The Clippers are at the point where they need to prioritize not botching this offseason rather than acing it.
After grossly mishandling the signing of Bill Walton and eventually moving to Los Angeles in 1984, the franchise has been obsessed with the quick fix. The decades of utter incompetence from Donald Sterling aside, the desire for prominence has often resulted in the organization cutting corners and lacking long-term judgment.
Pairing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George was a move most rival executives would've jumped at the opportunity to make. Not having the foresight to retain some future assets in case two injury-plagued wings at the tail end of their prime was the sloppy miscalculation that will haunt this team unless they do something about it.
This summer is the chance to revitalize this roster with fresh faces and try to clean up some of this mess. Luckily, Lawrence Frank and Steve Balmer now have the playbook for which three players to avoid this free agency.
3 free agents the Clippers must steer clear from this offseason
1. Guard - Gary Trent Jr.
There's something aesthetically pleasing about Gary Trent Jr.'s game. He has a textbook stroke that AAU coaches around the country would love to have the next generation of hoopers emulate. His arsenal of dribble combos and crafty finishes is perfect for a Twitter highlight reel.
Trent's skillset is simply too self-indulgent. He is a ball-dominant guard who offers no playmaking ability. At one time, he was a serviceable defensive stopper on the perimeter, but he is back to measly being a cone on that end of the floor. His efficiency has fluctuated throughout his six-year career, but it has never been good enough to overcome his glaring weaknesses.
At best, he's a higher-end Bones Hyland who couldn't even put up gaudy numbers on a tanking Toronto Raptors side. Unless it's a cheap prove-it deal, Trent is the exact player archetype that struggles with winning basketball.
2. Wing - Caleb Martin
A physical and long wing, Caleb Martin has carved out an impressive role for himself with the Miami Heat after going undrafted in 2019. The signs were there in college, as he flashed an impressive offensive skillset while turning mid-major Nevada into a perennial threat.
During last year's Eastern Conference Finals, he had an argument to be named series MVP. He slowed down Jayson Tatum and outplayed Jaylen Brown to the point where the eighth-seeded Heat pulled off the historic upset and competed for a title. That small snapshot can't be the catalyst for giving Martin a lucrative deal.
He's failed to consistently be a great shooter from a distance, as his efficiency has hovered around mediocrity. His clunky handle doesn't allow him to be much of a threat, putting the ball on the deck. Martin is a good athlete but doesn't project as an exceptional defender outside of the Heat system. There's no need to break the bank for a guy two years older than Amir Coffey, who offers a similar skill set.
3. Point Guard - Kyle Lowry
A nuisance on the court, Kyle Lowry sets the tone every time he checks into a game. The six-time All-Star has transitioned more into a spark plug at this point in his career. Lowry has visibly lost a step, but his immense intelligence and feel for the game allow him to make an impact when his number gets called.
His defense is an issue, as he's a small guard who doesn't have the footspeed or size to keep up with many opponents. His shooting is streaky at best, and he doesn't get to the cup consistently enough to round out his game.
Lowry's hustle and scrappiness are commendable, but they don't mask his obvious shortcomings. The Clippers need to get younger and not be a basketball rehabilitation home. Unless his contract is for the minimum and he's nothing more than a locker-room leader, Lowry should have room on this team.