On both sides of the ball, the LA Clippers have inevitably found their strengths and weaknesses. Stars James Harden and Norman Powell have carried the offensive duties as lead scorers, while defensive threats Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn have excelled in locking opponents down from one end to the other.
Furthermore, the Clippers have slowly understood how many games they can win if each player locks in defensively. This all comes down to effort and is something assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy has brought to the table from his years of experience in the NBA.
Once franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard returns to dominance, the Clippers’ unique identity will be taken to an extreme. By the middle of April, they should have no problem taking the crown as the best defensive team in the NBA.
As Leonard returns in no rush, the front office can add to the roster and emphasize what they are best at. In fact, there is one player available that will immediately solve two holes for head coach Tyronn Lue.
Former Celtic Robert Williams would be the perfect defensive backup for the LA Clippers.
In the offseason, the LA Clippers front office thought it was an excellent idea to provide former lottery pick Mo Bamba with another chance to impact a championship-caliber roster. He seemed ideal off the bench, as Bamba could score, defend the cup, and stretch the floor behind the seven-foot big man, Ivica Zubac.
Given how much Bamba has underperformed, the front office will have to find a solution by the trade deadline. Fortunately, the Portland Trail Blazers have one too many big men, and the Clippers could trade for the odd one out.
Robert Williams, a former Boston Celtic, would excel limitlessly under Tyronn Lue's leadership. In 227 career games, Williams has averaged 7.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 20.3 minutes.
These numbers are very realistic for Williams, who recently turned 27. He is still strong, athletic, and mobile enough to lock down the paint and step outside if need be.
Moreover, a trade for Williams would be extremely simple. As his role in Portland has steadily decreased, the Clippers’ front office could ship off reserves Bones Hyland and P.J. Tucker to complete the trade.
That said, Williams is an underrated yet major target for the Clippers. He poses as a talented and cost-effective target at the deadline, adding to how great he would look under the beautiful sights of Intuit Dome.