The 2022 season, unfortunately, ended early as the LA Clippers lost both of their play-in games to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans.
The LA Clippers fought every battle and played ’til the very end. Although the season did not result in a playoff run, there is still so much to be proud of as well as so much to look forward to.
From this offseason to the start of the 2022-2023 NBA season, many things could potentially happen. From trades to free agency signings to the NBA draft, the LA Clippers have plenty of time to adjust their roster as needed. Let’s dive in to see what changes the LA Clippers need to make.
The LA Clippers could use a “true” point guard.
A big question mark since the departure of Chris Paul has been around acquiring a “true” point guard for the LA Clippers. Players like Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Rajon Rondo, Austin Rivers, and Milos Teodosic never filled that void. The truth is, there was never a void that needed to be filled. With star players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Norman Powell, the LA Clippers do not need a true point guard but could use one.
A player that was catching a lot of attention before going down with an injury, is Ricky Rubio. Rubio is one of the NBA’s best playmakers; averaging a career mark of 7.6 assists per game throughout 11 seasons. Before going down with an ACL injury, Rubio shot the ball at a respectable 33.9% from three on 5.1 attempts this season. As he enters the free-agent market, Rubio is one of the many players the LA Clippers should keep an eye on.
Another player the LA Clippers should monitor is John Wall. At age 31, Wall is still a very good basketball player. In his most recent season with the Houston Rockets, Wall averaged 20.6 points per game as well as 6.9 assists per game. Wall gives this Clippers roster another “true” point guard who can create his shot by applying pressure on the rim. The only factors holding Wall back are his health and his contract. If Wall is bought out by the Houston Rockets, the LA Clippers should keep an eye on him as he would be a great addition to this roster.
Lastly, another “true” point guard that the LA Clippers could use is Mike Conley. Conley is a veteran point guard who provides the Clippers with everything they need. From three-point shooting to defense, to high-end playmaking, Conley does it all. Conley finished the 2021-2022 NBA season averaging 13.7 points per game and 5.3 assists per game on an efficient 40.8% from the three-point line on 5.8 three-point attempts. To acquire Conley, the Clippers may look to trade Marcus Morris as well as some other pieces to match the contracts.
Marcus Morris liked this tweet: pic.twitter.com/ho8GyIkEDf
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 20, 2022
Although the LA Clippers season came up short, there is still a lot to look forward to. Plenty of roster moves could be made. The Clippers also have the NBA draft of course, where they may look to upgrade and add to their young talent. With the return of a fully-healthy Kawhi Leonard as well as the return of Jason Preston, the next few months of the offseason should be nothing short of exciting.