LA Clippers: Pre-Playoff Slack Chat

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 5: Montreal Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stretches before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 5: Montreal Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stretches before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers controls the ball in a NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 27, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 27: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers controls the ball in a NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 27, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

Logan Rapp
Which, well, y’all seem to have jumped ahead to my next question: What’s the best story for this Clippers team that bodes well for the future?

Ryan Snellings
Simply Shai and Shamet

Matt Chong
It has to be the combination of Shai and Shamet.

Cannon Wonderlich
The Muscala for Zubac deal is one for the history books

Matt Chong
With those two, the Clippers are basically set at the guard position for the foreseeable future.

Ryan Snellings
S.S. Bingo!

Cannon Wonderlich
Great nickname

Seth Kimbrell
To me it’s the front office. Seeing what they’ve put together and the moves they’ve made, it’s hard to not feel great about the team moving forward, no matter what happens this summer

Garrett Chorpenning
I’m with Seth on this one

Paul Tooke
I’d throw Harrell’s breakout in there. I never guessed he would standout among all the NBA bigs the way he has.

Logan Rapp
And I jump back and forth between those two stories.

Matt Chong
That’s definitely the overarching thing that will steer the proverbial ship towards consistent success.

Ryan Snellings
I guess Shai and Shamet are an indication of the front office’s success though, so that is the overarching theme here. Matt gets it.

Seth Kimbrell
Despite all the stakes, I’m less nervous about this offseason than I have been about previous ones, because there’s so much proof that, whether we land Kawhi or KD or whomever, our front office is going to keep doing what’s best for the team

Cannon
I’ve loved what I’ve seen from Sham, but where does this leave Jerome?

Paul Tooke
Yeah we don’t have to worry about our front office the way other fans have to. Cough, New York

Ryan Snellings
I hope he (Jerome) can learn from Lou. We’ll need a future guy off the bench eventually.

Logan Rapp
I’m getting the feeling that Rome is being developed into that Lou-like guy, yeah.

Matt Chong
Given the current gap between Jerome and Landry’s skill level, he’s going to either be that scorer off the bench or an asset that the front office can use in a trade.

Garrett Chorpenning
And that’s the thing. I think people have been too short-sighted when it comes to Jerome Robinson

Cannon Wonderlich
I’ll admit I have been

Logan Rapp
It’s hard not to be when he was drafted only two spots back from Shai.

Paul Tooke
Same. I gotta see something from him. I still have hope though

Logan Rapp
That comes with an expectation of equal development, but that’s not how people work.

Matt Chong
And over guys like Michael Porter Jr.

Ryan Snellings
I think that comes from him being an older rookie though. People don’t like to stomach that a four year college guy still needs development

Cannon Wonderlich
I still have a feeling that they’ll regret not picking up MPJ

Ryan Snellings
Nah. That whole family is made of glass.

Seth Kimbrell
While we’re on the rookies train, and since we all know I’m the president of the Landry Shamet fan club:

Sham’s per 36: 14.5/2.2/2.6 on .429/.406/.871 splits.
J.J. Redick‘s Rookie Year per 36: 14.6/2.1/3.0 on .410/.388/.900 splits

Garrett Chorpenning
Agreed — it’s a difficult thing to come around to, but I’ve never been concerned about Rome’s status on the team. I still feel like his ceiling is pretty high if he becomes a better passer and runs the second unit in the future though

Cannon Wonderlich
Another bright spot this season for the future is the G-League team. Angel and Jonathan were great

Logan Rapp
The story I am excited to see next season — not counting FAs — is Zubac’s development after getting healthy and having a full offseason with Doc. People forget just how much Doc had to do with DeAndre Jordan becoming the player he was at his peak.

Paul Tooke
I’m eager to have Angel on the roster

Seth Kimbrell
Angel plays so hard, man.

Cannon Wonderlich
I feel Chirs Paul had a lot to do with DJ developing into an All-Star too

Matt Chong
A more developed Motley or Delgado would slot in pretty nicely if the Clippers were to lose out on JaMychal Green. I mean, they couldn’t make up for his shooting at this point, but who knows down the line.

Garrett Chorpenning
The FO absolutely HAS TO bring back JaMychal Green

Seth Kimbrell
I agree, Garrett

Logan Rapp
I would like to see Green come back. Chandler can go. I don’t see him getting $13m from the Clippers.

Matt Chong
FA priorities should probably be Pat, Green, Temple.

Paul Tooke
I’m with Logan

Garrett Chorpenning
What about Zu, Matt?

Cannon Wonderlich
Pat is the top priority of players to re-sign. I would hate playing against him

Matt Chong
Oh yeah, I forgot about Zu lol. I’d put him right up there with Beverly.

Garrett Chorpenning
I’ve got a feeling Pat will take next-to-nothing to come back next season

Matt Chong
There’s just such a lack of good young big men on the market, you have to get Zu back.

Logan Rapp
I’d say Pat Bev, Zubac, Green, Temple. First two I don’t think are going to be a problem. Zu’s happy to be on a happy team, he doesn’t wanna go anywhere else. Pat Bev will bleed for this team and he’s going to get MLE.

Garrett Chorpenning
Absolutely, Logan

Cannon Wonderlich
Same, Logan

Seth Kimbrell
I can see Pat on the MLE being totally fine. And Zubac will get what he deserves. With his play, he’s earned the payday he has coming, I think

Cannon Wonderlich
Pat and Trez are the spirit of the team. Without one of them, we lose our identity

Logan Rapp
Gallo, Lou Will, Trezz, SGA, Rome, Shamet, Sin (not fully guaranteed), and Ty are all on contract to return next season.

Matt Chong
What do you think the value for Zubac would be right now?

Seth Kimbrell
I can’t stop cheesing at the youth and talent of that group, Logan

Cannon Wonderlich
I wonder what Sin’s future with the team looks like

Logan Rapp
Cannon, for a while I was thinking about that, but lately I’ve been more concerned about Ty’s future.

Matt Chong
I’d be ecstatic if we could get Zu back on a deal at the same level as Trezz’, but for a longer time.

Cannon Wonderlich
It’s easy to forget about Ty. A real shame that he doesn’t get more PT. He was impressive last season

Logan Rapp
Ty’s minutes have evaporated. Sin’s role hasn’t really changed much. He’s the guy you throw in when you need a stop.

Cannon Wonderlich
Fun fact: Ty’s first and middle name are Tyrone Tyrin

Seth Kimbrell
Sin worked his tail off in college, man. I really wanna keep him around too

Logan Rapp
Doc likes a guy with that role and Sin seems to be perfectly content in it. Tyrone Tyrin Wallace, I wonder, is gonna go the route of Jawun Evans.

Matt Chong
Probably will if he can’t add a somewhat decent jumper.
He’s like the opposite of Gallo. When he shoots I almost just assume it isn’t going in.

Cannon Wonderlich
I have to imagine some team would give something for Ty. We shouldn’t waive him.