While the LA Clippers’ front office has made a number of great moves from the start of the offseason until now, almost the finish, they definitely missed multiple opportunities to get even better.
Right now, the Clippers are seen as a team competing for the play-in tournament, but if the front office made the three affordable moves below, they would easily be seen as a team in the playoff hunt.
3. Traded for Dorian Finney-Smith
Not only do the LA Clippers need a backup power forward, as it seems like Kobe Sanders will be taking that role, but they also struggle to rebound.
Who would’ve helped fix that? Dorian Finney-Smith. Just a season ago, for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, Finney-Smith averaged nearly nine points and four rebounds, shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc on 5.0 attempts.
Although he signed with the Houston Rockets thereafter and didn’t get much of an opportunity in their stacked rotation, the talent still exists.
Finney-Smith was just dealt to the Atlanta Hawks for Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard, and cash considerations. This is definitely a move the Clippers could’ve made to help solve their needs, which ultimately helps them in terms of playoff contention.
2. Signed Nick Richards before the Heat snagged him
Again, we’re talking about someone who could’ve really boosted the LA Clippers in the rebounding department. The lack of players the Clippers have who can actually help in crashing the glass is, by far, the team’s biggest problem, and adding Nick Richards helps eliminate that almost immediately.
In 20 games for the Chicago Bulls, Richards logged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds. That’s a small sample size, but it’s just enough to tell you what his strengths are and how he can help a team on the professional level.
Richards signed with the Miami Heat in the offseason, and what did he go for? A one-year contract worth $3.06 million.
That is a number the Clippers had, and honestly, they could’ve offered Richards more to bring him in to strengthen their frontcourt depth, putting them in a better position to compete for the postseason.
1. Paid Marcus Smart instead of Bradley Beal
The same money the LA Clippers paid Bradley Beal, roughly $6.5 million annually, the front office could’ve paid to Marcus Smart, as he signed to the Houston Rockets on a two-year, $12.4 million contract. And, if he wanted a tad bit more, the front office could’ve easily created space to make it happen.
Why? Because adding a player like Smart significantly improves the Clippers’ odds of making the playoffs.
Don’t believe me? Look at his playoff averages: 12.9 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds across 10 games. He also had a 25-point, seven-assist performance in the second matchup of the first round, where he tallied five steals as well.
The former defensive player would’ve been a perfect fit in the starting lineup alongside Darius Garland, and easily would’ve had a major role in the development of Keaton Wagler.
Smart is the type of role player who could turn a play-in contender into a serious playoff threat.
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