The LA Clippers front-office once again showed their urgency to win now at the 2020 NBA Draft.
LA Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank yet again had his hands full on Wednesday night, where he flipped a multitude of assets in the pursuit of improving a squad under immense pressure heading into the 2020/21 NBA season.
Trades saw Duke alum Luke Kennard and the 55th pick of Wednesday’s proceedings Jay Scrubb sent to Southern California, while the organization bid farewell to sharpshooter Landry Shamet and veteran guard Rodney McGruder to the Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons, respectively.
The Clippers’ activity throughout the night has revealed three critical focuses of Frank’s front office, unearthing plans for aggression in the forthcoming free agency while also prepping for a future without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
It’s ‘Championship-Or-Bust’ for the LA Clippers this season
Luke Kennard’s introduction to Los Angeles has signaled yet another move for a front-office mortgaging their future to hunt for silverware now.
Speculation of the Clippers trading up to the middle of the first round came to fruition on Wednesday when Landry Shamet was dealt to Brooklyn for the 19th overall pick in the draft. The asset was immediately shipped to Detroit, where McGruder was attached to entice Pistons GM Troy Weaver to separate with Kennard, their 2017 lottery selection.
Kennard offers Tyronn Lue another sharpshooter to compliment the Clippers’ shooting guard depth. The 24-year-old travels to the West Coast after a career-best 2019/20 campaign, posting 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 32.9 minutes per outing. Most impressively perhaps, Kennard completed 39.9 percent of opportunities from beyond the arc in his third year in Detroit and displayed an efficient offensive arsenal at all three levels on the court.
Continuing his on-court productivity will be crucial for Kennard, who will be presented with less offensive freedom on a Clippers’ side much stronger than that of Detroit. The trade also gives some insurance to the front-office, who risk losing Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson to free agency.
The transaction ultimately highlights the ‘win-now’ mentality held within the organization, as Kennard represents an upgrade at the shooting guard position. Provided that the knee issues of his past do not resurface, the Ohio native promises to have all the tools necessary to help elevate the Clippers to unprecedented heights this season.
Lawrence Frank is ready for a frenetic free agency period
With the chaos of NBA free agency poised to begin on November 20, Frank used the Draft to best equip his side to bring valuable pieces to Los Angeles.
McGruder’s Detroit exodus saves the Clippers over 10 million dollars in base salary, providing valuable cap space for a front-office concentrated on silverware.
The financial flexibility created by McGruder’s absence allows the organization to entice role players to a championship contender that could use their veteran presence, such as a Rajon Rondo or Marco Belinelli, to expel the implosions of playoff disappointments now synonymous to the LA Clippers.
With the looming uncertainties of unrestricted free agents Montrezl Harrell, Marcus Morris, Patrick Patterson and Reggie Jackson, Frank’s front-office secured an important transaction through relinquishing McGruder’s contract. While the Clippers picked up some valuable pieces in the Draft, large uncertainties will continue to materialize about the roster’s improvement just over a month from opening night.
But with free agency looming closer, only time will tell just how important this move will be.
The Clippers see a future in Daniel Oturu and Jay Scrubb
The organization’s other major moves Wednesday night was to trade up for center Daniel Oturu with the 33rd selection and swingman Jay Scrubb with the 55th pick of the night.
Oturu posted 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds each outing in his sophomore season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The 21-year-old excelled against NCAA competition in the 2019/20 season, proving to be an ever-present shot-blocking presence and a high-energy rim runner, posting 2.5 blocks and 3.7 offensive rebounds per game.
Ahead of free agency, Oturu could mitigate the potential departures of Harrell and Patterson. At 6’10” and 240 pounds, front-office executives will be hoping Oturu can increase his size to emerge as a key piece for the current iteration of this Clippers squad. Presently, however, Oturu may benefit from assignments to Ontario with the Agua Caliente Clippers, where extended time on-court against G League opposition will smoothen his transition into NBA basketball.
Scrubb became the first Junior College draftee since 2004 (Donta Smith) Wednesday night after registering 21.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in his sophomore campaign at John A. Logan College. The 20-year-old initially elected to transfer to Louisville for the 2020/21 NCAA season before choosing to declare for the Draft after his exploits against NJCAA competition.
The 6’6”, 200-pound Kentucky native possesses an NBA-ready body that will provide Scrubb opportunities to shine at the professional level. And while completing 39.5 percent of his three-point attempts collegiately, Scrubb promises to enjoy a seamless transition to the modern NBA offense.
Scrubb appears as a potential beneficiary of the G League, where he can learn the nuances of professional basketball while still under a common infrastructure with Ontario’s Agua Caliente Clippers.
Scrubb will also be expected to improve his defense while at the Toyota Arena. It was the defensive end where Scrubb was most harshly criticized in his collegiate career and is an aspect of his game that will require improvement before seeing meaningful minutes on an NBA floor. The newest Clippers’ size and frame will give Scrubb all the tools to become – at worst – a neutral defender on this side of the floor.
The selections also offer a glimpse into what life may look like in Los Angeles without Clippers’ All-NBA talents Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
The Clippers’ star duo both can exercise their options to ‘opt-out’ of their contracts at the conclusion of the upcoming 2020/21 season to test free agency. While these clauses have prioritized winning immediately, the potential exits of Leonard and George would leave the Clippers with a squad unable to contend for a title and left with only the slightest of future assets.
Choosing to draft Oturu and Scrubb offers a roadmap of recovery for Clippers brass entrusted with rebuilding after what would be a demoralizing summer. But with a flat talent pool in the 2020 draft, both Oturu and Scrubb will be gifted every chance to rise as one of the steals of their class and become of real value in Los Angeles.