NBA free agency has begun, and teams across the league are making smart, helpful additions. The Detroit Pistons landed John Collins, the Boston Celtics stole Mitchell Robinson, and the Houston Rockets probably got the best of them all, Marcus Smart. Regarding the LA Clippers, what have they done? Not much. LA retained Kobe Sanders, which was good, but it’s clear the front office's approach is patience, and that’s only going to leave them with the leftovers on the market in the long run.
Then, next season, the Clippers will be wishing they could take back time and execute the summer with a sharp, more aggressive approach. That’s the way to go for a team still trying to contend for the playoffs after trading their franchise superstar, yet for some reason, the front office is sitting back and watching everyone else around them get better.
LA needs to act quickly before the free agents that best fit are gone
On top of being able to create space in the LA Clippers’ cap room via trade, Lawrence Frank still has the team’s non-taxpayer mid-level exception worth a few thousand over $15 million. That’s enough money to make the Clippers better for next year, as long as it’s spent wisely.
That said, one of the first players who comes to mind as a great fit for where the Clippers are headed is Tari Eason.
He definitely lost a ton of money with a handful of abysmal shooting performances last season, but Eason is just 25, with the ability to transform the Clippers’ defense in the frontcourt.
Eason is also one of the ideal remaining free agents to sign, primarily because the Clippers lost John Collins. The starting power forward spot is completely vacant, and who better to fill it than a multi-skilled 6'8 "big man?
Along with Eason, another target who makes sense on paper is Rui Hachimura, who is coming off a short-lived playoff run where he averaged 17.5 points, shooting 54.9% from the field and 56.9% from three, across 10 games.
He’s ultimately a player that’s going to end up somewhere new, as the Los Angeles Lakers have essentially used all of their money, and the Clippers must try their absolute best to make sure it is them.
Nonetheless, the Clippers need to walk away with a valuable addition, particularly for their frontcourt. This is a need, and if it's not Eason or Hachimura, someone competent enough needs to be signed while they’re still available.
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