Across the league, the LA Clippers need youth as much as anyone. They’ve barely had any lottery selections throughout the last decade and just lost five first-round picks due to the findings of the cap circumvention investigation involving the two-time champion, Kawhi Leonard.
So, with everything taken into account, it would make all the sense in the world for the Clippers to take a flier on Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in 2024, who the Charlotte Hornets just waived. His NBA career hasn’t gone as many expected, but the potential to be great is as evident as can be, given the fact that Dillingham has a one-of-a-kind handle, can score at all three levels, and can create for those around him.
Maybe it’s just a change of scenery the Kentucky product desperately needs to finally find his footing at the highest level of professional basketball.
The LA Clippers should sign Rob Dillingham to a two-way contract
Although Rob Dillingham might be undersized at six-foot-two, 175 pounds, with heavy concerns on the defensive side of the ball, he can still be a quality point guard in the NBA. We saw it regularly at Kentucky, in increments for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and relatively often for the Chicago Bulls.
In 30 games following the trade deadline for the Bulls, the 21-year-old posted 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in just 21.5 minutes. Clearly, he can produce, and the cherry on top is that the offensive-minded point guard had games like 26 points at Washington and an efficient 25 at Dallas, which was Chicago's last game of the year.
With the Clippers, the front office doesn’t need to make roster space for him right away. Instead, they should give him a pathway to earn it by signing him to a two-way contract. And the timing works out perfectly, as a spot just opened up following the news of LA waiving Jamarion Sharp.
This way, there’s really no high risk the Clippers are taking.
If he shows patience, thrives when his number is called, and stays consistent, the Clippers will be glad they gave him a shot and can move toward incorporating him into their long-term plans alongside Keaton Wagler and Co.
If not, at least they tried to strengthen the foundation of their future.
At the end of the day, though, the Clippers will never know until they call Dillingham to bring him on board.
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