The LA Clippers did a lot to brighten their future this summer, but that’s just one reason why fans should be optimistic heading into the 2019-2020 season.
Based on what I’ve seen on Twitter alone, the LA Clippers fan base generally seems to be a little more pessimistic than others. That isn’t a knock on them, and that isn’t their fault, either. The Clippers have been the lesser team in Los Angeles up until roughly the past decade, and with a somewhat depressing history before that, Clippers fans have never had much reason to think positively about the future of their team.
Of course, that doesn’t necessarily stop them from doing so, especially lately.
The Clippers teams of the past few years have done more to instill hope in both new fans and old than any that have come before them, and they’ll never be forgotten. Even once the Clippers hang their first championship banner in the rafters, which could come sooner rather than later, the team that defied all odds (during Ralph Lawler’s final season, nonetheless) will live on forever.
This summer, though, a new era of LA Clippers basketball was ushered in. One that features some of the league’s brightest and best stars, complemented by a supporting cast that was hand-crafted specifically for their addition. One that boasts an all-star coaching staff, fronted by the 2018-2019 runner up for Coach of the Year. One that has a front office worth bragging about, though they’re too humble to do so. And, of course, one that is operated by one of the most enthusiastic and passionate men in the business.
It’s been a few years in the making, and it took some tough decisions to get here. The Clippers lost three faces of their franchise in the last several years, including Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. They also had to trade away two new ones that were beloved by fans in Tobias Harris and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (and Boban Marjanovic, too).
Ultimately, though, those decisions delivered us an era that we can already start looking forward to as early as this season. Here are three reasons why Clippers fans should feel optimistic about what’s to come in 2020.