The Los Angeles Clippers have been through a brutally exhausting last twelve months, featuring an NBA investigation into salary cap circumvention and a dizzying number of player transactions. From being featured on Pablo Torre Finds Out at least ten times for the infamous “Aspiration saga” to hosting All-Star Weekend and then getting hit with massive penalties, it’s been a non-stop circus in Inglewood.
The Wild Ride That Got Them Here
Seriously, where do you even start with what went down? The Clippers faced an NBA investigation for circumventing the salary cap. That probe led to some heavy consequences: they were docked five first round draft picks, and owner Ballmer got suspended for a year. On top of that, they traded away team mainstays James Harden and Ivica Zubac, then shipped out Kawhi Leonard in a deal that brought back Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick from Toronto. They even lost John Collins to Detroit and a bunch of other draft picks. The only real bright spot was lucking into the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft, which they used on Illinois guard Keaton Wagler.
It’s been a total reset, but here’s the kicker: unlike most teams blowing it up, the Clippers have no incentive to be terrible because the league office forcefully took their future first round draft capital. They can’t tank their way to more top picks, so they *have* to try and win with what they’ve got. That’s a unique spot to be in for a team that just went 42-40 last season and lost in the Western Conference Play-In Game.
The Roster Reset: Who’s Stepping Up?
So, what does this new-look roster actually look like? Key additions include rookie Keaton Wagler, Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, Max Strus from Cleveland, and Rui Hachimura from the Lakers. With Kawhi Leonard and John Collins gone, alongside those precious draft picks, there’s a lot riding on this new group.
Vegas isn’t exactly high on them, setting their Over/Under at a meager 27.5 wins. They’re 30/1 to win the Pacific Division, 600/1 for the Western Conference, and a whopping 1000/1 to take the NBA Finals. But don’t sleep on them entirely. While a rookie point guard taking a ton of minutes can often lead to a stinker of a season, it’s not all on Wagler’s shoulders. Darius Garland, assuming he stays healthy, should carry a significant offensive burden. Plus, there are enough combo guards and wings like Strus, Dick, and even old friend Derrick Jones Jr. to fill out the rotation and get the offense going. I really like Hachimura for this team, and Brandon Ingram is solid. Ty Lue is still a good coach, and frankly, this team has no reason to be as bad as the oddsmakers think.
This is a bet on heart and coaching, pure and simple. I’m buying the Clippers in the short term, and I think they’ll surprise a lot of people.
**Prediction: Over 27.5 wins (-110)**
What a wild season it’s shaping up to be for the Clippers. With their future draft picks gone, every win feels like it counts double, and every possession matters. Can they rally around their young talent and defy the odds? Keep an eye on Wagler and this surprisingly deep roster as they try to prove everyone wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
Leave a Reply