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LA Clippers Mailbag: Offseason plans, the playoffs, and the rookies

By Garrett Chorpenning

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 29: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on November 29, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 29: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors defends during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on November 29, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 31: Jerome Robinson #10 of the LA Clippers celebrates a basket from Boban Marjanovic #51 from a rebound off of a free throw during a 123-120 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 31: Jerome Robinson #10 of the LA Clippers celebrates a basket from Boban Marjanovic #51 from a rebound off of a free throw during a 123-120 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

What comes next for Jerome Robinson?

Question via @angelaliz_ and @jonathg32

Since the LA Clippers acquired Landry Shamet in the Tobias Harris trade, there have been a lot of questions popping up about Jerome Robinson‘s future with the team. And a lot of those questions are perfectly reasonable — after all, it seems like Shamet has gobbled up just about all of Robinson’s minutes, and was even pushed into the starting lineup in LA’s most recent game.

I think Robinson could certainly be trade bait this summer, but that goes for a lot of LA’s players. I’d probably consider Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to be the only true “untouchable” player of the bunch, since the Clippers seem to want him to be their franchise point guard.

Danilo Gallinari, I would think, could also be trade bait. He’s probably the only player that I’d view as more likely to be traded than Robinson, but there are different reasons why each would be dealt.

Trading Gallinari would substantially open up LA’s books this summer in their pursuit of a superstar, while Robinson could be used to get back into the first round, assuming they make the playoffs.

However, to answer the second part of this question — I do believe Robinson is part of LA’s future plans, so I don’t think a trade involving him is really all that likely.

Robinson being taken at 13th in last year’s draft is almost all the information we need to break this down. I think he could easily be a future starter, but the Clippers aren’t forcing it this season because he was never meant to be that right away — he’s always been more of a long-term option. They’re taking their time to develop him, and I think we’ll see him take on a much larger role next season so long as he’s prepared.

To be perfectly clear: I think he could be traded, but it would come as a big surprise — even with the addition of Shamet.

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