if they were to strike out on big name free agents next year, I’d still have confidence in the Clippers’ front office to make the right moves and continue moving in the direction of sustainable contention.

SMITH: Sixers guy could win it also if the Sixers turn out right.

SNELLINGS: Elton Brand? Yeah. I’ll count that as a win for the Clippers.

SMITH: Hell yeah, why not?

CULLEN: Elton Brand winning is a Clippers win as far as I’m concerned.

The Boston Comeback

RAPP: Okay, moving on. Let’s get a little more specific: Let’s talk about that game in Boston, which really was a tale of two halves.

LOFTIN: I think Frank winning executive of the year is more likely next season.

CHONG: Okay, does anyone even worry when the Clippers are down 20+ at the half anymore?

RAPP: First half did not look good, and then, almost in real time, we see this brand new Clippers roster start to figure each other out. And then, uh, beat Boston.

SMITH: I mean, Morris came out and said he hates seeing other teams enjoy playing. He said Boston is more of a group of individuals instead of a team after that game.

CULLEN: I feel like we watched the chemistry form in real time. The team didn’t have much time for anything more than a chat and chew. The first half in Boston looked discombobulated, but as each one of those guys saw what each other was good they worked with each other’s strengths and figured it out.

SNELLINGS: Yeah that part shouldn’t be overlooked. Not to be a negative Nancy, but Boston is struggling and they lost Kyrie for the second half of the game. Great comeback regardless, but it has an asterisk next to it.

CHONG:Kyrie going down in the second quarter definitely played a part in the Clippers being able to come back, but in that arena, it’s still quite the feat.

SMITH: Doc getting the guys up like that to come down from that much is a pretty big deal. Kyrie is apparently fine by the way.

RAPP: I would say that regardless of the win/loss, the way in which chemistry built was far more impressive and important.

SMITH: Coming down from 28 on anyone is impressive.

CHONG: And we got to see them build that chemistry on-the-fly.

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