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8 Players the LA Clippers gave up on too soon

By Zachary Bachar

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 06: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on April 06, 2023 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 06: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on April 06, 2023 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Zach Randolph
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Zach Randolph /

5: Zach Randolph

Randolph enjoyed a solid career prior to being traded to the Clippers on November 21, 2008. The 27-year-old averaged 19.7 points and 9.7 rebounds on 46% shooting in the four years prior to the deal, although his teams never had much success.

While the Randolph trade didn’t end up making a huge difference for the season as Los Angeles finished with a 19-63 record, the lumbering power forward looked like an excellent addition. In 34 starts after the deal, he averaged 21.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game on 49.5% shooting.

The Clippers ended up winning the draft lottery in the following spring with Oklahoma star Blake Griffin looking like the consensus top player. This presented a challenge, as Griffin and Randolph played the same position.

Randolph excelled elsewhere after leaving the Clippers

It seemed like a no-brainer to prioritize the much younger Griffin over Randolph, but the avenue in which Randolph left is still tough to revisit. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies a few weeks after the draft for Quentin Richardson, who never ended up playing another game for the Clippers.

Randolph then went on to become one of the faces of the “grit and grind” era of Grizzlies basketball, picking up two All-Star appearances and making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. He also ignited a rivalry with his replacement.

While the Clippers’ frontcourt of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan was certainly elite, it’s interesting to wonder what an early small-ball lineup with Randolph involved would have looked like.