As expected, given he was the odd man out and how the last few years have panned out for him, the LA Clippers let go of Cam Christie before the final game of the preseason. He was given several opportunities and flexibility, including an extended guarantee date, but in the end, Christie is yet another failed project for the Clippers organization.
Christie now joins the list of recent youngsters, like Moussa Diabate, Brandon Boston Jr., Kobe Brown, and Keon Johnson, who were drafted and moved on from within a short period of time. This reveals the bigger truth: the developmental system is seriously flawed, and it has been for quite some time.
There should be no reason why nearly a handful of names had so much potential entering the league, and none of them survived with the Clippers. The front office needs to address this sooner or later, or it’s just going to keep getting worse.
The LA Clippers’ developmental system is a legitimate concern
To the LA Clippers’ defense, they have had multiple draft picks earn second contracts with the organization, a massive milestone for young players early in their careers. Terance Mann did well in LA, and more recently, Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders are on that list, as they both signed long-term contracts with the Clippers this past offseason. Yanic Konan Niederhauser also looks like he's on his way into the conversation.
However, the success rate is relatively low after the team waived Cam Christie, and it’s worse knowing that many of LA’s former youth have established themselves elsewhere.
Moussa Diabate is a perfect example. The Clippers willingly parted ways with him, and within no time after the Charlotte Hornets picked him up, he proved he could flourish at the NBA level. In fact, the 24-year-old dominated to the point that the Hornets converted his two-way deal into a multi-year contract. That's not common.
That said, somehow, someway, the team must resolve its internal developmental issues. Certain people behind the scenes need to go, reputable help must be brought in, and ultimately, things need to change.
Especially now, as the team is in more of a youth movement than at any point in the last decade, the Clippers cannot afford to fumble the recently drafted fifth overall pick, Keaton Wagler.
His potential is clear as day, and the Clippers’ front office must do everything in its power to maximize it.
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