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Breaking down the LA Clippers roster with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George

By Garrett Chorpenning

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 19: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts after hitting shot against the Indiana Pacers on March 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 19: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts after hitting shot against the Indiana Pacers on March 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Guards

After trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the LA Clippers appear to be a little thin in the point guard department. But with Patrick Beverley running the position with the starters and Lou Williams serving as the primary ball handler off the bench, the Clippers may not need another mid-tier traditional point guard on the team.

Patrick Beverley

The heart and soul of the LA Clippers is back for another round (three, to be exact), only this time, he’ll be suiting up with two of the league’s elite two-way threats.

Patrick Beverley did it all for the Clippers in 2018-2019, from improving as a three-point threat to putting the clamps on any player who looked at him funny. His attitude also appeared to take over the locker room, as the Clippers were led by his gritty style of play and refusal to ever give up on a game.

Beverley will likely serve as the team’s primary point guard option now that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and his two-way ability and leadership role should help keep the team locked in on both ends of the floor.

Jerome Robinson

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing basketball elsewhere next season and Tyrone Wallace cut from the roster, 2019-2020 is going to be a big season for Jerome Robinson. I would expect him to make the most of it, and then some.

Robinson averaged less than 10 minutes of action per game last season, which was hardly his fault. Behind Lou Williams and Avery Bradley/Landry Shamet, opportunities for the young guard to prove himself were few and far between, especially when it came to playing meaningful minutes.

But Robinson worked hard in the G League all last season, and should come into the year prepared to make a significant impact. He’ll likely play in and out of the second unit, and his ability to handle the ball could help him maintain a permanent role alongside Williams if the Clippers opt to play the Sixth Man of the Year award winner off the ball.

Landry Shamet

Coming off a wildly successful rookie campaign, Landry Shamet will enter the 2019-2020 season as one of the most interesting players on the LA Clippers’ roster. With elite shooting ability and stamina for days, it’s hard to imagine him taking a single contested look — especially since most of the defense’s attention will be on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Shamet shot an absurd 45.0 percent from three-point range during his time with the Clippers this past season, and he did so on six attempts per game. Depending on how big of a leap he makes next season, he could very well become an even better shooter from all over the floor.

There have also been rumors of Doc Rivers and Co. using Shamet as a ball handler as well, as his playmaking abilities could be an improvement over Patrick Beverley’s. Either way, he’s primed for an impressive sophomore campaign, to say the least.

Sindarius Thornwell

Tyrone Wallace got the axe, which leaves versatile swingman Sindarius Thornwell with a spot on the roster.

Thornwell had a decreased role in 2018-2019 compared to the one he had in the season prior, with his number of minutes per game shrinking by double-digits. He’s probably in store for that kind of role in 2019-2020 as well, which is fine. He’s a solid situational defender, but his poor shooting makes him a vulnerability on the offensive side of the floor.

If Thornwell is on the roster by the time the upcoming season begins, expect him to play a role similar to the one Wallace did this past season.

Lou Williams

Few players were as important to the LA Clippers this past season than Lou Williams, and he’s back for more action after winning his third Sixth Man of the Year award, tied for the most all-time.

Williams led the Clippers in scoring in 2018-2019, recording 20.0 points per contest and dishing out a career-best 5.4 assists in less than 27 minutes per game. He’ll maintain the same role in the upcoming season, so expect more of the same from Sweet Lou as he ages ever so gracefully.

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