The Lakers aren’t the only Los Angeles team trying to make moves this offseason. The Clippers recently announced that they have traded guard Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Marcin Gortat.
This move is noteworthy because it will separate Austin from his father, Doc Rivers, who is the current coach of the Clippers team. Rivers spent three years with the Clipper organization after being traded to the club, becoming the first player to ever play for his father in the NBA.
Although Rivers will now join a playoff caliber team, he has stated on numerous occasions that he enjoyed playing for Doc, so his departure may be bittersweet.
Austin Rivers rn pic.twitter.com/o8RXkqI0w7
— Oruny (@OrunyChoi) June 26, 2018
His development took off under the watch of his dad, as Rivers upped his point averages from 6.8 points per game in his last season with the Pelicans all the way to 15.1 in his final year as a Clipper.
He has carved out his role in the NBA as a serviceable combo guard who can score and handle the ball with ease. He will be an excellent first option off the bench in Washington with stars John Wall and Bradley Beal headlining the Wizards’ backcourt.
The former Duke standout would thank the organization for its confidence in him and its support in his journey as a professional basketball player.
Although it was cool to see Rivers play under Doc in LA, the Clippers made the right move for the franchise. With players like Patrick Beverley, Milos Teodosic, and the two guards they took in the 2018 draft on the roster, the Clips had an excess amount of guards which was a problem that needs to be rectified. This move also lets the NBA world know that they are 100 percent committed to their current rebuild.
With the acquisition of Marcin Gortat, the door has now been opened to trade DeAndre Jordan to another team. The organization views Gortat as a starting caliber center that is a much cheaper option than DeAndre.
According to reports, the Clippers intend to trade the former All-Star if he exercised the player option in his contract. Set to make over 24 million dollars next season, it is understandable to see why LA would want to move the big man.
Jordan is a prolific rebounder and shot blocker, but he can sometimes be a liability for his abominable free throw shooting. Teams often deploy the “Hack-A-Jordan” method where players intentionally foul DeAndre to send him to the line, knowing very well that he will likely miss one if not both of the shots. This is effective for opposing teams because it limits the offensive possessions of the Clippers.
If the Clippers do end up trading Jordan, “Lob City” will have officially turned into sob city. The Clippers had a talented team a few years ago with a strong core featuring Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Jordan. However, the Clippers traded both Griffin and Paul last year to get more assets for the future, and it appears as though Jordan is the next domino to fall in Los Angeles.
There have been many ups and downs along the way, but Jordan has put up impressive numbers during his career (besides FT% of course). He has led the league in rebounding twice, including a career-high 15.2 rebounds per game last year. He also totaled 46 double-doubles in 77 games played.
Concerning career achievements, Jordan was selected to three All-NBA teams, including the All-NBA First Team in 2016. In addition to his offensive prowess, Jordan was recognized for his defensive efforts by being named to the NBA All-Defensive First team twice.
The Clippers will likely struggle for the next few seasons, but over time with the accumulation of the right assets, this Los Angeles team could make its way back into playoff contention.
