Los Angeles Clippers 2014 Season News: Rumors, Trades, and Roster Updates
No news coming out of Los Angeles Clippers training camp is good news, especially after the team's tumultuous ownership change.
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's acquisition of the beleaguered team gave new life to a franchise on the brink of disaster. Head Coach Doc Rivers threatened to leave and numerous NBA players--including LeBron James--said they wouldn't consider joining the Pacific Division champion if Donald Sterling still held control.
Ballmer not only rescued the Clippers, he saved the NBA from an NFL-like PR nightmare.
Fast forward to late September when Los Angeles readies itself for a fourth straight title run. All-NBA Team selections Blake Griffin and Chris Paul lead a returning starting five, and 2014 Sixth Man of the Year award winner Jamal Crawford looks to lead one of the league's top benches.
Rivers sent perennial trade-piece Jared Dudley to Milwaukee for two subsequently dropped players and a 2015 second round draft pick. The move freed up cap space needed to re-sign Hedo Turkoglu and pick up Ekpe Udoh, the latter addressing the glaring need for interior defense.
DeAndre Jordan headed a front court that ranked 29th in opponent offensive rebounds and 25th total opponent rebounds. The Clippers' -0.7 differential was fourth-worst in the Western Conference, ahead of just the Mavericks, Jazz, and Lakers.
Centers Ryan Hollins and Byron Mullens were stagnant when Jordan hit the bench. Not to say Hollins isn't useful, he just can't live up to lofty expectations set for a championship-caliber reserve. Former Bulls power forward Spencer Hawes is a viable outside shooting threat, but he too can't compensate for Jordan's defense. That alone makes Udoh's inclusion key to Los Angeles' success.
Hollins followed former Clippers point guard Darren Collison to the state capital this offseason. Collison's growth stunted playing behind Paul; losing him to the Kings wasn't a surprise. They won't miss him at the one-spot, Jordan Farmar put up identical numbers with the Lakers last season. What Rivers will miss is Collison's adaptability as a swingman.
The sixth-year NBA journeyman periodically filled in at shooting guard while Crawford and J.J. Redick recovered from injuries. He's a true shooter who diverted defenses long enough to open Jordan and Griffin up around the basket. Whether Farmar, or anyone in the Clippers' back court outside of Paul, makes a similar impact relies who fits into Rivers' small lineup-minded offense.
At this point, the Clippers don't have any blatant weaknesses. Ray Allen's name has hit the rumor mill, but he wouldn't be more than a third-string guard behind Redick and Crawford. What draws teams to the 36-year-old free agent is a career .400 shooting percentage from three-point land. The Clippers placed 22nd with a .352 mark last season.
Australian shooting guard Joe Ingles has agreed to a one-year deal with the Clips, all but assuring Allen won't be reunited with Rivers. Ingles drew interest from multiple teams following an impressive showing at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaging 11 PPG and a .697 percentage from the floor.
If the Clippers are going to make any moves during the season they'll involve Reggie Bullock and an incoming small forward. The second-year small forward is trade bait solely because of his rookie-scale contract. Chris Douglas-Roberts was brought in for such a transaction after posting 2.4 RPG and 6.9 PPG in limited time with Charlotte last year.
Los Angeles again has the pieces to be a championship contender. Not much changed in the offseason. The question now becomes if they can put them together to get past Oklahoma City and San Antonio.