Even when there are injuries to the lineup, head coach Tyronn Lue has found a way to still play his veterans, which he loves doing, and let the young talent sit and watch from the sidelines until he feels their time is ready. Yet, this season, Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders have played real minutes in the active rotation over several of the players Lue had high hopes for, hinting that he is in sync with the fan base in knowing that the team’s older talents do not have much energy left in their tanks.
Moreover, fans are shocked and will continue to believe their eyes are deceiving them, as the event of Sanders and Christie playing is significant. To put it into perspective, the Clippers have missed out on Moussa Diabate, who is currently having a career year with the Charlotte Hornets, because Lue focused on winning over development.
Thus, Christie and Sanders in the rotation months earlier than what was originally planned is a phenomenal sign, but it also leaves a heartbreaking impression, as it means the front office did not find the right veterans through the trade portal and in free agency.
Lue will experience the painful realization that LA’s young guys have the most potential
As Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders were drafted a year apart, most fans looked to the blueprints of Kobe Brown and Jordan Miller to predict when their minutes would rise. Because Brown and Miller were never really included in the rotation, most assumed that it would not be until another season before Christie and Sanders made a real presence.
Then, they would be left in the same pattern as most of the previous young talents LA has had, where insufficient development occurs and they are inevitably waived.
However, Lue has realized that Christie and Sanders have stronger capacities. Hence, the championship head coach has chosen them over players like Chris Paul, who was once regarded as a major offseason addition.
Sanders, in particular, has received heavy prioritization early in his rookie campaign, with the first start of his career, where he played 30 minutes and closed the game, coming in yesterday’s loss versus the Philadelphia 76ers.
That said, the Clippers’ rising stars are living up to the hype their veterans had. This is, all in all, bittersweet, as their experienced players were the ones who boosted their championship hopes.