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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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Assistant coach Adrian Dantley of the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2010, in New York City. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
Assistant coach Adrian Dantley of the Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2010, in New York City. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /

1: Adrian Dantley

Dantley’s story is similar to McAdoo’s although his time spent in Buffalo was much shorter. He was selected with the 6th overall pick by the Braves back in 1976, winning Rookie of the Year as he averaged 20.3 points on 52% shooting as a 21-year-old.

He was shockingly traded before the start of his sophomore season for Pacers forward Billy Knight. The trade made some sense at the time, as Knight was coming off a season in which he averaged 26.6 points for Indiana after spending a few years in the ABA.

The Dantley/Knight trade ends up backfiring

Knight was a one-time All-Star with Buffalo but ended up getting traded before the start of the following season. Meanwhile, Dantley made six All-Star appearances and led the league in scoring twice during the following decade.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008 and currently ranks 31st on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, as well as the 21st-highest career scoring average all time.

One can’t help but wonder about the potential success if Buffalo had held onto 21-year-old Dantley and 25-year-old McAdoo. Perhaps they could have contended for a championship before the dominance of the Celtics and Lakers in the 1980s.

The Clippers have had a wide array of stars wear their jersey throughout NBA history, but they’ve also had a few extremely talented players leave the organization and achieve major success elsewhere.

3 ‘blow it up’ trades for the LA Clippers in the offseason. dark. Next